Literary discourse: “parents and their wards”: error of semantics

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• Faruk 10 years ago

  Good lecture

  Good lecture

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• Abubakar M. M. Azindoo 10 years ago

  Thankful and humbled.

  Thankful and humbled.

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• Atom 10 years ago

  “I sat in the FRONT when I boarded the airplane”, the word “front” is an error of semantics."
  
  Who is making the statement? A passenger? That would be wrong because a passenger wouldn't "sit in the front" of an airp ...
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  “I sat in the FRONT when I boarded the airplane”, the word “front” is an error of semantics."
  
  Who is making the statement? A passenger? That would be wrong because a passenger wouldn't "sit in the front" of an airplane, so logically the construction is wrong?
  
  Is it the pilot? He would most certainly not be making that statement. So who made the statement?
  
  Let's assume for a second, that the airplane is not a commercial aircraft; even in the singular circumstance, a passenger would not be sitting "in the front"!
  
  In even, you should have employed a rather unambiguous phrase to locate/ explain your semantics rather than technical terms that obfuscate what you intend to teach much clearly.
  
  Anyway, I have read your other articles and I found them good, ONLY, in Ghana, the guys love too much money to pay attention to correct grammar use.
  
  Greetings

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• A. M. M. Azindoo 10 years ago

  Thanks for your comments, Atom. I agree with you that in the normal circumstance, a passenger would not sit in the cockpit. But in an extra-ordinary situation, a "passenger" can sit there. In fact, I have personally witnessed ...
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  Thanks for your comments, Atom. I agree with you that in the normal circumstance, a passenger would not sit in the cockpit. But in an extra-ordinary situation, a "passenger" can sit there. In fact, I have personally witnessed a situation in which a journalist was allowed to sit in the cockpit of a military airplane for observation and reporting. So, "in that singular circumstance", the journalist was expected to use the right words in his reportage.
  
  In any case, I am humbled by your words of compliment and criticism.

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• Atom 10 years ago

  If you read comments on the ghanaweb, you realize 99.99% of the guys seriously need you.
  The only reason they would not read your posts is that they are way above their comprehension so they would not want to even try. But ...
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  If you read comments on the ghanaweb, you realize 99.99% of the guys seriously need you.
  The only reason they would not read your posts is that they are way above their comprehension so they would not want to even try. But as I have maintained above, people would rather go for money (and in passing, commit atrocious crimes) and abandon relevant issues such as learning how to make simple but good sentences.
  
  On the other hand, I see through your patience, and I think that's all you need to get you along, my brother.
  
  Continue the great job.

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• JKK 10 years ago

  What is the relevance of your last distinction (bt Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language) to the rest of the argument? Are you trying to say that "Parents and their wards" cannot even be used correctly in a figura ...
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  What is the relevance of your last distinction (bt Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language) to the rest of the argument? Are you trying to say that "Parents and their wards" cannot even be used correctly in a figurative sense? Then you should have made that clear instead of leaving it hanging in the air. (If you write for ghanaweb, you have to make EVERYTHING crystal clear. SAS will tell you something about that... lol)
  
  By pointing out constructions that become acceptable usage in certain regions, I take it you mean "Parents and their wards" is not acceptable even as "Ghanaian English". Will you regard that as an error that is unacceptable in all varieties of usage (i. e. no matter the region)? If so, how does a usage become acceptable in a particular region? "Parents and their wards" is a usage that has been around in Ghana for ages with the user and addresses knowing exactly the import of the phrase even if by your semantic analysis, it is an obvious "illogicality". It is not very likely that Ghanaians are going to stop saying that. And we know language is not always logical. So, when can the phrase become acceptable Ghanaian usage?

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• A. M. M. Azindoo 10 years ago

  I am sorry the distinction between Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language is not clear to you. But I am sure it is very clear to other readers. Indeed, Dr. SAS' critical and quality enhancing comments have always b ...
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  I am sorry the distinction between Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language is not clear to you. But I am sure it is very clear to other readers. Indeed, Dr. SAS' critical and quality enhancing comments have always been welcome. Hahahahaa!
  
  Permit me to point out the following in response to your comments:
  
  - I insist that "parents and their wards" is wrong in semantics because it defies the semantic properties of "parents" and "wards"
  
  -I contend that in the figurative sense it might be justified by the user, but I still find it difficult to justify it under any figure of speech. [Remember Figurative usages are very subjective].
  
  - That it is common is one thing, and that it is semantically appropriate is another. The fact that it is a "usage that has been around in Ghana for ages with the user and addresses knowing exactly the import of the phrase" may answer a question of communication not that of semantic correctness.
  
  -Even if the disputed phrase is accepted by your argument in Ghanaian parlance, it is still worthy of literary discourse, since it is semantically inappropriate.
  
  - Yes! "It is not likely that Ghanaians are going to stop saying that." But is is good they know how wrong it is semantically, even if they choose not "to top" it. In any case, I wonder if you have the capacity to speak for all Ghanaians in relation to the usage of the phrase. Hahahahaaa!

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• A. M. M. Azindoo 10 years ago

  Corrections: Not to stop it NOT "not top it."
  
  It is good NOT "is is good." Sorry for the textual virus. Hahahaaa!

  Corrections: Not to stop it NOT "not top it."
  
  It is good NOT "is is good." Sorry for the textual virus. Hahahaaa!

