Dear Editor,
It has been almost a year since I last wrote about our continued butchery of the English language. In the meantime, many other persons have been expressing similar concerns from a variety of perspectives.
However, when Channel 11, wherein I would venture to think reside the most qualified of our media personages, recently used the work ‘payed’ (I assume in place of the word ‘paid’) in extolling the virtues of NIS contributions, I decided to write on the subject again. And, since it seems that nothing can or will be done about this particular type of carnage, I will try to place a positive spin on what is taking place.
Taking the lead from my word processor which offers U.S., U.K, Canada, Trinidad, Jamaica and Caribbean English among others!, I suggest that all these strange (at least to me) words which are becoming part of our Guyanese lexicon be formally incorporated into a glossary of Guyanese words: words such as ‘choiced’ (jewellery), ‘payed’ (contributions), ‘flexable’ (hours), ‘interrup’ (this movie), ‘courtious’ (staff), (free) ‘dilivry’, `resurve’ (your copy), (the new) ‘fasilaty’, ‘recrute (persons). As long as the words continue to be accepted publicly, they could then be used in, say, local scrabble competitions and Guyanese CXC English examinations! It is to be noted that all these words appeared on television in printed form at various times on various channels as spelt above and in the stated context.
Finally, and for the record, a substitute news anchor on a particular channel has started to use the word ‘pled’ to describe guilty and not guilty pleas in our courts.
It is my understanding that the word ‘pled’ is used primarily in Scottish and US courts instead of the more familiar ‘pleaded’. Way to go, Gurdun!
There is too much negative thinking when we encounter problems in our society today. There should be a concerted effort to look at everything in a positive light!
Yours faithfully,
C.E. Housty
