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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jan 2007 : 23:57:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
Thank you Toubab.
Sister Omega missed something out. Nobody mentioned censorship. These are open suggestions to people not just Bantaba users. Many people in this world have difficulty expressing themselves simple and clear. Not only is this true about those who write. It is also true about many who speak. Lot of public speakers fall into the temptation of sounding loud but not clear. In writing also lot of noise is carried without the writer being aware. I make mistakes and do know that many others make similar mistakes. This is a discussion open to those who consider the problems associated with wordiness. I am not an authority over anyone in Bantaba and will never suggest censorship. I AM TOTALLY AGAINST ANY FORM OF DICTATORSHIP. Censorship is one of the attributes of dictatorship. Certainly Sister Omega, I am in no way suggesting dictatorship. I will be more than happy to help anyone who needs help in keeping their communication short, sharp, simple and effective. That does not mean I have business in what anyone chooses to write. Get me clear.
Yes, a clear and unbombastic answer,thanks.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 01:07:27
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A user who prefers anonymity asked the question below:
"How do I manage to keep it short when many words appeal to me at once?"
Suggestion:
Think of your audience. Decide your message. Choose the combination of words that conveys the best meaning you intend. Remember some of your past exams Ojective Question papers. You are often advised to choose from the alternatives the one that BEST suits. Other alternatives may not all be that wrong but the most suitable is best preferred. Or rather the best preferred is the most suitable. Select the words that suits the purpose in your best opinion.
Always remember WHAT (message) you want to convey and WHO (the target) you intend to inform. |
Karamba |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 01:52:54
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More clarity? :: :For some people, the most ordinary and common English words are BOMBASTIC.
I have never in my life been bombastic in language or dress. Musically, I'm a melody & ryhthm extravaganza minimalist. Art is show & "it don't mean a thing without that swing"
We could all do with a lot of improvement and are free to do so.
Next you will be telling James Carter or Joshua Redman how to blow his horn.
And Picasso how to draw a crooked line.
And Günter Grass how to renounce his Nazi past and in German.
Yes, it’s the whole man that has to be educated and who wants half a man?
We must understand what we are writing, why we are writing and for whom we are writing.
The same with love.
What the well-meaning brother Karamba started as GOOD-Intentioned advice and encouragement ought not be allowed to degenerate into a free-for-all in which the less equipped (even if deluded about anybody they don’t know and have never met) assume that they are over-equipped and start criticising those they feel are on a meaningless rant.
So what if someone can’t spell? Or write a superb essay? Or has French or Xhosa as a mother tongue?
Purposes are different.
Some are prepared to debate or speak eloquently on certain subjects, extempore even at the UN or the Gambian Parliament if need be. He or she would be talking to the point and to somebody. Not everybody is “round the bend.” I only take vitamin E. – it keeps all my hair black and soft like lambs wool.
No point saying “He doesn’t understand”. Understand WHAT? And what is he not capable of understanding? Emmanuel Kant ? Even then – assuming this incapacity were so, that does not diminish his understanding or competence on the given subject.
The Buddha once held up a rose. One of his students understood.
Karamba is succeeding with his communication with all and sundry. At least I understand him perfectly. He is never verbose, and what if he is? Is the president of the Gambia better at the English language than me? I find nothing to criticize in the way he expresses himself. He communicates perfectly and eloquently.
Some of the less educated and less familiar with the potentials and range of simple English should find out the meaning of “bombastic” and should acquaint themselves with ideas - such as those of Kwame Nkrumah, Walter Rodney, before they start passing judgment on what they might not understand. Not all of us on this Forum are as talented or daring as Santanfara (who is ready to rumble) or Abdoukarim Sanneh......to name just two.
Or Noam Chomsky or Alan Dershowitz. Or like Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki or President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone – he is also an eloquent and indefatigable speaker.
There are some important messages here about Somalia and about Journalism.
http://www.anc.org.za/
Or Jomo Kenyatta or Zik of Africa or AWO :Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
http://www.google.se/search?hl=sv&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enSE205SE205&q=Jomo+Kenyatta+&btnG=S%C3%B6k&meta=
http://www.google.se/search?hl=sv&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enSE205SE205&q=Jomo+Kenyatta+speaks&btnG=S%C3%B6k&meta=
http://www.google.se/search?hl=sv&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enSE205SE205&q=Speeches+of+Chief+Obafemi+Awolowo&btnG=S%C3%B6k&meta=
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Edited by - Cornelius on 14 Jan 2007 02:04:27 |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 02:35:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Lily
Perhaps there's no harm in being clear and using simple and precise words to convey meaning? It helps everyone to understand exactly what one is trying to say.
Of course all languages are rich and metaphors and flowing sentences are wonderful. The greatest literary geniuses are just that - literary geniuses. The greatest poetry and prose is full of hidden meanings, twists and turns and is exciting to read - but conversely simple language is not censorship but (sometimes) is merely a tool to allow access to meaning to all.
We can all play games in the ways in which we write and the tongues in which we speak - but do we have to??
Writing? This is straight talk!
