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 Sun May 13, 2007 3:13 am HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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It was not big news here, EU. In fact, are you sure she was actually here? 
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Location: USA
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| Sun May 13, 2007 10:20 am HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi Amy,
It really is interesting it wasn't big news over there. I would have thought such an important State Visit would have made its way to the headlines. Especially as President George Walker Bush mixed up his words a little in front of The Queen.
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Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| Sun May 13, 2007 11:19 am HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Well, the visit made its way to the news, EU, but it definitely wasn't front-page news. It was the sort of news that is buried somewhere after page 4 in newspapers. And Dubya's verbal bloopers are so commonplace that they're hardly newsworthy anymore -- especially when his latest gaffe is slight. Probably more interesting than George's latest verbal trip-up is the fact that Laura managed to talk him into having a white tie dinner during the Queen's visit. Now, that is an achievement. 
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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| Sun May 13, 2007 14:32 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi Amy,
I take it that you have heard Her Majesty The Queen make quite a lot of speeches over the years. You have probably also had the opportunity to hear more informal conversations taking place between Her Majesty and various dignitaries. Why do you think that Her Majesty speaks English so much better than any other English-speaking person?
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Englishuser
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| Sun May 13, 2007 14:37 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi EU,
Are you asking or repeating? Or just being your usual provocative self?
I can't recall Amy saying this: | Quote: | | Why do you think that Her Majesty speaks English so much better than any other English-speaking person? |
Alan
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Alan
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| Sun May 13, 2007 14:43 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Not only do I not believe that the Queen speaks English "so much better" than any other English-speaking person, but I also believe that there are plenty of people who speak English just as well as or even better than (gasp!) the Queen. 
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Location: USA
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| Sun May 13, 2007 14:55 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi Alan,
You asked:
| Quote: | Hi EU,
Are you asking or repeating? Or just being your usual provocative self? |
I am so sorry for this, Alan and Amy. What I intended to ask was: Why does HM The Queen speak English so much better than other English-speaking people? You can answer my question as well, Alan. How come Buckingham Palace always eclipses all other institutions (and individuals) in the use of English?
EU |
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Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| Sun May 13, 2007 15:04 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi Amy,
| Quote: | Text of The Queen's speech at the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9 April 2007
Ladies and gentlemen,
In any national story there are moments and places, sometimes far from home, which in retrospect can be seen as fixed points about which the course of history turns, moments which distinguish that nation for ever. Those who seek the foundations of Canada's distinction would do well to begin here at Vimy.
Until this day ninety years ago, Vimy Ridge had been impregnable, a lesson learned at terrible cost to the armies of France and Britain. For the Allies, this ridge had become a symbol of futility and despair. It was against this forbidding challenge that the four Divisions of the Canadian Corps were brought together as a single army for the first time.
En l'espace de quelques heures, en ce matin froid et maussade du lundi de P?ques, les Canadiens devinrent ma?tres de la cr?te, r?ussissant ce que nombreux avaient cru impossible. Leur victoire fut le fruit non seulement d'un ing?nieux plan de bataille ?labor? par les commandants canadiens, mais surtout du courage et de la d?termination avec lesquelles les soldats canadiens ex?cut?rent leur mission.
No fewer than four Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery during the battle, though it could easily be said that every soldier in the field demonstrated conspicuous bravery, such was the verve of the Canadian attack. It was a stunning victory. More, in capturing this formidable objective, the Canadian Corps transformed Vimy Ridge from a symbol of despair into a source of inspiration. After two and a half years of deadly stalemate, it now seemed possible that the Allies would prevail and peace might one day be restored.
Ici, en cette terre sacr?e par le sacrifice de tant, nous comm?morons leur courage et leur exploit. Leur victoire fit davantage que de donner l'espoir; elle permit au Canada, qui le m?ritait tant, d'occuper sa place sur la sc?ne internationale ? titre de fi?re nation souveraine, forte et libre. Le Monument comm?moratif du Canada ? Vimy t?moigne de la grande force du Canada et de son attachement ? la libert?. Il t?moigne aussi de la profonde solidarit? qui lie le Canada et la France. En dernier lieu, il t?moigne surtout de la vaillance, du courage et du sacrifice des braves Canadiens qui ont inspir? un jeune pays ? devenir une magnifique nation.
To their eternal remembrance, to Canada, to all who would serve the cause of freedom, and to those who have lost their lives in Afghanistan, I rededicate this magnificently restored memorial. |
Source: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page5932.asp
Quite frankly I don't think many people in your neighbourhood would be able to write that good speeches.
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Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| Sun May 13, 2007 17:20 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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| Englishuser wrote: | | Quite frankly I don't think many people in your neighbourhood would be able to write that good speeches. |
Do you know who writes the Queen's speeches and from which neighbourhood they come? Do you really mean to say that to be a good writer you need to be born and raised in a 'special' area?
