The ManicaPost
With Morris Mtisi
CORRECT speech habits in English do not come easy.
The best speakers and writers of English sacrificed their positions at work and continued to learn speaking and writing well. They continued to research and discover communication knowledge and wisdom sacrificing their ego regardless of their station in life.
Some indeed mastered and perfected communication skills through parrot imitation and typical rehearsal.
Many leaders in politics and church in Zimbabwe for example, continued to learn and practice correct and effective ways of communication. From struggling with sheer adulterated English they ended up speaking ‘is’ and ‘was’ in their laconic verbal goulash. Most of them today are powerful flaming orators making everyone dance when they speak. It takes continuous learning for all involved to master the art of verbal intelligence.
It was Albert Einstein who said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
That is precisely my aim in these new series of Upholstering Communication Skills in English. Teaching you to repair, upholster your English so that you all become better writers and speakers; teachers, students and adults striving to be great communicators.
Here are some verbal germs you must avoid whenever you write or speak:
How many times have you heard speakers say, “On top of that” you did this and that bla bla … ad infinitum? “She stole my money, stole my business, and on top of that she stole my husband.” Or “You insult me in public, say what you want about my mother, and on top of that you insult my religion.” On top of that…on top of that…now and forever more! What does “On top of that” mean? Pamusoro paizvozvo unoti zvakatizvikati…The Ndau proudly say: “Padera pakona wonditukira namayangu!”
Pure Shona, vernacular! Nothing at all is close even to an imitation of English language. What could be closer to English? ‘As if that was not enough’ you go on to…..That sounds more like English. You can also say, “To make matters worse” you go on to. . . ”
Have you also heard, “We must treat others with love — “Treat others the way we want them to treat us”? Who are OTHERS? You cannot talk about ‘others’ before talking about ‘some’. Example: Some (people) turned left, others turned right. There we are! ‘Others’ refers to part of a larger group of whatever. There are no people simply known as OTHERS. In Shona, yes we speak of ‘others’ as if there are people known as ‘Others’: Vamwe (others) vanorara musango, vachichema kwazvo. In Chipinge where I come from we say, ‘Vanhani (others) vachazoguma mangwani…directly translated to mean, ‘ Others will arrive tomorrow.’
“With regards to the rest of the matter, we can discuss when we meet next.” With regards to. . . with regards to… with regards to. . . bla bla bla.
The more we hear that the more it sounds correct. Surely you must know that regards are what we have for our friends and loved ones.
That is why we write at the end of these letters, ‘Regards— Morris Mtisi’ meaning kind wishes or greeting. The correct English is, “With regard to the rest of the matter. . . With regard to what court rule. . . . With regard to zvakatizvikati, meaning ‘concerning that or in connection with whatever it is you are talking about. It is ‘With regard to’ not ‘With regards to.’ Mwazvizwa? Tinobonga. Got it? Thank you.
You can however, say, ‘As regards your first point in the letter…’ Or ‘I have little information as regards her past.’ Zvakanaka izvozvo, mwakona zvemene! That’s correct, very good! As regards. . .as regards… as regards! Musariyarwa peya. Don’t forget.
The same regard or regards song creates yet another problem in our communication. This time, a smelly one: Regardless and irregardless.
There is no word like irregardless in the English Language-period. It is always ‘regardless’ no matter how educated or angry you are.
Do you know the difference between ‘every day’ and ‘everyday’? Some of you may not even realize the difference.
The first one consists of two separate words: ‘every’ and ‘day.’ The second one is one word: ‘everyday.’ Both are correct but you must use them correctly not interchangeably.
‘Every day’ refers to ‘day after day’ or simply ‘daily.’ We write stories every day.(correct). We come to work every day except Saturdays and Sundays. (also correct) You cannot use ‘everyday’ (one word) in these two statements, No, Kwete, bodo, tsvoo, haikona!
‘Everyday’ (one word) is always used as an adjective (describing / qualifying somebody or something) Example: ‘Rice and chicken are not an everyday meal.’ You see! Describing a meal. Or ‘That is her everyday joke. It is now boring. ‘Everyday here tells us more about the joke / describes the joke. Accordingly you cannot use ‘every day’ (two separate words) in these two sentences and contexts.
The ‘reason why’ is another one people use very often in their everyday language.(You see use of everyday, not every day?) We must avoid such nonsensical repetition. ‘The reason’ means ‘why’. Why use both in one statement.
The reason why we go to church is obvious. (incorrect). The reason we go to church is obvious.(correct). That is the reason why he is called The Undertaker.(incorrect). That is why he is called The Undertaker.(correct).
‘The reason why’ is a very notorious common error, a nuisance fly in our proverbial ointment. You hear it every day from teachers and students, but most of all in the social media: radio, television talk-shows etc.
Whenever you say, ‘Come on, get away!’ what exactly are you saying? We hear this again and again every day from the same people and social media. ‘He was trying to be funny, I told him to get away.’ ‘I will tell her to get away if she becomes funny.’ You perhaps all say that.
You must learn the correct expression today. You want to say, ‘Come on, go away!’ ‘He was trying to be funny, I told him to go away.’ ‘I will tell her to go away if she becomes funny. ‘Go away! Not ‘Get away! Tiriteshe? Are we together?
Thanks. The last stubborn one is the use of ‘prefer’. You cannot say, ‘Shamiso prefers mini-skirts than trousers.’ Or ‘She prefers Strawberry flavour than Banana.’
My serious worry is about Composition markers at ‘O’ Level. What happens if the teacher, the marker, is not aware of these common errors?
Meanwhile, the one marking next to him or her is penalizing the candidate for making numerous breaches of acknowledged rules of the English language.
That’s my greatest worry and fear. We assume English markers know these errors equally well. NO, they don’t! Mathematics markers obviously have the same answers on their answer sheet. Perhaps even History and Divinity markers are guided by the same schedule of facts/points to consider.
Not in the English Language! These teachers, well, most of them, in fact literally taught these errors to their pupils. And when they (pupils) repeat them in their written work, teachers do not see anything wrong.
I assist a lot of private candidates (even those in the mainstream sector during vacation tutorials). When results are finally released I always get shocked to see ‘hopeless communicators’ doing far better than ‘hopefuls’. Sometimes straight A cases get Cs and typical E graders come celebrating distinctions.
How do we explain these miracles? Inconsistency in marking caused by sheer incompetence and gross irregularities in knowledge about correct and incorrect communication: that is the simple answer.
Soon I will tackle the issue of poor examination marking head-on. Watch the space. Meanwhile learn with joy and fun how you can upholster your English by making the above communication repairs.
It was Aristophenes who said, “You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.” I do. I have taught many how to walk straight.
I have used myself as a bridge over which many candidates crossed, and before I joyfully collapse or retire, I want to invite more and more to enjoy these empowerment lessons. So long for another week!
