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| A picture of Jamaica today. |
There was a time when if you wanted to improve your diction, you listened to either of the two radio stations on the island in the 1960s and early 70s. If you wanted to improve your writing skills, you were advised to read the Daily Gleaner.
Today, anything goes, and it is difficult for us to speak and write well and also to comprehend what we hear and read.
I have written about how the prime minister is to be addressed, and no one from the Office of the Prime Minister has responded. My position still is, national titles must come before degrees given by universities. The prime minister should therefore be addressed formally as The Most Hon. Dr Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP. I noticed that the Deputy Prime Minister is addressed as The Honourable Dr Horace Chang. We just started teaching civics-related matters again in our schools, and our children and the rest of us are not aware of many things.
The next strange thing that has blown over Jamaica like Hurricane Melissa is the phrase, '...would have.'
I must tell you this story:
A police officer was in court giving his testimony. He said to the judge, "The accused man attacked me with a knife, and I would have pulled my service revolver.
The judge then asked, "You shot him?"
The police replied, "I would have shot him yu ronour".
The judge queried further, "The accused died?"
The police promptly replied, "He would have died yu ronour."
The frustrated judge then said, "You said the accused would have died. Did he die or not, and was he pronounced dead by a doctor?
The poor judge muttered to himself, "With many persons leaving high schools and universities these days, I was hoping that they would have learned how to express themselves.
Listen to the principal below, who, like many of us, has been caught by this 'would have' bug.
The school has a board, and you have regional education offices, yet this principal communicated with the Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information by posting something on social media and tagging the minister! You are a leader of an educational institution. Is that the example you are setting for the students and the teachers? No sah, yu no ready!
The chairman of the board should write a letter to the minister outlining the challenges and copying other relevant organizations.
My readers might think that I am outdated, but is this the new way to do it? Post something on social media and tag your superior?.
You live, and you learn!
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Reinvent First,second and third Jamaica local.Those were the exams our older teachers and mothers did.
ReplyDeleteNowadays many of these degree holding teachers many are a total disaster.
Growing up one could even repeat what Ministers say with certainty of correctness.Do not try that enmasse these days or nights.
For some reason they mastered the English language and the various protocols very well.
Back to the future or are we heading to make Jamaica a fully dunce /bright Patois Republic.
Professor Dr Carolyn Cooper talk to us nuh.
Thank you Jesus!!! I'm so glad this "Would have" epidemic has been raised. I'm befuddled how supposedly sensible and educated people are always "would having" I'm left wondering did they or did they not?
ReplyDeleteThe other one is "Treat with"
What's happening?
Has basic Grammar died?
As a friend of mine would say, "Nah saaah!"
Thank you my friend & Chief Consumer Advocate ( CCA) for raising this. I feel like I just exhaled. I used to feel isolated in my concern of the misuse.
Sir Derby help me here what is the right word to use because I use the same word would have
ReplyDeleteDid you do something say or not?
DeleteIf you did it, say “I did it”
Would have is used if you really did not do it.
So for example:
I sat on the chair.
Not - I would have sat on the chair.
I went to the supermarket.
Not - I would have gone to the supermarket.
When you say ‘would have’ it sounds as though you want to explain why you did not.
For example: I would have gone to the supermarket if I had money.
Use the simple past tense.
I hope that this helps.
That's it.
DeleteThanks Vernon. This 'would have' and similar expressions 'would have' been driving me 'would have' crazy.
DeleteThanks Vernon. This 'would have' and similar expressions 'would have' been driving me 'would have' crazy.
DeleteThis "would have" hurricane frustrates to the core! I would have said something before but who listens! Lol
ReplyDeletePertaining to to the dictates of protocol and how the PM should be addressed, isn't there a protocol expert? Can't remember his name. Check him Vernon and compare notes
Please note my position is based on how I see it logically, and therefore, this is not a matter that an expert would be of assistance. Some of us might even disagree with the expert. I am almost certain that the current standards were set by experts. That reminds me that our roads are built by engineers, but probably some of us could do a better job of building roads.
DeleteI'm not surprised about the non mastery of the English Language in high and low places in this country. Even last night the TVJ news anchor read "The number of cases are rising". Mi tune out same time.
ReplyDeleteI “would have” should not be used to express what was done. Would have in the context of the officer and judge really means the officer would have done something differently. We must teach our teachers and students how to write and speak to the point. For instance, the officer should have said “I shot the thief”.
ReplyDeleteAnother overused phrase is “this day and age”. Why not just say today!
Many years ago, a radio announcer said "the victim was fatally shot to death" My 11 year old daughter said "Daddy, did he just say that" She "would have" just seen Steve Erkel on TV
ReplyDeleteNow if di man get a fatal shot, him no mus ded. Yes DED. So does being fatally shot to death mean him ded two time?
So, Vernon mi breddren, mek wi tek would have outta di would have place.
As for me and my house, we will stay with our hybridised patois and English. Usimi??
Yes, misi u :)
Delete