Language gone to the dogs

Imagine a newscaster on national radio, referring to the recent floods, spoke about the recession of the water.

So, taking a cue from what used to be, at least in the days of Trevor McDonald and Hazel Ward, impeccable sources of sound English viz radio and television, the next time my friends want to make fun about my receding hairline I will tell them to use the noun recession instead.

There seems to be no turning back. This is one occasion when one longs for a return to the bad old days of colonialism when newscasters, editors, sub-editors and teachers at all levels made it their business to speak and write English that was internationally acceptable.

I must also note that language in the media and in common usage has even taken a nosedive in the land of our former colonial masters.

This is not meant to pooh-pooh our creole English or the myriad versions of the language that one hears across Britain. Our own creole is a distinctly beautiful brand that has its place.

How lovely it would be if we all were to master both brands — the vernacular and the internationally acceptable one. We can only do so when we know and understand the difference between the two.

JAN WESTMAAS via email