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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Education / Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". (62525 Views)
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Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by onimcee1(m): 7:07am On Apr 02, 2017 |
I would like to know the meaning, the origin and how the following phrase should be used: : : 'all protocols observed' : That's interesting. Having always lived in the UK, it was utterly unfamiliar to me, and I had to Google to find examples of its use. Judging by the contexts I found it in (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda) it appears to be an African way of starting a formal speech. Now, traditionally the correct protocol for starting a formal speech is by addressing everyone in your audience in order of precedence, e.g. "Your Excellency, Minister, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen". In these and other African countries it is apparently now customary to start instead with: "Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocols observed". Thus the phrase means something like: "You know who you all are, just take it as read that I have listed you as corrrect protocol dictates, OK?" : Presumably the phrase originated as a way of avoiding listing your hearers in order of precedence - either because you don't know everyone there, or don't know the correct order, or because there is some dispute over who has precedence and you don't want to commit yourself. : In any country where it is now accepted as the correct way of starting a speech, it should be used to start a speech. But not anywhere else! In addition, 'Protocols' are a system of 'rules', customs and observances which can govern any sort of activity, so if 'all protocols are observed' it means the speaker or writer is claiming that the relevant niceties have been followed. 1. It is clearly a lie. In essence you have NOT observed all protocols. It is just a claim that the necessarily rules of decorum have been observed but we all know protocol was overlooked altogether. Consider this, if you had been asked to pass a vote of thanks, would you thank one or two people and then state “All thanks given?” 2. There are other ways to observe protocol without having to mention each and every dignitary present. One way is clustering: You can use a general phrase to address all that fall within a certain category – honourable delegates, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, my Lords etc. That way due diligence is paid. 3. It is a home-grown expression, unrecognised by the rest of the world. Other than Kenyans, Nigerians, Ugandans and some South Africans who have become accustomed to hearing this, the expression remains totally alien to the rest of the world. Your audience will be at a loss as to what you mean; and as to why you have opted for that ‘short- cut.’ 4. It is not necessary to use that expression when protocol has indeed been observed. At times the speaker does indeed take his or her time to mention the dignitaries in the audience in order of precedence but spoils it by concluding the list with “all protocols observed.” If protocol has indeed been observed then that will be apparent to the audience and therefore redundant to include that out-of-place phrase. 17 Likes 7 Shares |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Dfinex(f): 7:14am On Apr 02, 2017 |
noted. but kindly arrange the write up in an orderly manner. Thank u @ onimcee1, please I will need some clarifications. in ur write up above u cited clustering as a way of avoiding those lengthy niceties, that I presume u can use when u know the dignitaries present. what happens when u don't know them? ok...I just got to learn that "ladies and gentlemen " will do. what's ur take? 5 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by dingbang(m): 7:16am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Pls arrange your write up . its a good one tho.. 1 Like |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Shelloween(m): 7:19am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Just because we speak it in Africa and the rest of the world doesn't, doesn't mean it's wrong. The most important thing is understanding what is being communicated to you. If the whites had coined this, it would've been genius, we Africans never appreciate our unique minds. 37 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by jkbee(m): 7:36am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Interesting one... The explanation is valid. |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Niyeal(m): 7:36am On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1:What if stand on an existing protocol? 1 Like |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by menxer: 7:49am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Come on! That phrase ("all protocols observed" or "standing on existing protocols" ) is used mainly by subsequent speakers at a function when the first speaker must have acknowledged the presence of all dignitaries. Besides that it's not a practice in UK or USA does not make it wrong. Are we not free to decide how we greet ourselves? 41 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by fr3do(m): 7:50am On Apr 02, 2017 |
In activities here in Uniben, the speaker will politely ask the audience to permit him to stand on already existing protocols, which probably the PRO or someone else has established. 5 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Chuukwudi(m): 8:00am On Apr 02, 2017 |
I'd rather say "standing on the existing protocols". |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by onimcee1(m): 8:07am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Niyeal:you can not stand on existing protocols as none was probably in existence. below are some definitions of the term"PROTOCOL", none of them defines it as the dignitaries in an event. 1. the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions. 2. the original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to in conference and signed by the parties. 3. a formal or official record of scientific experimental observations. 4. a set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices. |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by onimcee1(m): 8:19am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Shelloween:You may be free to use it in the listed African countries where it as become a norm, but avoid using it outside these countries because it is not universally accepted. It is just one of our performative errors as non-native speakers of the language. 1 Like |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by onimcee1(m): 8:24am On Apr 02, 2017 |
