English

“Let’s eat Grandma!” versus, “Let’s eat, Grandma!” This was the poster about punctuation I was showing to Lalahe, a form four student. While it took me about ten minutes to fully explain the difference in meaning between the two statements (“Punctuation can save lives. Use it wisely."), the first barrier for Lalahe was understanding the word ‘Grandma.’ The students at Orkeeswa are used to seeing ‘Grandmother,’ not ‘Grandma.’ When I said that ‘grandma’ was a shortening, a sort of nickname, for ‘grandmother,’ Lalahe’s eyes widened and he let out an, “Ahhh, I see. Grandmother, grandma. Grandfather, grandfa?”