TODAY we continue the analysis of our sample II for last week. For convenience, we would simply identify it as sample I today, and disregard those errors that have received analytical attention last Sunday, concentrating on those two that have not been discussed.

Sample I: “Most of the armed robbery cases in this axis is carried out by these hoodlums... Raping girls are also said to be rampant... Others who spoke with Saturday Tribune sited financial constraints, such as inability to rent shops in town, as the major reason for choosing to ply their trade there... A security personnel, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told Saturday Tribune that social activities at the toll gate are always at the peak in the night...” (The Good, the Ugly Sides of Life at Toll Gates, The Saturday Tribune, 17 September, 2011.)

As part of the unfinished job from last week, we consider the form and importance of the word site which occurs in the structure, “others... sited financial constraints, such as inability to rent shops in town as the major reason...” Obviously the word site as used in this context is intended as one and the same word as that which we use in the context of giving examples.

But the reporter needs to be told immediately that he has chosen a wrong word, having confused site with cite. We have had cause to discuss the mix-ups involving the words cite, site, and sight several times in this place. It is convenient to re-produce an earlier discussion for the purpose of clarifying the respective usages of these words.

Sight: (1) The sight of blood should not put a General off. (2) A doctor should not be disturbed by the sight of blood. (3) He caught sight of the ghost. (4) The ruins of the city presented an ugly sight. (5) John has a bad eyesight. (6) When the tiger sighted the hunter, it charged. (7) As soon as the thief sighted the policeman, he took to his heels.

The word sight, as you can guess from the sentences above, has to do with vision, visual perception or seeing. It can be used both as a noun and as a verb. In the first five sentences above, it is used as a noun; in the last two, it is used as a verb.

The word can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, for example, we have: We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). In that construction, the reality of what we see with the physical eyes is contrasted with the reality of what we see with the eyes of faith. Another example is: We should not lose sight of the significance of honesty.

Site: (1) The Civil Engineer moved the building materials to the construction site. (2) The site of the proposed industry is close to the area where the raw materials can be easily obtained. (3) The Committee on Education visited the site of the proposed University. (4) There is no agreement as yet on where to site the University. (5) The village Chief has appealed to the wealthy sons and daughters of the village to site industries at the village.

From the sentences above, you notice that the word site is not related at all to vision, seeing or visual perception which the word sight (discussed above) represents. Rather, it has to do with physical location. Like sight, it can be used both as a noun and as a verb. The first three sentences are examples of the nominal use or the use as a noun while the last two (4 and 5) are examples of verbal use or the use as a verb.

Cite: (1) Can you cite an example of novels written by women? (2) The example you cited is not appropriate. (3) I can cite five sentences of the government’s refusal to obey court orders. (4) The lawyer cited instances from the judicial tradition.

In the four sentences above, the word cite has been used as a verb. In this form, it is used exclusively as a verb. But unlike sight and site whose forms do not change for verbal and nominal usage, the word cite has a noun form having “-ion” ending. The noun citation (plural, citations) is commonly used in the context of judicial proceedings. The form is related in meaning to the verbal use in sentence (4) above. We can say: The judge found inappropriate most of the lawyer’s citations.

We also use the word citation(s) in the context in which a person is publicly honoured. On such occasion, citations on the person are read by an orator. Citations in this case refers to the record and achievements of the person being honoured.

It should be clear to readers that the word required in the context under examination is not sited but cited.

Next, we focus attention on the word personnel as used in the context, “a security personnel who spoke...” I urge readers to please note the indefinite article a in the phrase “a security personnel”. It is a grammatical fact that the word a is a weak form of one. In other words, “a security personnel” implies “one security personnel”.

The point that must be made is that the word personnel is not a countable noun, but a collective noun. In other words, a single person cannot be referred to as a personnel. No. The entire workforce in an organisation is the personnel of that organisation. (1) Medical personnel should be treated with more dignity and respect. (2) The training received by the military personnel is often different from that received by the police. (3) The budget shows that the money to be spent on personnel this year will be less than that spent last year. (4) Well-trained personnel will certainly bring about efficiency and higher productivity. (5) Personnel are to be moved from one section of the company to the other. (6) If the personnel are untrained and inefficient, the management may have no choice but dispense with them.

Instead of a security personnel, we should say either a security person or a security officer.

Sample II: “This latest attacks occurred barely 24 hours after suspected members of the Islamist sect killed three Nigeria Air Force officers... (Explosion at Bomb Factory Kills Three, The Nation, Sunday 18 December, 2011).

We pay attention to the demonstrative adjective this which occurs in the structure, “This latest attacks”. It should be obvious that the demonstrative adjective (this) is singular. It should be obvious as well that the noun attacks is plural. We then have a conflict of forms, a grammatical condition that comes under the heading of lack of concord.

What we have in “this... attacks” is not different from each of the following: *this boys; *this houses; *this chairs; *this women; *this schools; *this cities. These expressions are obviously anomalous, since there is a contradiction between the singular form this and the plural nouns. To correct them, we would either change the demonstrative adjective to its plural form or change the plural nouns to their singular forms: this chair or these chairs; this boy or these boys; this house or these houses; this woman or these women; this school or these schools; this city or these cities.

Similarly, we should change our sample, this latest attacks, to these latest attacks, where the plural form these is in harmony with the plural form of the noun attacks.

Sample III: “Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has assured that his 2012 budget will consolidate on the infrastructure programme of his government in the last four years” (2012 Budget: Uduaghan Promises to Consolidate Development, The Nation, Sunday 18 December, 2011).

I draw your attention to the expression consolidate on, noting especially the particle on following the verb consolidate directly. Let us note that the verb consolidate does not need the particle on; it in fact does not need any particle at all. It is obviously the case that this usage habit of Nigerians (of burdening the verb consolidate with the particle on) is based on the analogy of the usage of the verb build.

Yes, you build on your previous efforts, achievements, activities, etc: (1) This administration will build on the foundation it has laid in the last four years. (2) It is my plan to build on my achievement so far.

However, when you use the verb consolidate, you dispense with the particle: (1) We do not plan to start a new programme; rather we will consolidate our achievements so far. (2) It is easier to consolidate our gains now than to start afresh.

The attachment of irrelevant particles to verbs is a common feature of usage in Nigeria. Another example is the verb advocate to which some Nigerians would usually attach the particle for: (1) A social activist has advocated for free education at all levels. (2) Those who are advocating for the removal of the subsidy on oil are either callous or ignorant.

Deleting the particle on, we should re-write the sentences as follows: (1)(b) A social activist has advocated free education at all levels. (2)(b) Those who are advocating the removal of the subsidy on oil are either callous or ignorant.

Again, this faulty usage is based on the analogy of the usage of the verb call which certainly requires the presence of the particle for: (1) Civil servants have called for the establishment of a special bank for the poor. (2) The NUJ has called for the provision of a special salary package for its members.

You can call for something, yes; but you do not advocate for it. You advocate something simply