Standard English is “book English,” the language of oratory and newsreaders and liturgy. In the decades before Liberians started talking about Kolokwa, they called everything “English.” You would sometimes hear terms like “Soldier English” or “Waterside English” or “Broken,” but those terms were rare. Before the use of the term Kolokwa became widespread, students often saw little need to study English in school. Distinguishing between Standard English and Kolokwa makes clear to students that their knowledge of the latter does not on its own achieve knowledge of the former. A final point with regard to Kolokwa is that, even though it is not Standard English, it is a complete language.

Source: Daily Observer November 19, 2021 07:02 UTC