Education
A Group Of Politicians is Called What?
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com
Can we do a bit Of Grammar?😊 In this period of hunger and poverty? Many would have queried in their minds.
English language is one of the languages that could be described as developed used globally as channels of communication and transactions as against our native languages.
Those of us from Africa, most often have seen English language as true test of intelligence and brilliance, making some of us develop inferiority complex before those that speak empty phonetics.
The truth is, the power and proficiency in the use of English words in a steeze manner may be an expression of brilliance, certainly not an objective measuring standard for brilliance.
Many who are not obviously good in the use of English language etc with amazing style may after all have the best brain in intelligence and brilliance.
I met a guy years ago who was good in Igbo language, speaks it with an aroma that makes one fall in love with the language.
The way and manner he weaves idioms and proverbs as he speaks leaves anybody within earshot with goosebumps.
He is a first class brain by all standards, but his proficiency in spoken English more like cut and nail. So, judging the intelligence of this guy by how good he is in spoken English may be very unfair.
English language can be funny and complex anyways. The concord, the syntax, the gerund, the tenses, the pronunciations, can be very challenging to keep a tab on. Oftentimes it messes one up in pronunciation for example. Physical, psychological.
One may ask the relevance of P in the two words and the place of F in physical. It rather becomes more complex
dealing with homophones and homographs. Here are some examples of homophones:
– “to,” “too,” and “two”
– “their,” “there,” and “they’re”
– “flower” and “flour”
– “peace” and “piece”
– “ate” and “eight”
– “see” and “sea”
– plain and plane
– Meat and meet
– Berth and birth
– Break and brake
Homophones can sometimes cause confusion in writing due to their similar pronunciation but different meanings and spellings.
Have you had the opportunity of dealing with homographs? If you are not well grounded in it, honestly it would make a mince meat of one. For example
– “bow” (a knot) and “bow” (to bend forward)
– “tear” (a rip) and “tear” (to cry)
– “lead” (a metal) and “lead” (to guide)
– “wind” (moving air) and “wind” (to twist)
– “bass” (low sound) and “bass” (a type of fish)
Homographs can be tricky because they are spelled the same but have different meanings depending on the context in which they are used.
You see, English language can mess one up 😆 it is not your tongue.
Surprisingly many that speak it with powerful sleazy accent may meet walls of Gibraltar trying to write it. I have met one “I just got back” she dazzled me with her slippery accent. With awe I gazed at her and nearly lost my breath.
I opened my mouth in disbelief when she couldn’t write correctly, mixing homographs, homophones, tenses and concord.
Have you heard about collective noun? I know you have, but if you have not, permit me to take you on this brief mental exercise, you will enjoy it.
Collective nouns add fun and class in both written and spoken English.
Here are some examples of collective nouns:
– A murder of crows
– A herd of cows
– A pack of wolves
– A flock of birds
– A swarm of bees
– A crash of rhinoceroses
– A parliament of owls
– A leap of leopards
– A dazzle of zebras
– A pandemonium of parrots
– A mischief of mice
– A parliament of rooks
– A murder of crows
– A crash of rhinoceroses
– An exaltation of larks
– Pandas of embarrassment
– Cackle of Hyena
– Congress of Crocodile
Use the homographs, the homophones and the collective nouns to make a breathtaking statement about our politicians?
Look at the below example for a cue.
“Our politicians are wind that wind and tear the masses into tears. They are too unconscious to see the ills of their actions on the masses who see the sea of frustration everyday, caused by the pack of wolves that devour them, the parliament of owls that scares them with their delvry look, the murder of crows that murder their happiness, using the tricks and theft of mischief of mice to cause pains, visiting the masses with sorrow, frustration, lack and penury like a swamp of bees”.
From the above description, what would better suit our politicians? Pandemonium of parrots?.Pandas of embrassment? A Coronel of Virus? A Congress of Crocodile? Based on what they do with the mandate of the masses?
I have taken style taught small English😊. I have equally used it to open our eyes the more on the nature of our political class using collective nouns to make a sentence.
My take home assignment for you my reader is on the use of collective nouns. With the aid of the collective nouns stated above, kindly describe
1) The leadership style of Mr President
2) His sense of Financial discipline
3) His level of empathy on the masses
4) His crave for leadership
5) His perception among the committee of Nations
N.B Ones ability and mastery in weaving some homophones and homographs in ones answers would earn one more marks.
One may wish to consider the following as areas of concentration
A) Pandas of Embarrassment
B)Mischief of Mice
C)Cackle of Hyena
D)Swarm of Bees
As I wait for your answers, I would like to share with you the views and opinions of some people I asked what a group of politicians is called.
1) To some they are a cacophony of idiots.
2) To others a decay of virtue.
3) To yet another , the slippery stink of a decayed banana,
4)An accidental discharge of nemesis .
5) Rotten crates of Eggs
6) The cesspool of corruption
Hmmmm! What do you think?
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com