[quote author=menxer post=55182110]Come on! That phrase ("all protocols observed" or "standing on existing protocols" ) is used mainly by subsequent speakers at a function when the first speaker must have acknowledged the presence of all dignitaries. Besides that it's not a practice in UK or USA does not make it wrong. Are we not free to decide how we greet ourselves? [/quote We as non native speakers, lack linguistic competence. If how you greet we greet ourselves in another man's language is not acceptable by such a man, then we shouldn't do it. many Africans speak pidgin English, does that make pidgin English acceptable or correct? 1 Like |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Shelloween(m): 8:33am On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1:I don't give a damn whether it is Universally acceptable or not. When is a statement considered to be universally accepted? When a hot shot in Europe speaks it? Americans invented their own English, did they wait for universal acceptance before speaking it? The fact that more that one African country use this statement is enough to make it universally acceptable. We shouldn't wait for the whites to accept our shit before we use it in their country because they don't seek our opinion before they shove their shit down our throats. Inugo? 14 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by menxer: 8:49am On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1: You are missing the point of this argument, that we use English language to communicate does not mean we should not or cannot reflect our cultural or societal norms, else what are we communicating? If and when we address the House of Lords or House of Commons, we will observe the etiquettes applicable there. 2 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Omonoba1: 8:55am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Standing on already established protocols, permit me to say that this write-up is NONSENSE! 2 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Tazdroid(m): 9:03am On Apr 02, 2017 |
Not a bad way to make a speech as a second speaker. Acceptability and wide usage matter 2 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by menxer: 9:04am On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1: That's the definition the whites gave you, how does our society define protocol? protocol ˈprəʊtəkɒl/ noun ~ the system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at (un)official ceremonies and occasions. (adapted) 5 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by greenmonk: 9:26am On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1: Op! One day you'll want us to be thinking in English too because that's how it is done in UK and US. 4 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Elnino4ladies: 9:36am On Apr 02, 2017 |
OP is just ass-licking the whites smh 2 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Exjoker(m): 10:11am On Apr 02, 2017 |
All protocol duely noted. Back then one of my teacher define English as a "dynamic language". It is true because new "words" and new "meanings" are been added to the English dictionary on a regular basic 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Vickiweezy(m): 11:26am On Apr 02, 2017 |
OP, you're wrong. Your post should be about the correct use of "All protocols observed" and not advising us never to say it. That phrase should only be used when a particular speaker who has already greeted everyone in the assembly is about to speak again after a while of silence or in the process of interference. But when a speaker is to respond to a direct question, he should just start by saying a thank you to the person asking him the question before he begins his response. 3 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by onimcee1(m): 11:58am On Apr 02, 2017 |
I still want to make bold claims to the correctness of my argument here by further saying that STANDING ON EXISTING PROTOCOLS or ALL PROTOCOLS DULY OBSERVED is colloquial. It is being used by many doesn't make it correct. Summarily, it is syntactically correct and semantically wrong. when a critical semantical analysis is done on this phrase, you will understand better. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by THUNDAR(m): 12:52pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
ladies and gentleman, permit me to stand on existing protocols (if you like no permit me, you fit boil stone chop) my name is thundar, and I shall fire anyone with myopia view of our ideologies! Thank you! 3 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by konfused: 3:22pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
In Igbo settings, same rules applies, when you want to address the elders, instead of calling them out by their titled names one by one, you can say.....nke onye chiri ya zere ya........meaning, to each, let his title be for him. So I believe that's same thing being observed by Africans when they say all protocols observed. 2 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by sparkleRed(f): 3:33pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
Op English is constantly an evolving language, remember America develop theirs, that the UK and US have no idea about "all protocols duly observered or standing on existing protocols doesn't make it wrong to me anyway following the consciousness of time, if almost all d country in a continent is aware den y not? its an acceptable phrase to me, na Nigeria English just like America get their own ![]() |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Ishilove: 4:24pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1:Why is your OP disorganised? Educative post, though |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by farem: 4:30pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
![]() Dfinex: In other words, you want him to observe all protocols ![]() ![]() Dfinex: In other words, you want him to observe all protocols 1 Like |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by IamaNigerianGuy(m): 6:57pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1 As you have no doubt observed from responses to your article, most Nigerians are unteachable 1 Like |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by Dfinex(f): 7:00pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
farem:exactly. bruh u sabi the thing. .....lol 2 Likes |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by mu2sa2: 7:21pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
Stand on existing protocol or all protocols observed seems to be of Nigerian origin and the other African countries mentioned caught the bug. |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by An0nimus: 7:25pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
Re: Why You Should Never Say "All Protocols Observed". by onos217(m): 7:28pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
onimcee1:Standing on existing protocols ,I'm the moniker above,and I have come to request that the owner of this thread gives you and I a critical semantical analysis on this phrase so that you and I can understand better. Op,over to you. |
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