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• JKK 10 years ago

  Please, observe that my question is about the relevance of the distinction you make between error of semantics and figurative use of language to your main argument (that argument being that "parents and their wards" is wrong ...
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  Please, observe that my question is about the relevance of the distinction you make between error of semantics and figurative use of language to your main argument (that argument being that "parents and their wards" is wrong usage). I didn't say the distinction wasn't clear to me. Did I really say that?
  
  I went on to say that if you think using it figuratively may (or may not) be correct, then you should make that clear to the reader. I made that remark (request?) because I know, from the experience of many years on ghanaweb, that the ordinary reader may miss the point. I mentioned SAS because he, too, is aware, from several years of writing on ghanaweb, that the average reader easily misses certain things unless these are made "crystal clear".
  
  Observe, too, that I was really not making any argument as such, much less one against your main argument. I was rather asking your opinion of something and made a pointed request: when does a phrase become acceptable regional (in this case, Ghanaian) usage?
  
  There is nothing in my input which suggests that I am presuming to speak for all Ghanaians. In that case, what am I a spokesperson for? I only said the usage has been with us for a long time and will likely be without arguing that it is, thereby, correct. I even said it was "illogical". Indeed, you have taken it upon yourself to correct us on the usage for that very reason. So I am not assuming a capacity to speak for all Ghanaians.
  
  Allow me to make a minor observation: You seem quick to acknowledge praises for your articles but your irritation is palpable in your responses to those who don't praise you, even those who are just raising issues for discussion rather than disagreeing with you...

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• Abubaar M. M. Azindoo 10 years ago

  I sincerely start with an apology for what you call my "irritation" which, in your opinion, is "palpable." I do not know your criterion of determining "irritation", but trust me I have never been irritated in an intellectual ...
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  I sincerely start with an apology for what you call my "irritation" which, in your opinion, is "palpable." I do not know your criterion of determining "irritation", but trust me I have never been irritated in an intellectual discourse even if distractions from from some critics are clear. I am particularly amazed that you are running away from your demand for clarity when you actually used the adjective "clear" in your earlier comment. Please, hear your own words: "If you write for ghanaweb, you have to make EVERYTHING crystal clear." Didn't you say that? Hahahahaha!
  
  Thanks for your insistence to know the RELEVANCE of the distinction between Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language. The distinction is for the following reasons:
  
  1. Avoidance of the temptation ro lump errors of semantics and figurative usage togerher.
  
  2. Identifying figurative usage as acceptable in Literature and ordinary communication.
  
  3. Knowing that errors of semantics are unacceptable even if they are commonly used.
  
  4. Understanding that, according to my little knowledge, I cannot justify the phrase "parents and their wards" under figurative usage.
  
  Dear colleague in the Learning Industry, your imputs are always welcome. In fact, criticism is a critical ingredient of intellectualism. But permit me to add that in the intellectual world those who opt for the pleasure of criticism must be ready for the displeasure of counter-criticism. Their ability to manage this displeasure determines their readiness to belong to the intellectual community. Stay blessed.

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• JKK 10 years ago

  I don't think you still get my point.
  
  I am NOT asking for a clarification of, or a justification for, the distinction you made bt "Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language". I haven't even asked for the relevance ...
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  I don't think you still get my point.
  
  I am NOT asking for a clarification of, or a justification for, the distinction you made bt "Error of Semantics and Figurative Use of Language". I haven't even asked for the relevance of that distinction, per se. My concern is about the relevance of the distinction TO YOUR MAIN ARGUMENT. How does the distinction relate to your stance on the formulation that is the subject matter of your piece?
  
  It is only your point 4 that addresses the issue. In it, you stated categorically (making it crystal clear) that the formulation is still incorrect even if it is being used figuratively. I have no issues with that. My concern was that, that clarity does not come off from your piece.
  
  My last comment about your response to critical comments comes from my readings of all your "discourses" and the comments you make to each contributor. It is not something I arrived at only from this piece alone. Indeed, I was the one who requested of you to always come down and join us in the discussions of your own pieces. That must have been in your first or second article. Often, we learn more from these discussions than the pieces that give rise to them.
  
  I can understand if you ignore people who just come with insults. And I can also understand it's not that easy to meet critical comments with the same enthusiasm as you acknowledge the people who pat you on the back. It's only human... But it's the critical comments that's "the thing" as long as they're relevant ones. Look at Faruk's comment. It's rather bland! It does not even say the manner in which your lecture is a good one. It gives rise to no discussions. My point is that critical comments are far more useful than simple praises. It's important how we react to such comments.
  
  Let me cut it off here. There are new pieces for the day.
  
  Looking forward to your next discourse...

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• Wise K. 10 years ago

  God bless you for using your precious time to educate others. I pray, therefore, that other colleague will follow your legacy. With, people like you, we can boast about a great country for our future. I hope Okwampa Ohofe, Ad ...
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  God bless you for using your precious time to educate others. I pray, therefore, that other colleague will follow your legacy. With, people like you, we can boast about a great country for our future. I hope Okwampa Ohofe, Adofo Rockson, etc, should start to learn from you.

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• Abubakar M. M. Azindoo 10 years ago

  I am thankful to you, honored by your prayer, and humbled by your compliments. May the Lord bless all of us. Amen.

  I am thankful to you, honored by your prayer, and humbled by your compliments. May the Lord bless all of us. Amen.

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• Not very important 10 years ago

  Important is able to communicate not the complexity of the Semantics.

  Important is able to communicate not the complexity of the Semantics.

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