ESL School

... meetings abroad and most recently, US presidential hopeful, Barrack Obama, took to the skies flying around the world on a quick tour of key countries.

As I listened to the carefully spun speeches of these powerful men, I was struck by the use of certain key words that are used to make us all feel included in their plans. The language of international diplomacy is larded with such terms and I have the distinct impression that speech writers have a list of words and phrases they feel bound to include to give a speech diplomatic credibility.

The people addressed are usually 'friends' or 'partners' and 'stakeholders'. The activities are 'shared'and there is usually a desire for 'dialogue',' cooperation' and 'collaboration'. It is important to mention 'values', especially if these are 'mutual' and include concern for 'human rights' and 'democracy'. Mention is usually made of what 'unites' the various 'partners' and 'joint' plans for the future are usually 'ambitious' and outcomes have to be 'sustainable'. Talks have to be 'open' and it is important to make a 'commitment' to work 'together' for 'global solutions'. At the end of discussions, the participants will usually 'pledge' a contribution to the project,

On reading what I have written, I can see that I come across as somewhat cynical. Well, I suppose I am. It is almost as if ' speech-writing software is being used, where you put in the key words you want to use (each speech will have a desired number), fill in the date, time and place, names of participants and topic, and then, at the click of a mouse, out spews the required rhetoric.