blank
search-icon
Blog

Unlike Nigerian Movies, Ghanaian English Movies Don’t Improve Viewers Grammar – Do You Agree?

Jackie Appiah And Genevieve Nnaji

 

Apart from the fact that most Ghanaian movies have boring story-lines, poor camera works, annoying editing, disgusting make ups and costumes, another misstep in the English ones is the fact that they don’t improve viewers’ grammar-base.

Most Ghanaian English movies contain lines or dialogues which are mostly dry, watery, flat, bromide, platitude and clichés. Aside the fact that most of them don’t have ‘deep’ lines or dialogues, the unpardonable grammatical errors they commit can’t be ignored.

Filmmaking is not a live TV or radio show or programme where if one commits a ‘grammatical-treason’ or there is any cockup, it’s highly impossible to edit whilst shooting continues or edit.

I am not claiming and will never claim that I am a nonesuch over the Queen’s language. We are all learning. Nonetheless, the fact that we are all learning a foreign language does not mean if one of us gets it wrong, we should compromise. That is a wrong averment!

We all know of production errors which come about mostly as a result of oversight. That is quite pardonable since different locations, costumes and props are used in making films. But to speak clearly wrong English in scenes only for the director to just stare on and let it pass, amounts to taking the viewer for granted.

If you happen to be reading this piece, my question to you is; how many times have you learnt a new or unfamiliar grammar, expression, phrase, quote, idiom, adage, proverb, puzzle, riddle, etc from a Ghanaian English movie? Which movie was that?

There are many lessons we all learn from movies. We learn; morals, fashion, culture, technology, religion, genealogy, and of course language from movies. I’ve bought and sent many Twi speaking movies (Kumawood) to friends and relatives abroad who want to teach their children (born there) the Twi language with those movies as teaching aides.

It means one can also learn English or improve his/her English speaking or writing through English movies. After having a voice pop on this topic with some movie buffs, the argument was about, who is to blame?

Whilst some blamed it on the screenwriter, others blamed it on the actors. The last batch blamed it on the director. But I say, all three – screenwriter, actors, and the director are to blame! They all stand accused! None stands absolved.

May be some comparison will do at this juncture and this is where I give praises to our Nigerian filmmakers. As a screenwriter and an Arts writer, I’ve learnt a lot of unfamiliar quotes, idioms, adages, proverbs, etc. from Nigerian English movies – not to talk of the Hollywood ones.

What intrigues me is the poetic lines sometimes their (Nigerian) old men spew in their royal movies. In the past 5 years, I don’t remember any ‘special’ grammar, expression, phrase, quote, idiom, adage, proverb, puzzle, riddle, etc. I’ve learnt from any Ghanaian movie.

As for the LAFA – locally acquired foreign accent, it abounds in our English movies. In fact, our actors do it to their dead level best. Only a hand few of our filmmakers produce films with ‘deep’ lines and to those (that I’m not privy to), I give them encomium and wish they continue.

Once again, I’m not claiming I’m an apotheosis over the Queens Language. Criticism, unless it is meant for evil motives, should be given and received at all times in good faith. I look forward to one. Until then….MOTWUM!!



READ ALSO: Refused A UK Visa? CLICK HERE FOR HELP

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our daily up-to-date news!!

POPULAR POSTS

LATEST NEWS

MORE FROM Blog

8 thoughts on “Unlike Nigerian Movies, Ghanaian English Movies Don’t Improve Viewers Grammar – Do You Agree?”

  1. I couldn’t get past the first paragraph. First of all, there’s no such thing as “make ups”. Is that supposed to be the plural of “make up”? I’m sure  you also think the plural of jewellery is jewelleries. Secondly, Ghanaian English is way better than Nigeria English. If you wanna learn English from Nigerian movies, that’s up to you. You must be one of the people who think everything Nigerian is better than everything Ghanaian. Wallow in your inferiority complex.

    Reply
    • Exactly what I was thinking, as much as this article might be true…the same thing applies to Nigerian movies; you can’t learn any Grammar, or etc while watching a Nigerian movie…most of the Nigerian movies now even mix the pidgin English more with the actual English.

      Reply
  2. Who watches a movie to improve their grammar? If you want to improve your grammar go to school. This is one of the stupidest articles I have ever read. If you have nothing to write, do us a favor don’t 

    Reply
  3. Nigerians cant speak English period. Please Ghanaians are the only country in Africa with better English and accent. Seriously Nigerians cant speak, pronounce and write. Their movies not any different from our pirated stories anyways.

    Reply
  4. I see lot of bitterness here. Y’all should know that Grammar is different from Accent. Accents vary from country to country. The writer was simply talking about Grammar and composition. We all know Ghana has best accent in Africa. No doubt. But, CNN listed Nigeria as the 5th sexiest accent in the world.

    Reply

Leave a Reply