CPD

The exercise is based on an article in The Guardian (theguardian.com), with minor adaptations.

Your task is to find suitable words or expressions to fill in the gaps, taking into account syntax as well as register, and bringing to bear your background knowledge.

I have given some suggestions following the exercise.

Exercise

• President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly ___________ that a treaty of neutrality may be on offer; and he is right to do so. For two things have been made absolutely clear by this war: that Russia will fight to prevent Ukraine becoming a military ally of the West, and the West will not fight to defend Ukraine. In view of this, to keep open the possibility of an offer of Nato membership that Nato has no intention of ever _______________, and asking Ukrainians to ____________, is worse than ______________.
• As to “demilitarisation” and “denazification”, the meaning and terms of these will have to be negotiated. Demilitarisation is obviously unacceptable if it means that Ukraine must unilaterally _______________ its armed forces; but the latest statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested that Russia would accept a ban on missiles based in Ukraine. This could be _____________ on a similar guarantee to the US that ended the Cuba Missile Crisis.
• There remains the demand for recognition of the Russian annexation of Crimea. Here, respect for international law (slightly ambiguous in the case of Crimea, which was only transferred from Russia to Ukraine by Soviet decree in 1954) must ______________ considerations of reality, the prevention of future conflict, and the interests of ordinary people in the region – which is essentially what we have been asking Russia to do in the case of Kosovo.
• These proposals will be ____________ as “_____________ Russian aggression”; but if Putin’s original aim really was to ___________ the whole of Ukraine, then by such an agreement Moscow would ___________ maximal goals. Moreover, such an agreement would give Russia nothing that it had not in practice already achieved before launching the invasion. The West is morally right to oppose the monstrous and illegal war ____________ Russia and to have imposed exceptionally severe sanctions on Russia in response, but would be morally wrong to oppose a decision by Ukraine to ___________with a reasonable agreement that would end the invasion and _____________the people of Ukraine terrible suffering.

Solutions and suggestions

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Interested in more material like this to help you boost your retour? Why not join my monthly membership site, Rock your Retour, with tailor-made written materials and weekly live group classes (online)?

Sophie Llewellyn Smith, writing as The Interpreting Coach, is a coach, interpreter trainer, conference interpreter, designer of online teaching materials, and creator of Speechpool. Follow the blog to pick up tips on how to improve your interpreting skills.

If you’re interested in personal coaching, why not book a free discovery call?

This week, Nicolas Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, rather unexpectedly announced her resignation.

You may be called upon at some point to interpret a Minister or President’s resignation speech. This is the kind of task that is less daunting if you have some useful set phrases to draw on. Let’s see if we can build up a ‘toolkit’ for you to use if you’re ever in this situation again.

Exercise 1 – activating your vocabulary

Grab a pen and paper, set a timer for 5 minutes, and write down all the phrases you can think of that might be useful if you were writing a resignation speech.

When you’ve finished, you can compare your list with mine.

Show Suggestions

Exercise 2 – terminology mining

Here is an edited version of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation speech. Go through it with a highlighter (if you’ve downloaded and printed it), or just write down some of the phrases she uses that you could repurpose in somebody else’s speech. Think about what effect she is trying to achieve.

“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming along. I’m sorry to break into your half-term break. The First Minister of Scotland is, in my admittedly biased opinion, the very best job in the world. It is a privilege beyond measure, one that has sustained and inspired me in good times and through the toughest hours of my toughest days. I am proud to stand here as the first female and longest serving incumbent of this office, and I’m very proud of what has been achieved in the years I’ve been in Bute House.

However, since my very first moments in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else. And when that time came, to have the courage to do so, even if to many across the country and in my party it might feel too soon. In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it is right for me, for my party, and for the country. And so today I am announcing my intention to step down as First Minister and leader of my party. I have asked the national secretary of the SNP to begin the process of electing a new party leader and I will remain in office until my successor is elected. I know there will be some across the country who feel upset by this decision and by the fact I am taking it now.

Of course, for balance there will be others who will – how should I put this – cope with the news just fine. Such is the beauty of democracy. But to those who do feel shocked, disappointed, perhaps even a bit angry with me. Please know that while hard – and be in no doubt, this is really hard for me – my decision comes from a place of duty and of love. Tough love, perhaps, but love nevertheless, for my party and above all, for the country.

