COLUMN: MIND YOUR LANGUAGE. Is the world facing high prices of oil, fuel, petroleum, or all, at the same time?

DAR ES SALAAM: TO address the various challenges currently facing the world as a result of the conflict going on in the Middle East, news writers are facing a problem as to what words to use to convey to us that energy is costing more now, than, say, two months ago.

The words “oil”, “fuel” and “petroleum” seem to be used interchangeably. Her Excellency the President, for example, is reported in the Custodian (9 April, frontpage) as having ordered extensive cuts in her motorcades, a measure meant: “to mitigate the financial impact of the soaring ‘global fuel prices’”. The government, in general was required to follow suit.

According to the writer: “this move is intended to serve as a practical symbol of the commitment to fiscal discipline, given the ‘oil price hikes’”. It was, moreover, pointed out that some countries in the World had experienced: “sharper ‘petroleum price increases’”, compared, say, to Tanzania. There is a difference between these three phrases: “oil prices”, “fuel prices” and “petroleum prices”.

Deducting explanation from the US News Money, oil prices (raw material) reflect the cost of crude oil, typically driven by global demand and geopolitical events (such as those in the Middle East at the moment). Fuel prices (consumer product) represent the cost at the pump, driven by refining costs, taxes, and local demand. Petroleum prices often cover both, referring to crude oil, or its refined products (petrol, diesel, kerosene), depending on the context.

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“Petroleum prices” seems to be a compromise between “oil prices”, and “fuel prices”. The transport sector, suffers a lot when petroleum prices go up. Service providers hike fares, or overload vehicles; while travellers are sometimes forced to use alternative transport, like walking, or using motorcycles, instead of buses.

This may be relevant to the colourful photograph appearing on page 6 of the Daily Blog, dated 9 April, accompanied by a caption reading as follows: “A motorcyclist endangers his safety, and that of children by overloading ‘pillion’ passengers, riding without helmets, along Uhuru Road in Dar es Salaam, yesterday”.

What the picture shows is a driver of a blue electric Honda motorcycle, carrying three young passengers, most likely coming from school, two behind, and one, in front of, him. In the caption, the writer talks of: “overloading pillion”. This needs explanation. ‘Pillion riding” means sitting as a passenger behind the driver on a motorcycle, scooter, moped, or bicycle.

You are supposed to be one passenger, but this driver has two (mshikaki, a relatively new term in Kiswahili). So “overloading pillion passengers” could be tolerated. But, how about this young passenger standing in front of the driver, seemingly helping with steering handle bars? Is he riding pillion as well?

Given a chance to write a caption for this photograph, and having done a lot of heavy thinking, I would proceed as follows: “A motorcyclist endangers his safety, and that of his child passengers, two of whom are overloaded pillion riders, and one standing in front of him; with all wearing no safety helmets. This was spotted, along Uhuru Road in Dar es Salaam, yesterday”.

Clearly, the motorcyclist is acting illegally and dangerously.

The Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into the October 29 incidents, has outlined four reasons why the Commission has been given more time to conclude their work. This news item is to be found at the front page of the Daily Blog (9 April), in a story titled: “Probe Extension driven by evidence surge, says Othman”.

The second reason is given by the Chairperson, as quoted by the writer of the story as: “awaiting expert advice from ‘scientific specialists’”, especially for satellite images.

Should the Chairperson be quoted as saying “they were awaiting expert advice from ‘forensic specialists’, instead of ‘scientific specialists’”? I am inclined to believe so, since: “A forensic specialist” is a qualified expert who “analyses physical and digital evidence from crime scenes using scientific methods to assist legal investigations”. Enjoy your mid-April weekend! lusuggakironde@gmail.com