In addition, I fail to see how a formal speech can determine someone's real and usual way of expressing themselves, even assuming that the author and the reader of the speech is the same person. |
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Conchita
Language Coach
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| Sun May 13, 2007 17:39 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi EU (Why on earth can't you use your real name?),
I accept that you like to stir things up a tad and provoke discussion and good for you on that score as it keeps the forum ticking over. That said, I am in two minds as to whether I should ignore your comments and let matters be or yield to the temptation to offer a reply. The latter is my preferred choice especially as you have so graciously allowed me to join in! | Quote: | | (You can answer my question as well, Alan) |
If the example of the speech you have quoted is your idea of inspired English, I feel sorry for you as you have clearly missed so much of the rich variety of English you can find in the work of some of the great speech writers past and present. The words in that speech do not dance, nor do they inspire. They lie flat on the ground gasping for air. The language is bland, lifeless and without feeling. It is in fact a speech deliberately written for the occasion by one or more civil servants to convey a sense of decorum and correctness. It tiptoes gently along cosseting and massaging the ears of the listeners, who will be metaphorically nodding their heads in agreement. Ask them what was said afterwards and they and their ears will look blank and be unable to answer. All they know and all they want to know is that what was said, was said properly. It is a perfect (not a word I want but it'll do) example of institutional English.
Come clean and admit you are not serious in hailing that speech as outstanding! It is mundane to a fault. It cloys even. Get out more and expose yourself to worthier examples of my native language.
Alan
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Alan
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| Sun May 13, 2007 17:52 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi Alan,
Thank you for the reply. What do you think of Her Majesty's Christmas broadcasts and messages to the Commonwealth?
| Quote: | After her Accession on 6 February 1952, The Queen broadcast her first Christmas Message live on the radio from her study at Sandringham, Norfolk. In her message, she paid tribute to her late father, and asked people to remember her at the time of her Coronation the following June.
Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of the world. Today I am doing this to you, who are now my people.
As he used to do, I am speaking to you from my own home, where I am spending Christmas with my family; and let me say at once how I hope that your children are enjoying themselves as much as mine are on a day which is especially the children's festival, kept in honour of the Child born at Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago.
Most of you to whom I am speaking will be in your own homes, but I have a special thought for those who are serving their country in distant lands far from their families. Wherever you are, either at home or away, in snow or in sunshine, I give you my affectionate greetings, with every good wish for Christmas and the New Year.
At Christmas our thoughts are always full of our homes and our families. This is the day when members of the same family try to come together, or if separated by distance or events meet in spirit and affection by exchanging greetings.
But we belong, you and I, to a far larger family. We belong, all of us, to the British Commonwealth and Empire, that immense union of nations, with their homes set in all the four corners of the earth. Like our own families, it can be a great power for good - a force which I believe can be of immeasurable benefit to all humanity.
My father, and my grandfather before him, worked all their lives to unite our peoples ever more closely, and to maintain its ideals which were so near to their hearts. I shall strive to carry on their work.
Already you have given me strength to do so. For, since my accession ten months ago, your loyalty and affection have been an immense support and encouragement. I want to take this Christmas Day, my first opportunity, to thank you with all my heart.
Many grave problems and difficulties confront us all, but with a new faith in the old and splendid beliefs given us by our forefathers, and the strength to venture beyond the safeties of the past, I know we shall be worthy of our duty.
Above all, we must keep alive that courageous spirit of adventure that is the finest quality of youth; and by youth I do not just mean those who are young in years; I mean too all those who are young in heart, no matter how old they may be. That spirit still flourishes in this old country and in all the younger countries of our Commonwealth.
On this broad foundation let us set out to build a truer knowledge of ourselves and our fellowmen, to work for tolerance and understanding among the nations and to use the tremendous forces of science and learning for the betterment of man's lot upon this earth.
If we can do these three things with courage, with generosity and with humility, then surely we shall achieve that "Peace on earth, Goodwill toward men" which is the eternal message of Christmas, and the desire of us all.
At my Coronation next June, I shall dedicate myself anew to your service. I shall do so in the presence of a great congregation, drawn from every part of the Commonwealth and Empire, while millions outside Westminster Abbey will hear the promises and the prayers being offered up within its walls, and see much of the ancient ceremony in which Kings and Queens before me have taken part through century upon century.
You will be keeping it as a holiday; but I want to ask you all, whatever your religion may be, to pray for me on that day - to pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.
May God bless and guide you all through the coming year.
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Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| Sun May 13, 2007 19:17 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi,
I think I've had enough royalisms for the moment.
Bye
Alan
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Alan
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| Sun May 13, 2007 21:04 pm HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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| Englishuser wrote: | | How come Buckingham Palace always eclipses all other institutions (and individuals) in the use of English? |
What exactly do you mean by "eclipses", EU? I suppose I'd agree that BP does tend to emit some rather stuffy and unnatural verbiage... |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Location: USA
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| Mon May 14, 2007 10:16 am HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to the USA |
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Hi Alan,
Amend your own posts if you like. But do you really need to amend mine? I don't think we should be rewriting history the way you do. Not even if we are co-founders of a website.
EU |
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Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)
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