Let me set out as best as I can my reasons. First, though I know it will be tempting to see it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short-term pressures. Of course, there are difficult issues confronting the government just now. But when is that ever not the case? I have spent almost three decades in frontline politics. A decade and a half on the top or second top rung of government when it comes to navigating choppy waters, resolving seemingly intractable issues or soldiering on when walking away would be the simpler option. I have plenty of experience to draw on. So if this was just a question of my ability or my resilience to get through the latest period of pressure, I wouldn’t be standing here today. But it’s not. This decision comes from a deeper and longer term assessment. I know it may seem sudden, but I have been wrestling with it, albeit with oscillating levels of intensity, for some weeks.

Essentially, I’ve been trying to answer two questions. Is carrying on right for me and more importantly, is me carrying on right for the country, for my party, and for the independence cause I have devoted my life to. I understand why some will automatically answer ‘yes’ to that second question. But in truth, I have been having to work harder in recent times to convince myself that the answer to either of them, when examined deeply, is yes. And I’ve reached the difficult conclusion that it’s not.

Giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less.

But in truth, that can only be done by anyone for so long. For me, it is now in danger of becoming too long. The First Minister is never off duty, particularly in this day and age. There is virtually no privacy. Even ordinary stuff that most people take for granted, like going for a coffee with friends or for a walk on your own becomes very difficult. And the nature and form of modern political discourse means that there is a much greater intensity – dare I say it? – brutality to life as a politician than in years gone by. All in all, and actually for a long time without being apparent, it takes its toll on you and on those around you. And if that is true in the best of times, it has been more so in recent years.

Now there are two further reflections that have weighed in my decision. These, I suppose, are more about our political culture and the nature and impact of the dominance and longevity that come from success in politics. And the first I hope my party will take heart from. One of the difficulties in coming to terms with this decision is that I am confident that I can and would lead the SNP to further electoral success. We remain by far the most trusted party in Scotland, and while for every person in Scotland who loves me, there is another who, let’s say, might not be quite so enthusiastic, we are firmly on course to win the next election while our opponents remain adrift. But the longer any leader is in office, the more opinions about them become fixed and very hard to change. And that matters.

Now, a couple of final points before I take a few questions. While I am stepping down from leadership, I am not leaving politics. There are many issues I care deeply about and hope to champion in future. One of these is the promise, the national mission so close to my heart, to improve the life chances of care experienced young people and ensure they grow up, nurtured and loved. My commitment to these young people will be lifelong. And obviously there is independence. Winning independence is the cause I have dedicated a lifetime to. It is a cause I believe in with every fibre of my being. And it is a cause I am convinced is being won. I intend to be there as it is won every step of the way.

Lastly, there will be time in the days to come for me and others to reflect on what has been achieved during my time as First Minister. I’m pretty certain there will be plenty of commentary on my mistakes as well. There is so much that I am proud of. But there is always so much more to be done. I look forward to watching with pride as my successor picks up the baton.

There will also be time in the days to come for me to say thank you to a very, very long list of people without whom I would not have lasted a single day in this job, let alone eight years. I won’t do so today. I might inadvertently forget someone, or perhaps more likely start to cry. But there are a couple of exceptions. Firstly, my husband and family. Few people understand the price families of politicians pay for the jobs we choose to do. Mine have been my rock throughout. And of course the SNP since I was 16 years old. You have been my extended family. Thank you for the honour of being your leader. And it seems to me that eight emphatic election victories in eight years isn’t a bad record together. Finally, and above all, the people of this beautiful, talented, diverse – at times disputatious – but always wonderful country, we faced the toughest of times together. I did everything I could to guide us through that time. Often from my very familiar podium in St Andrew’s house. In return I was sustained through that period by a wave of support from you that I will remember and value for the rest of my life. So to the people of Scotland, to all of the people of Scotland, whether you voted for me or not,  please know that being your First Minister has been the privilege of my life. Nothing. Absolutely nothing I do in future will ever come anywhere close. Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart.”

Show Suggestions

Organising your resources

You should now have a good list of expressions that you can group into categories. How about a table like this? I’ve filled in a few phrases, just to start you off. You can do the rest.

Introductory words	what we’ve achieved	reasons for resignation	it’s been a privilege	it’s time to go	what happens next	thanks
– I am very proud to stand here as the first woman…	– there is so much that I am proud of	– let me set out my reasons -there has been a lot of speculation… – I have wrestled with this decision…	– it has been the privilege of my life	– in my head and in my heart, I know the time to go is now	– as my successor picks up the baton -while I am stepping down from the leadership, I am not leaving politics	– thank you from the very bottom of my heart

You may of course have more or fewer columns, or slightly different ones.

Exercise 3

Now, at last, it’s your turn!

Use your table of expressions to write your Prime Minister/President’s resignation speech. You could keep it quite general, or if you like, brainstorm or research the main achievements of their time in office, to make it more realistic.

If you like, film or record yourself and post your recording in the RyR group!

