CONFUSING QUESTIONS FOR NIGERIAN SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH

In replying to certain English questions, the knowledge of an indigenous language often makes many Nigerians give a wrong response. Three of such questions are discussed below:

1. In English, the positive marker ‘yes’ cannot attract a negative response although this happens in Yoruba and other languages. Example: Are you not eating? No, I’m not eating.
To this kind of question, you often hear  Nigerians say: Yes, I’m not eating. This will, in Yoruba, read as: Bèni, mi o jeun, which is not permissible in English.

2. To the question, Do you mind a cup of tea? The response to give if you want is: No, I don’t mind and the response to give if you don’t want is: Yes, I mind.
Do you mind should not be mistaken for do you want or do you care for?

3. The response to the courtesy greeting/question, How do you do?, is, How do you do too?
It is not worth arguing whether this makes any sense or not. Every language has its norms which inform its usage.

Language is rule governed!