The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Education Correspondent
THIS is a message for all those who want to master this language for examination purposes and everyday use.
Correct is not good enough. Correct placement of every single word in its correct position in every sentence (grammatical correctness), is not the reason we study English language. That is only the first stage of it. Where in the sentence do I put my agent (the subject) and what is the correct tense to go with it (of course determined by the number…is it singular or plural? And then what is the predicate; the rest of the sentence? All these are grammatical basics…the ABC of English language.
You may know when to use ‘is’ and ‘was’…but that is not enough. You need to communicate in style and in flavoursome command.
Your English must have lustre…must have taste, must have shine, gleam, patina. It must illustrate expert or skilful mastery and craftsmanship. The one reading it or listening to you must enjoy that language…not just hear you and understand you. It is not good enough to be simply correct.
All the above does not happen automatically. There are special skills you use to make that happen.
First, it is a good idea to spice your language with figurative expressions. Notice I use the word ‘spice’. The idea is not to flood your speech or written piece…whatever it may be…maybe a composition, with figurative expressions or idioms. Use these sparingly.
This means two, three well chosen ones…appropriate ones, are enough thrown somewhere in the thick of your writing.
Remember, one rose can make the whole desert beautiful. A pinch of salt makes the whole pot flavoursome. You do not empty the whole salt-shaker or bottle in the dish! Yet, without that pinch of salt, the dish has no taste…not at all!
Look at this! One speaker says, “This is not cricket.” Another says, “This is not good sportsmanship.” Both mean exactly the same. The first speaker or writer, however, gets all marks; the second one, well, yes… he is correct, but there is no shine in the language.
‘Save it for a rainy day’ gets all marks. It means, ‘Save it for a time of need.’ But if you speak or write like the second one, you do not go to the top of the class. The language is pedestrian…plain and tasteless.
‘Turn over a new leaf’ speaks more… communicates more…is more tasteful than ‘begin again or resolve to do better.’ ‘Throw in the sponge/towel’ communicates better than, ‘Admit defeat, give up.’ ‘Spill the beans’ communicates better than, ‘Reveal the whole truth or a secret.’
These are only a few examples. There are hundreds more of figures of speech. You begin by copying them down; then rot learn them; then finally use them naturally. They come naturally when you are writing or speaking. That is the idea.
A small test: Maybe you can find out what the following ten idioms and figurative expressions mean: 1. Flogging a dead horse. 2. Hoist with your own petard 3. A dead letter. 4. Snake in the grass. 5. Rule of thumb. 6. Got hold of the wrong end of the stick. 7. Paddle your own canoe. 8. Strike while the iron is hot. 9. Reading between the lines. 10. Harping on the same string.
Maybe you can use them in correct sentences; maybe you can explain what they mean. There is not one way of skinning a cat.
There are many more ways of adding communicative lustre to your English. This is only one way. I will give you several others in future articles. Meanwhile please remember, ‘Correct is not good enough! Add taste, flavour and style through special craftsmanship.’