Finally, here’s an article about how to resign from politics while keeping your dignity!

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Interested in more material like this to help you boost your retour? Why not join my monthly membership site, Rock your Retour, with tailor-made written materials and weekly live group classes (online)?

Sophie Llewellyn Smith, writing as The Interpreting Coach, is a coach, interpreter trainer, conference interpreter, designer of online teaching materials, and creator of Speechpool. Follow the blog to pick up tips on how to improve your interpreting skills.

If you’re interested in personal coaching, why not book a free discovery call?

The last few weeks have not been short of sad events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Just in case you’re ever in a situation where you have to interpret a speech about a tragic event, I’ve put together a couple of posts for you about expressing condolences.

In today’s post, we’re going to do some terminology mining to find useful phrases.

Article 1- Queen Elizabeth II

This is an article I adapted from the Guardian. Have a read through it, and make note of useful phrases.

Condolences and condemnation: Indigenous people and people of colour react to the death of Queen Elizabeth II

The reaction to the death of the Queen among Indigenous people and people of colour, including those from Commonwealth nations, has been swift and, at times, unflinching.

For many the Queen was the personification of British colonisation and the damage it has wreaked in their countries – and they were not afraid to say so. Yet others expressed their condolences for the monarch who has long held “a special place” in their hearts.

As condolences poured in from across the globe for Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 early on Friday morning Australian time, so did anger and resentment at the unresolved trauma of colonisation that for them, the crown represented.

In Australia, Prof Sandy O’Sullivan, from Macquarie University, tweeting as this week’s host of IndigenousX, attempted to explain the reaction and put it into a historical and social context.

“For those saying we should be magnanimous about the passing of the queen, a reminder that the queen inserted herself into the lives of Indigenous people here multiple times. She wasn’t a bystander to the effects of colonisation and colonialism, she was an architect of it,” O’Sullivan wrote.

“What she did ‘do’ was be an active participant in stealing our land. Instead of handing back, making reparations from her enormous wealth, her agents (that she had explicit control of, see ‘The Dismissal’) continued to steal land and when they had it all, they stole our children.

Northern Territory Country Liberal party senator Jacinta Price said on Facebook the Queen was a “remarkable monarch who dedicated her life to serve not only the Commonwealth but the world”.

Price said she was “grateful” to be able to sign the condolence book to the royal family at the governor general’s residence.

Canada’s first Inuit governor general, Mary Simon, released a statement reminiscing about the Queen’s relationship with Inuit people.

“When I was growing up, my grandmother revered The Queen, as did so many in the Arctic. She would tell us stories about Her Majesty, about her role and her commitment,” Simon said, 

 “Her reign encompassed the mandates of 12 Canadian prime ministers and 13 governors general. On 22 occasions, she undertook official visits to Canada, where she professed her love for our county again and again. She was a steadfast presence during some of the most tumultuous times of our lives, and most recently gave comfort to so many during the pandemic.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer deepest condolences to the members of the Royal Family, who grieve the loss of a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”

In New Zealand, foreign affairs minister, Māori woman Nanaia Mahuta said Queen Elizabeth exemplified strong democratic principles and the rule of law, while Māori party co-leader Rawiri Waititi said questions on the role of the monarchy could wait while the world grieves.

“The huge vacuum left will cause debate, but in this time of grief and loss we can only support her whānau and mokopuna as they grieve and heal. She was a constant across three generations, an anchor in a rapidly changing globe,” Waititi told Radio NZ.Some suggestions

Article 2 – Shinzo Abe

Same exercise: see what useful phrases you can extract from this piece, adapted from an article in the Guardian.

State funeral for Shinzo Abe held in Tokyo amid controversy

A state funeral for Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has been held in Tokyo amid public anger over the cost of the ceremony and revelations over his party’s ties to a controversial religious group.

More than 4,000 guests, including the US vice-president, Kamala Harris, and the British foreign secretary, James Cleverly, stood in silence as a member of Japan’s self-defence forces entered the Nippon Budokan hall, where a 19-gun salute sounded in honour of the assassinated former leader.

Amid tight security, people opposed to the funeral demonstrated as thousands of mourners queued to lay flowers and offer prayers in a park near the venue.

After a video showcasing Abe’s achievements, set to footage of the former prime minister playing the piano, the current leader, Fumio Kishida, paid tribute to his friend and predecessor.

“Courage is doing what is right,” Kishida said in English, before adding in Japanese: “Abe-san, you were a person of courage. People around the world will look back fondly on your time in power. Abe-san, Prime Minister Abe … you did good work. Please rest in peace.”

