nd now Segun Sofowote turns to language. Spoken language. His new book, rather sarcastically title ENGLISH AS SHE SPOKE, has the sub-title: A Non-native Speaker’s Speech Companion.

Coming after his last book of folktales redesigned in cast and scenarios together with details of continuity which only an accomplished dramatist can contrive, ENGLISH AS SHE SPOKE (EASIS by its acronym) is sure to raise a query as to what compatibility there is between the two genres of literature, a question that is accentuated by the obvious proud Africanism of the earlier work and the apparent assimilative orientation of ENGLISH AS SHE SPOKE. Can the puzzle be resolved by the new book’s Dedication Statement, the first part of which highlights the dichotomy, followed by the denouement in the second part?

Dedication
To
The fast dwindling tribe of sticklers for authenticity (often derided as old-fashioned purists) who care to speak in an uncolonized way any of our God-given languages in Africa, Asia and beyond, are immune to the trendy infection of speaking the language in a way purported to be sophistication, in which four, five or six out of every ten words are unabashedly English…
And
All those thoughtfully fastidious persons for whom language, any language (including English) is not a poor workhorse that is recklessly abused, but rather a superbly crafted possession, proudly treasured, consciously maintained in prime form and pleasurably employed.

For those who would not be satisfied with that, there is plenty more in other parts of the book that reveals the complex artistic nature of Segun Sofowote who, it must be borne in mind, is a phonetician and speech trainer in addition to several other things. The one trait that runs through all is not at all difficult to see however. It is the fact that in all of them, he sets a high score by excellence, the quest for which must manifest in any language that one naturally uses or is obliged to use.

For him mediocrity and illogicality are exchangeable terms of references. Wherever he finds anything less than excellence or at least a quest for it, he makes no effort to be patronizing. Which explains why the book is as candidly critical of non-native speakers who would be content to speak English inelegantly as it is unsparing in its carping of the smug illogicality of English orthography. Written for the Commonwealth of speakers or would-be speakers of English the world over which, as is well known, far outflanks the Empire turned official Commonwealth, ENGLISH AS SHE SPOKE together with its audio CD is for universal use. In parts of his elucidating foreword to EASIS, Mr Alfred Esimatemi Opubor, PhD, Formerly Professor and Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Nigeria writes:

“Segun Sofowote is well placed to respond to these and other vexing questions. He has set out to do so in a masterful way in this manual. ENGLISH AS SHE SPOKE is a confident road map, produced by a teacher who has earned his stripes in the heart of the solid grounding in language arts and teaching, as well as his uncompromising approach to helping students succeed in correct pronunciation and language use, makes this an invaluable guide for Nigerians and other non-native speakers who aspire to speak English in an effective and intelligible manner.
It is not an easy ride. This manual challenges the user. It puts into context, and in a handy format, problems that the author, like others in my generation, have grappled with for half a century. Diligent application of the knowledge contained here will be its own reward. Whatever the motives of those who study and apply the lessons taught and learned through this work, the pay-off will be immense in the personal and professional gratification it will surely bring.”

“The motivation to succeed, for the trainees, is the promise of being able ‘to escape the lower end of the middle class and move up.’ Nigerians will certainly be challenged sooner or later by the global market-place, perhaps not in exactly the same manner; but then why not? What this example shows is the inescapable need to improve one’s ability to communicate acceptably in the globalized environment of the future. Self-consciousness about competent spoken English and mastery of the requisite skills for achieving it, as advocated in Segun Sofowote’s inspired manual, is a first step to that happy ending.”

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