I have my own favourite poets, novelists, women and men of ideas, Israeli politicians too, journalists (Frisk is not one of them), comedians, newspapers, actresses and actors, Stephen Rappaport is one since I saw him in his theatre production of “Theory of Everything” brilliant – it’s a matter of taste you might say, a certain pedigree of taste, and I know what I like.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=sv&q=Stephen+Rappaport+%22Theory+of+Everything%22&btnG=Google-s%C3%B6kning
Yes, I know what I like.
You
Can’t instruct me on that or on how or what to write and for who or write for me.
I know who I am writing for and writing to. And to a crowd too, I know who I’m talking to.
If you don’t understand that, too bad. It's no fault of mine. Like Muriel the donkey or boxer, should I try harder?
Good nite.
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Edited by - Cornelius on 14 Jan 2007 02:45:47 |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 02:50:11
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| Hey everybody, go ahead and write how y´all want aight. I don´t mind anyway. If you wanna sound brainy like a professor and write words that ordinary ppl have to check in the dictionary to understand then go ahead. No need to adjust your writing styles to please none, I sure don´t. I prefair to keep it short and ghetto but that´s just me. Diversity is a good thang, we are all different and so are the people in the real world outside your window. This is a free forum for everyone and nobody should be told how to write, as long as people are writing it´s all good. Your style is yours and it´s ok. |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 02:54:44
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THats'the spirit. Be yourself baby lon
It's better that you are effortlessly you (yours truly)than that you are someone like her, all beat up. |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 02:59:01
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Babylon,
There is no pressure for anyone to change style. Nothing to impose perfection either. Like you rightly noted, diversity is a great blend. Peter Tosh once sang: "I am that I am" Some of the words were: "I am not in this world to live up to your expectation, neither are you to live up to mine" That sounds great!!! In't? |
Karamba |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 03:12:33
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"I am not in this world to live up to your expectation, neither are you to live up to mine"
Hmmm... I think I wrote that song!  |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 03:22:23
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Good to be informed your great song is still valid for changing times. Well written!!! |
Karamba |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 03:28:59
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Scorpio? !!
Also a good humpa music group from Haiti.
As for the the Gestalt prayer, it's by my first Guru in this life, Fritz Perls( In and out the Garbage Pail) thanks to blues man Terry & Ann Smutylo our neighbours in Ghana.
It's a song that can be sung by more than one....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_prayer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Perls
Terry of Toronto. ( I used to think that he was an incranation of Robert Johnson - he played that well.
He's very tall and Ann (beautiful)) rather shorter besides him.One day, with a primitive hoe in hand, he started planting peanuts on the little bald patch outside the chalets of South Legon, where we lived. When he started the planting, I was laughing and thought, " Is this toubab going to show us how to plant peanuts? What does he think he's doing? Tony Asrilen smiled. And what WHAT does he know about peanuts anyway?( I didn't know about Carter either at that time) But when it was harvest time, that little patch could have been worth a fortune on the Swedish market!
http://www.google.se/search?hl=sv&q=Terry+Smutylo&btnG=S%C3%B6k&meta=
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Edited by - Cornelius on 14 Jan 2007 03:59:33 |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 03:36:40
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Music, speech, and writing are aspects of art. Cooking can be art too as some people dish out more delicious than others with same ingredients. Anything on that Cornelius? |
Karamba |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 03:45:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
Good to be informed your great song is still valid for changing times. Well written!!!
Thank you! Yep, I guess it´s a classic one... Pity though, I can´t remember if I wrote it before I was born or before my 7th birthday... And no, I didn´t smoke my first and last joint ´til I was 19.
Ok, bedtime for Babylon... 
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 03:50:17
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Nothing on that Kara Ramba. I first stepped into the kitchen after taking the plunge. The way to a man's heart is through his mind.
Now let me get back to it.
Education is a never ending quest. Even in the grave some will be asked questions.....
I would concentrate on your favourite Gambian topic if I were you and leave the style of writing to the writers. |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 04:01:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
Music, speech, and writing are aspects of art. Cooking can be art too as some people dish out more delicious than others with same ingredients. Anything on that Cornelius?
I've got ramblin' on my mind.
You wanna rumble? |
Edited by - Cornelius on 14 Jan 2007 04:02:05 |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 13:17:21
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"I would concentrate on your Gambian topics and leave style to the writers" Cornelius.
As if writing and style style are not Gambian issues. Indeed Gambia is part of the wider universe. What is there for anyone else on planet earth is there for Gambians too. Much more I am not imposing style, spelling or grammar on anyone. Those who read and respond to these postings do so at their own very free will and choice. "I AM HERE NOT TO CHANGE YOUR LAWS" Jesus Christ.
Just because Gambia is West Africa does not mean Gambians can't contribute to development of language. The English language is as English as it is Gambian. Those who share interest and time have the total freedom to discuss about English, Arabic, if you like French. Leopold Sedar Senghore was the only non-French authority of the French language. He alone was not FRENCH and Black too who had authority to discus French and even to add or omit words. Senghore came from Senegal, a country sharing border with Gambia. As matter of interest, anyone can share views about any language. Remember it is all for mankind on earth. When you're dead you can't.
Cornelius, English, any language, every mode and instrument of communication is open to examination by interested Gambians so long as they have time and energy to do so. |
Karamba |
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