The English language
is no respecter of anybody. It beats both the weak and the strong with its
complex wings. This time around, it reveals the language inadequacies of
members of the financial institutions.
To attract potential
customers, commercial banks in Nigeria always flaunt the advert: "Open
an account and win a laptop." What this simply means is that every
potential customer who opens an account with any of these commercial banks
should be given a laptop instantly. However, at the end of the day, millions of
persons go home without laptops after opening accounts with these banks. I
doubt if these banks understand the meaning of this expression. If they do,
then it shows how we are being misled or deceived by these banks.
It is quite unfortunate
one can't claim damages in a country like Nigeria. That is why I had wished I
stayed abroad. If it were in the UK or the US, I would have opened an account
with the bank and would have immediately requested my laptop. Lol! Whereby the bank
refused, I knew I could claim damages for being misled by a bank advert
encouraging me to open an account.
Well, I am very sure
commercial banks in Nigeria are ignorant of the actual meaning of this
expression. It is a semantic default. For them to be fair to potential
customers, I advise they rephrase the expression. The advert should
read: "Open an account and stand a chance to win a laptop."