Placing viaducts in Ikwerre Land

Example 1: “Governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike, has lashed out at those who criticized him for citing all the viaducts built by his government in Ikwerre country.” (Go and Die – Wike Tells Those Who Criticize Citing Viaducts Only in Ikwerre Land, Opera News, August 19, 2022)

Let’s look at the present participle, citing, which occurs in the following context: “those who criticize him for citing only viaducts in the country of Ikwerre.” The form appears similarly in the headline: “Criticizing him for citing viaducts…” Citing viaducts, according to the contexts created by the writer, is to facilitate the construction of viaducts in a particular location. In other words, to quote is to bring to a location. Bad English! Bad spelling! Poor writer!

Look carefully at the spelling and compare the word with: place and sight. I can casually cite numerous examples of stylistic imperfections and malapropisms in Nigerian dailies. If you think I’m exaggerating, every time I see an error I’ll circle it and invite you to agree or disagree with me on whether or not it should be considered that way. This statement does not detract from the indisputable fact that the Nigerian press is the most vibrant, the most progressive and the most impressive on the African continent. Wherever they are – in the north, east or west – Nigerian newspapers reflect and embrace the Nigerian character: spirited, unstoppable, indomitable and optimistic. It is this paradox of strength and weakness, glory, glamour, glitz and gloom, hypocrisy and venality etc that continues to make the Nigerian character such an enigma of attraction and repulsion.

In any case, we cite another example of unsatisfactory lexical choices.

From our introductory sentences, intelligent readers will no doubt suspect an attempt to uncover an error causing confusion between the words quote, site, and sight. The error is mainly related to the wrong choice of the present participle, to quote in the already identified context. Intelligence and context clues should yield the information that the word, as used by the reporter, is about physical location, the place where a physical phenomenon such as an overpass has been or will be constructed. The reporter clearly chose the wrong word here.

Unfortunately, choosing the word quote for that context has left the reporter vulnerable to the plague of wrong choice that comes from bad spelling, poor grammar, and horribly limited vocabulary – a plague that must be stopped and purged if a writer is clean, admirable want words. and grammatically, lexically and semantically correct texts.

It is our next duty to clear up any possible and factual confusion that may arise from some writers’ attempt to use the words quote, site, and sight.

First, let’s point out that apart from identical pronunciations, the three words have nothing in common semantically. As we have indicated, the word cite is the word required in the context of giving examples. Let’s illustrate usage: (1) If you can’t cite examples, your discussion will be abstract, unexciting, and unconvincing. (2) After citing numerous authorities, the judge delivered a judgment that was as shocking as it was harsh. (3) Wole Soyinka was cited as an example of the good things that have come out of Africa. (4) In addition to Achebe’s, can you name two African novels that you find extremely readable, interesting and political? (5) I can name a number of atrocities involving human life committed by Nigerian police officers.

This word must be carefully distinguished from place and sight with which it has nothing in common except pronunciation.

Now we illustrate the use of the word sight. Usually used as a noun and a verb, the use of the word see is illustrated as follows: (1) A lion was said to be hunting, but no one could claim to have seen it in person. (2) After seeing the moon, the sultan ordered the fasting of Ramadan. (3) Jacob boasted of his ability to kill a lion, but when he sighted the antelope, he became so frightened and nervous that he dropped the rifle and put him on his heels. (4) When the woman saw the corpse of his son, she sobbed uncontrollably. (5) Seeing the New World, one could imagine that Columbus, discovering America, was beside himself with excitement. (6) The sight of the young girl’s mutilated body immediately aroused hysteria and anger, and the mob killed the driver and burned the offending vehicle. (7) The policemen fired a shot as soon as he spotted the armed robber, but to everyone’s surprise, the violent criminal continued to run and shoot. (8) We know from biblical experience that no human being can endure the sight of an angel, not to mention the almighty, all-seeing God. (9) The slum and squalor were such an ugly sight that the visiting US president burst into tears and reportedly said he wanted to avoid more such sights. (10) Even the bravest and most experienced soldier would shudder at the sight of the carnage.

Astute readers would have noticed that the first five sentences illustrate the use of the word sight as a verb and the last five as a noun.

Now we illustrate the use of the word site. Like sight, the word site can be used as a verb as well as a noun: (1) The ownership of the land on which the university is located is so controversial and contested that the new institution has faced endless lawsuits and payments from claims and counterclaims. (2) The proposed university will be located in a place where it will not only serve as a political compensation, but also contribute to democracy for all. (3) When the factory was finally located in the least expected village, all the contenders and petitioners put their swords in the sheath and agreed to work with the government to promote the state’s economy. (4) No one can dispute that the institution is located in the most suitable place, although many people would have liked it in their own village. (5) The decision to locate the teaching hospital in the rural area was dictated by political, social and cultural factors. (6) The construction site has been cleared and the necessary materials will be moved there shortly. (7) The choice of Kaduna as the site of the new Petroleum University was met with controversy and, in some cases, condemnation. (8) One of the most important facts influencing the choice of location for a factory is the availability of raw materials. (9) We have information that a former president bought the site of the plane crash. (10) Men and materials have been taken out of the dangerous construction site.

Let’s note again that the first five sentences illustrate the use of site as a verb/past participle, and the last five illustrate its use as a noun.

It may be helpful to put two or all three words together in a few sentences: (1) The villagers claim to have seen ghosts at the scene of the plane crash. (2) He mentioned three instances where he had seen lions at the construction site. (3) To this day, the site of the massacre remains an ugly sight, in no way comparable to the places often cited by historians. (4) He did not recall the day when he was attracted to the site by the sight of a beautiful girl. (5) I don’t remember seeing new bags of cement on the construction site and I can cite numerous examples where you told similar lies.

The point must be driven home: that there are differences between and between site, quote and sight. In any case, the word situate should replace citing in the context studied.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN STAND