Abe’s death sent shock waves through a country with very low rates of gun crime and prompted tributes from politicians around the world.

Show Suggestions

Gap-filling exercise

See if you can use some of the expressions you’ve noted down to fill in the gaps in this article about the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

World leaders ___________ after __________ of Queen Elizabeth II

Messages __________ at end of British monarch’s 70-year reign

Presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and leaders around the world have ___________ to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II, many of them reflecting on a 70-year reign that _________ some of the most turbulent and decisive moments in modern British and world history.

As Thursday wore on and news of the Queen’s ill-health eventually gave way to news of her death, global figures spoke of what she had meant to them and their countries.

Among the most frequently __________ words were “duty”, “steadfast” and “constant”, but mention was also ________ of her sense of humour, and of her life and role as a mother and grandmother as well as a monarch.

Minutes after the Queen’s death was announced, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, posted a simple picture of the Queen on his Twitter account, unaccompanied by any words. In a subsequent message, he wrote: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II __________ the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a ___________ impression on her country and her century.

Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin _________ his condolences to King Charles for the “irreparable loss” of his mother, saying the Queen had “rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage”.

President Xi Jinping of China ___________ his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people” in a statement __________ through state media. “Her __________ is a great loss to the British people.”

Ireland’s president, Michael D Higgins, described the late monarch as “a remarkable friend of Ireland” as he offered his ______________ to the royal family.

“Her Majesty __________ the British people with exceptional dignity,” he said. “Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the __________ of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.”

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he was _________ to learn of Queen Elizabeth’s death and ________ his deepest condolences to the royal family and the people and government of the UK.

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said flags would ________ and arrangements would be made for a __________ service.

Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, expressed his “great and profound sadness”, adding: “We join our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth in _________ her passing, and pray for the comfort of the members of her family, and the people of the United Kingdom, as they ________ the loss of their beloved Queen and matriarch.”

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, spoke of his “deep sadness” at the news, saying the UK and the Commonwealth had _________ an irreparable loss.

Show Solutions

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Interested in more material like this to help you boost your retour? Why not join my monthly membership site, Rock your Retour, with tailor-made written materials and weekly live group classes (online)?

Sophie Llewellyn Smith, writing as The Interpreting Coach, is a coach, interpreter trainer, conference interpreter, designer of online teaching materials, and creator of Speechpool. Follow the blog to pick up tips on how to improve your interpreting skills.

If you’re interested in personal coaching, why not book a free discovery call?

This week, I’ve chosen to create a gap filling exercise for you, since the cost of living is such a topical subject.

Exercise 1

Grab a piece of paper and a pen (or the computer equivalent!).

Set a timer for 5 minutes.

Write down all the words and phrases you can think of relating to the cost of living crisis.

I’ll share my answers at the end, otherwise they might give you too many hints for the gap filling exercise! 

Gap filling

Close to a third of single parents have _______ __________ meals to __________ because of __________ food costs, according to research revealing the household types worst _________ by the cost of living crisis.

Three in 10 single parent households surveyed said they had missed meals as a consequence of _________ food prices. That compared with one in seven parents in couples and an overall figure of 14% in the poll by the consumer group Which?

“Our research has found that families across the UK are ______ with the rising cost of living, with single parents most likely to be skipping meals or ________- food banks to make ends meet,” said Rocio Concha, its director of policy and advocacy.

Which? wants supermarkets to ensure prices are easy to compare and that budget food ranges are ______- available.

The most recent official data showed food price inflation _____16.4% in October – its highest level since 1977 – because of big increases in the cost of ________- such as milk, butter, cheese, pasta and eggs.

Which? said households experienced different rates of inflation, with single parents and pensioners ______ hit because they spend a greater ___________ – 30% – of their budget on food, energy and fuel. For couples with children this drops to about a quarter. However, all households are spending significantly more of their income on essentials than they did a year ago.

In another ___________ sign, almost a fifth of single parent households and one in seven couples with children said they had ___________- a vital bill payment, such as their mortgage or rent, in September and October. On average, the missed payment rate was 8%.

Solutions and Suggestions

Brainstorming suggestions

Here are a few of my ideas.

Show Ideas

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Interested in more material like this to help you boost your retour? Why not join my monthly membership site, Rock your Retour, with tailor-made written materials and weekly live group classes (online)?

Sophie Llewellyn Smith, writing as The Interpreting Coach, is a coach, interpreter trainer, conference interpreter, designer of online teaching materials, and creator of Speechpool. Follow the blog to pick up tips on how to improve your interpreting skills.

If you’re interested in personal coaching, why not book a free discovery call?

