The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent
We now know the registers in section B of the English Paper 2 have been abandoned by the new curriculum. Thank God, I always say. We also know that in their place will be questions to do with Language usage and Language structures.
But what are language structures and what are language usage items? Language structures refers to grammatical nitty-gritty like verb-tenses and their types, regular and irregular verbs, adjectives, pronouns, clauses and phrases and their types, word-forms and formations; forming adverbs from verbs, use of modals (words that measure degree of probability. Examples: will, would, shall, should, must, may, might, can, could). Please note, these are not verb tenses. They have nothing to do with present or past. They simply measure degree of probability, answering the question what are the chances of the action being taken? Most people think could is the past tense of can. It is not. Would is also not the past tense of will.
Language usage refers to idiomatic expressions, metaphors, also called figures of speech, similes, proverbs etc.
Examples of idiomatic expressions: 1.He is a square peg in a round hole. This means to be in an unsuitable position, particularly as regards a job. 2.
If you ask him you will stir up a hornet’s nest. This means to make or cause a lot of trouble for yourself. 3. To pay him (someone) back in his own coin.
Examples of figures of speech (metaphors): These are devices serving the purpose of making a description more interesting. 1. To turn over a new leaf-meaning to change and begin to do things well. 2. Sitting on the fence-meaning to be undecided. 3. Walking on air-meaning overjoyed. 4. Putting (something) in black and white-meaning putting it in writing.
Examples of Similes: Similes often make a description more vivid. (Most similes start with as or like) 1. He drove like a maniac. 2. He spoke like a professional. He was as angry as a wounded lion.
I always warn students to desist from tired, overused, clichéd similes that mean very little: 1. As big as an elephant. What is as big as an elephant except the elephant? 2. As beautiful as a flower. Imagine you are describing a girl! What girl is like a flower? 3. As happy as a lark. What is a lark? Of course it is a bird that seemingly laughs all the time. Examples of proverbs: 1. Rome was not built in a day. 2. Birds of a feather flock together. 3. You can’t see the wood for the trees. 4. Familiarity breeds contempt. 5. Don’t burn your candle at both ends.
You must all be anxious about section B new-curriculum-new syllabus Paper 2 English, These and many more are all possibilities on this section beginning November this year. I have not seen a sample or dummy but I can confidently say it is now a section on Language structures and Language usage as I have tried to illustrate. What no one knows at this stage is whether the items will be set from the comprehension passage or will be isolated. But whether the language items will be set from the passage or not, it is critically important that students begin to seriously study them in whatever way. Whether tested on this section or not, a wide knowledge of these notorious common errors will guarantee you a higher and better command of English, obviously a more tasteful and correct command.
Please note that Common Errors could also easily be a common feature on this new Section B. I wish they could appear in every examination paper.
Good news is that Diamond FM has already launched a radio English Language clinic – the Radio Teacher. Among other English Language aspects, it will teach a lot of language structures and language usage skills. The programme is on air every Thursday between 8 and 9pm.
