𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 By Akanni Wasiu Gbadebo

Language is a vehicle to convey our innermost thoughts – those things we desire to say to people – students, colleagues or audience at a conference. But, it's not everyone who is gifted with it. 

Yet, we must interact – talk to each other.

Almost everyone in Nigeria ( those that speak the language) has contributed to the death and funeral of the English language – sometimes, it's unconscious.

The partial downfall of the language comes from, even, teachers of the language.

Many teachers of the language are not aware that students imitate the way they (teachers) speak and the things they say.

You must have heard people say " It is time/high time I LEAVE here" instead of "LEFT". What of "I thought you SAY..." rather than "SAID".

In addition to the above, it's instructive to know that, "local" does not mean something inferior but rather something "affiliated", "native" or "neighbourhood".

The word "lout" and "tout" are used wrongfully almost by 70% of people who use those words.

It amuses you when you hear educated people say "International Passport" – because it's a Nigerian passport. Funnily enough, the document that one uses to travel outside one's nation is known as a PASSPORT and not an "international passport".

By the way, if you check well, from what I have written, I must have contributed to the death and funeral of English. But, we all can be doctors rather than an assassin.

Caveat: Even amongst the native speakers of the language, there are many of them who "kill" the English language than those who use the language as language two.