Some students of linguistics tell us that examples that follow the rules of the English language are fewer than the exceptions to those rules. French and Spanish tend to follow their rules much more strictly. It is even suggested that the old English pundits deliberately used their language to confuse foreigners! Perhaps we are continuing that tradition.

Death notices on radio stations insist on saying that the body of X leaves the Y funeral parlour TO the Z cemetery. If I were to leave my high school TO the university, or to leave Portmore TO Kingston, Wilmot P. would probably think that I wanted to destroy both the school and the satellite community! Surely, when we are changing our location, we leave one place FOR another, not TO?

Fixed phrases

We also hear on the radio that a particular flight will depart the Norman Manley Airport at one o'clock . (We haven't yet heard that it will arrive at the airport, thank goodness!) In the old days, the flight would depart FROM the airport, or simply leave the airport. Perhaps the word 'depart' by itself sounds more dramatic in this supersonic age?

Have you noticed how many business places are open 'between nine TO five', and how many summer camps are advertised for children 'between the ages of 10 TO 14 years'? Offices and the like used to be open 'between nine AND five' or 'from nine to five', and camps would take children 'between 10 AND 14', or 'from 10 to 14'.

Do we teach about fixed phrases in our schools (and universities)? And how much practice is given in the logical use of prepositions and conjunctions?

I am, etc.

P L MAXWELL

plcm07@yahoo.com