A RyR member was asking me about these two words recently. In particular, she was wondering whether we say ‘a society’s collective remembrance of events’, or ‘collective memory’ (the answer is memory).

Here are some more thoughts about memory vs remembrance.

The first and most important distinction to remember is that remembrance describes an act or behaviour.

Remembrance and commemoration

Remembrance is the act of remembering and showing respect for someone who has died, or a past event.

For example:

A church service was held in remembrance of the victims of the arena bombing.

Here are some examples from the press:

Every year, walkers from all over the north join members of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club on a trek up Great Gable in remembrance of those who have lost their lives in conflict.

If you wear a red poppy this year, it will mean something different. The Royal British Legion has said that the symbol that has long represented remembrance of the UK’s armed forces will also stand for civilian victims, not just of war, but terrorism too.

The 11th November is called Remembrance Day in the UK.

If you want to talk about a ceremony or ritual to honour and remember someone, use the verb commemorate. Commemorations are often held on the anniversary of someone’s birth or death; or they can honour an event, like a war, in which case they are often held on the anniversary of the event (or its beginning or end).

Memorial

A tangible way to honour a famous individual or remember an important event is to erect a memorial.

A memorial is a large object, often made of stone, dedicated to the person or event you wish to remember.

Many villages in the UK have a war memorial, for example.

Here are a few adjectives that are often paired with the word memorial:

• a lasting memorial
• a permanent memorial
• a fitting memorial to…

We talk about building a memorial to the fallen/those who have disappeared etc.

The word memorial is also used as a shortcut for ‘memorial service’, i.e. a ceremony to remember someone who has died, usually taking place after the burial.

Memory

Memory means two things:

1. the ability to remember
2. something you remember from the past

Let’s talk first about the ability to remember. We use memory, in this sense, with the preposition for:

I have a terrible memory for names.

Here are a few typical adjectives that go with memory. Some of them are clearly more colloquial than others:

• good
• excellent
• outstanding
• prodigious
• bad
• poor
• terrible
• awful
• unreliable

Exercise 1

Let’s say you take your children to a fair, and you suddenly pass a truck selling candyfloss. This reminds you of all the times your parents took you to fairgrounds as a child.

Do you have a pen and paper? You have two minutes to write down all the verbs and phrases you can think of that carry this meaning of ‘reminding you’ of the past.

Show Suggestions

Now let’s look at a memory as something you remember from the past.

Exercise 2

Can you think of four adjectives that go with the word memory and that mean the opposite of ‘transient’?

Show Suggestions

Exercise 3

How many other adjectives can you list that go with the word memory (meaning ‘something you remember’)?

Show Suggestions

Recollection

Recollection is a more formal word than memory, but it has the same two meanings.

1. something you remember:

I have many pleasant recollections (=memories).

The following example illustrates the difference in register:

I have no recollection of the incident.

A less formal version would simply be ‘I don’t remember what happened.’

• 2. the ability to remember

His powers of recollection are second to none.

Note that when we mean someone’s ability to recall information, we talk about their powers of recollection and not simply their ‘recollection’. So where we would say ‘He has an excellent memory’, we don’t say ‘he has an excellent recollection’, but rather ‘he has excellent powers of recollection’.

You can use the same adjectives with recollection as with memory: clear, distinct, vivid, dim, hazy, vague, faint…

Finally, a useful idiom: ‘to the best of my recollection’.

Exercise 4 – idioms

This exercise has two versions, one easier than the other.

For the harder version, I will give you definitions/explanations/paraphrases of several idioms. You have to try to come up with the idiom. Hint: they all contain the word memory.

1. if I remember correctly
2. let’s talk about something that took place in the past, let’s go back in time
3. to have an excellent memory
4. an event that has taken place recently or within someone’s lifetime
5. I will never forget this event
6. to have a terrible memory

Show Suggestions

Easier version of exercise 4

Match the idiom to the explanation or paraphrase.

Show Exercise

Show Solutions

Exercise 5

Can you rewrite this short text in a more formal register?

I have lots of happy memories of Blackpool, but last time I went there something awful happened. A car ran me over. I don’t remember what happened at all, but everything that happened afterwards, including my long hospital stay, will stay with me forever. Now every time I smell fish and chips, it brings everything back.

Show Suggestion

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Interested in more material like this to help you boost your retour? Why not join my monthly membership site, Rock your Retour, with tailor-made written materials and weekly live group classes (online)?

Sophie Llewellyn Smith, writing as The Interpreting Coach, is a coach, interpreter trainer, conference interpreter, designer of online teaching materials, and creator of Speechpool. Follow the blog to pick up tips on how to improve your interpreting skills.

If you’re interested in personal coaching, why not book a free discovery call?