The Diary
of
Anne Ku

9 December 2000 Saturday

mostly dry, but light drizzle

DUBYA'S ENGLISH

AMERICANS speak a different kind of English. As the saying goes,"The USA and Great Britain are two nations separated by a common language." I admired my English professors at Oxford and London School of Economics for their great command of the language. Such verbosity. Such humour.

It wasn't a suprise to read Philip Howard in the Times (newspaper) devoting an analysis on George Dubya Bush's English. Apparently, Dubya said the following:

"Republicans understand the importance of BONDAGE between mother and child." Now was this a Freudian slip? It should be BONDING not BONDAGE.

"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system." What in the world was he talking about?

"The future will be better tomorrow."

MISSTATEMENT OF THE OBVIOUS:

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."

"When I have been asked who caused the riots and killing in LA, my answer has been direct and simple. Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."

"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

ASSEMBLAGE ERROR:

"Welcome to Mrs Bush and my fellow astronauts."

"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century."

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."

"We're going to be the best educated American people in the world."

"We have a firm commitment to Nato. We are part of Nato. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."

"One word sums up the responsibilities of any Governor, and that one world is 'to be prepared.'" If he could count, he would have said "prepared."

Believe it or not, he also said,"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things. Public speaking is very easy. My fellow Armenians...." this means he thinks he's an Armenian.

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