"Is it?"

I've not yet met a Malawian who doesn't speak English to some degree. Its great, it is everywhere. But there are some particular idiosyncrasies that I thought you might find interesting:

- Rather than 'really?' they say 'is it?': “Jane got a new job today” “Is it?”
- When someone is sent to jail, they are 'in': “Three in following police raid”
- Events are 'happenings': “We should not discount the fact that there were some very-un-desirable happenings elsewhere"
- Pubs are 'drinking points': “Notice is hereby given of a new drinking point – Charles' Place – opening this Saturday on the Chileka Road, opposite People's Supermarchette.”
- Directions are 'compasses': “I will tell you the compass to that village over there.”

:-)
F x