By Raji Toheeb
Semantic extension is a common habit to most students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, in attaching additional meaning to the meaning of words or phrases.
Secondary meanings have been given to words and phrases, they have slangs commonly used by them and special words that convey their intended meanings in communication.
Some of the commonly used slangs and phrases on Danfodiyo campus are:
1. Rice and Beans: The phrase which means having two examinations in a sitting. Danfodites, especially the returning students, have a habit of employing this phrase whenever any kind of examination proves difficult.
2. Morocco: A layman who never visits UDUS will think the word serves its meaning
But Danfodites has another meaning. This trend popularly refers to visiting female friends which may be for any reason in the evening to have fun with their female friends or lovers.
3. Jakometer or Bokolord: This is another commonly employed term by Danfodites. The students are known for commitment when it comes to reading, this term is usually attributed to students who exceed the normal routine of reading. It’s a name usually given to those who have flair for reading and who are the true servers of the motto of the university: IQRA which means ‘Read.’
4. Yaro Boy: The Hausa’s term for ‘ a young male child’. It has been given additional meaning by Danfodite to mean errand boy that works for money. Likewise, Yarinya, also a Hausa term for female children. Its colloquially attached meaning is female child that works to earn money.
6. Cooler: This word has lost its original meaning among Danfodites, it means a container used to preserve food, but Danfodites has extended its semanticity to mean cooking for male’ students.
7. Baba Tutorial: this name is given to a male student who is always seen teaching female students only.
8. Shiga: Etymologically, the term in Hausa means ‘enter’, but the word has changed to mean another thing by Danfodites to mean ‘ a house permissible for both male and female students’. You might hear them saying among themselves, ‘ I’m leaving in a shiga or ba shiga house’
9. Off K: It’s a clipping form for students staying at ‘off campus’ . Danfodite.
10. TDB: the acronym is mostly hung in every corner during examinations. It means ‘Till day break’ students this to mean reading from previous till next day. It’s one of the terms used by the ‘Jakometers’, TDB simply means: Till Daybreak.
11. Boko or jack: The word literally means ‘ book’ in Hausa language. And has its dominance among Danfodite. Once someone asks ‘ How is boko?’ on campus, be in the know that he’s referring to studies. They might even say how is jack?
12. Jambito: This is one of the most popular terms used for newly admitted students, who have not known what it takes to survive on the campus. Whenever you see someone disturbing night class either by beating the desk or shouting, he’s one of the jambito. He never knows the true colors of UDUS.
14. ‘ Oti jé wa’: literally in Yoruba, this phrase means ‘ he’s eaten the beans’ but danfodite has turned its meaning to mean ‘failure’. Once a person has an ‘F’ in a course, you will hear them saying ‘oti jé wa’.
15. Danfodiyo na your mate: many students use this phrase after a series of reading without understanding or whenever they take a tough examination.
16. Jambito must dance: The phrase is popularly used on matriculation day. It’s an undeniable fact that UDUS students are known for their seriousness, but on matriculation day students usually dance away their sorrow.
17. Dey play: This is used once a student acts in contrast to what he’s expected to do. Maybe he didn’t attend class or miss a test, his mate will just tell him ‘dey play’.
18. Masha Allah Sister: this slang is used among Muslim sisters in admiration of their appearance. Most of the sisters normally have a customized tote bag that unveils their names.
19. On God: Once a student takes any exam without certainty, the next thing you will hear is ‘ On God’.
20. Rich kid: This is the name given to those students who drink bottled water instead of pure water and also take soft drinks whenever they’re thirsty, they are always seen with drinks every time.
21. GST na scam: this phrase is normally said by those who’ve never passed the exam with beautiful grades, they will look for ways to discourage younger ones so as to have bad eggs like them.
All those aforementioned, among others are terms used by Danfodites, it’s very beautiful to know them but very encouraging to use them wisely.