Condolences: terminology mining & gap filling

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.

Here are some ideas:

  • a state funeral
  • Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister (nice concise phrasing here)
  • guests stood in silence
  • a 19-gun salute sounded in honour of the assassinated former leader
  • amid tight security, amid controversy (amid is a preposition you may not have used before)
  • mourners queued to lay flowers and offer prayers
  • Kishida paid tribute to his friend and predecessor
  • Please rest in peace
  • his death sent shockwaves through a country with very low rates of gun crime
  • his death prompted tributes from leaders around the world

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.

World leaders pay tribute after death of Queen Elizabeth II

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

Presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and leaders around the world have paid tribute to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II, many of them reflecting on a 70-year reign that encompassed 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 invoked words were “duty”, “steadfast” and “constant”, but mention was also made 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 embodied 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 lasting impression on her country and her century.

Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin extended 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 expressed his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people” in a statement released through state media. “Her passing 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 condolences to the royal family.

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

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he was saddened to learn of Queen Elizabeth’s death and sent 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 fly at half-mast and arrangements would be made for a state memorial service.

Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, expressed his “great and profound sadness”, adding: “We join our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth in mourning her passing, and pray for the comfort of the members of her family, and the people of the United Kingdom, as they grieve 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 suffered an irreparable loss.

Comments

  • World leaders pay tribute after death of Queen Elizabeth II: you could also say ‘after passing of’ (this is a headline, hence the lack of ‘the’ before the word ‘death’. In a normal sentence, you would need a ‘the’).
  • Messages flood in: you could say ‘pour in’
  • a 70-year reign that encompassed some of the most turbulent and decisive moments: you could also say ‘included’
  • global figures: ‘leaders’, ‘personalities’
  • Among the most frequently invoked words: ‘invoked’ is lovely, but you could try ‘cited’, ‘mentioned’, ‘listed’, or ‘used’
  • Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years: there are some lovely alternatives to this, including ‘typified’, ‘epitomised’, ‘exemplified’, stood for’, ‘typified’, or ‘personified’.
  • Her passing is a great loss to the British people: you could use ‘death’, or ‘loss’ – except that it’s been used elsewhere in the sentence
  • Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen: ‘features’, or perhaps ‘badges’
  • sent his deepest condolences: we’ve seen that several verbs work with ‘condolences’, including ‘offered’, ‘expressed’, and ‘extended’
  • had suffered an irreparable loss: ‘experienced’

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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?

Gap-filling exercise: cost of living

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%.

Close to a third of single parents have resorted to skipping meals to make ends meet because of rising food costs, according to research revealing the household types worst hit by the cost of living crisis.

Three in 10 single parent households surveyed said they had missed meals as a consequence of runaway 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 struggling with the rising cost of living, with single parents most likely to be skipping meals or turning to 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 widely available.

The most recent official data showed food price inflation hit 16.4% in October – its highest level since 1977 – because of big increases in the cost of staples such as milk, butter, cheese, pasta and eggs.

Which? said households experienced different rates of inflation, with single parents and pensioners badly hit because they spend a greater proportion – 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 worrying sign, almost a fifth of single parent households and one in seven couples with children said they had missed a vital bill payment, such as their mortgage or rent, in September and October. On average, the missed payment rate was 8%.

  • resorted to: you could also say ‘have started skipping meals’, or ‘have had to skip meals’, ‘have been forced to skip meals’
  • skipping meals: you could also say ‘missing’
  • to make ends meet: something else that would fit here is ‘to save money’ or ‘to make savings’
  • rising food prices: there are lots of options for this: skyrocketing, spiralling, ever-increasing, escalating, soaring or just ‘high’. And of course, you can use ‘runaway’ food costs, which comes up a few lines down, or ‘out of control’.
  • worst hit: could also be ‘worst affected’
  • struggling: the preposition ‘with’ doesn’t leave you many options. You could try ‘grappling with’ or ‘having problems with’.
  • turning to: you could use ‘resorting to’ or ‘using’, ‘making use of’, or ‘relying on’.
  • widely available: there aren’t many adverbs that collocate well with ‘available’. The best options are ‘readily’ or ‘easily’ (according to the dictionary, but I’m not keen on ‘easily available’).
  • hit 16.4%: you could also say ‘reached’
  • staples: also ‘basics’, ‘essentials’, or just ‘foods’
  • badly hit: this is a bit like ‘widely available’. There aren’t many options, other than ‘hard hit’ and variants thereof, e.g. ‘particularly hard hit’
  • proportion: also ‘percentage’ or ‘share’
  • worrying sign: ‘bad’, ‘disturbing’, ‘ominous’. Nowadays people also use ‘concerning’. 
  • missed: ‘skipped’, ‘failed to make’

Brainstorming suggestions

Here are a few of my ideas.

  • spiralling costs
  • soaring fuel prices
  • rising fuel prices
  • fuel poverty
  • to go without
  • heat or eat
  • to be sparing, frugal, thrifty
  • to watch your spending
  • to keep an eye on outgoings
  • to make ends meet
  • to tighten your belt
  • to cut back on
  • to cut down on
  • spending on luxuries
  • shopping habits
  • wasteful
  • to cope with
  • to put food on the table
  • to make savings
  • non-essential spending
  • discretionary spending
  • necessities
  • money-saving tips

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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)?

Interpreting Coach logo with strapline

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?

Memory and remembrance

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.

Here’s what I came up with:

  • it jogged my memory
  • it brought back memories
  • the memories came flooding back
  • it conjures up memories

I also thought of ‘it evokes memories’. This is more formal, though.

Here’s what I came up with:

  • it jogged my memory
  • it brought back memories
  • the memories came flooding back
  • it conjures up memories

I also thought of ‘it evokes memories’. This is more formal, though.

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’?

The adjectives I had in mind were:

  • lasting memories
  • abiding
  • enduring
  • lingering

Exercise 3

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

How about

  • vivid memories
  • distant memories
  • dim
  • hazy
  • vague
  • affectionate
  • fond
  • good
  • happy
  • lovely
  • nostalgic
  • pleasant
  • precious
  • sweet
  • warm 
  • wonderful
  • bittersweet
  • bad
  • disturbing
  • embarrassing
  • painful
  • sad
  • traumatic
  • unhappy
  • unpleasant
  • childhood memories

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

  1. ‘if memory serves’, or ‘if my memory serves me right/correctly’. This is a very useful idiom in meeting situations. Personally, I use ‘if memory serves’, because it’s shorter and you’re less likely to make mistakes!
  2. let’s take a walk/stroll/trip down memory lane
  3. to have a memory like an elephant
  4. within living memory (or within recent memory). For example: ‘He actually apologised?! That hasn’t happened in living memory!
  5. This event is engraved/etched on my memory
  6. to have a memory like a sieve

Easier version of exercise 4

Match the idiom to the explanation or paraphrase.

if I remember correctlyit is etched on my memory
let’s talk about something that took place in the past, let’s go back in timeto have a memory like a sieve
to have an excellent memoryif memory serves
an event that has taken place recently or within someone’s lifetimein living memory
I will never forget this eventlet’s take a trip down memory lane
to have a terrible memoryto have a memory like an elephant

if I remember correctlyif memory serves
let’s talk about something that took place in the past, let’s go back in timelet’s take a trip down memory lane
to have an excellent memoryto have a memory like an elephant
an event that has taken place recently or within someone’s lifetimein living memory
I will never forget this eventthis event is etched on my memory
to have a terrible memoryto have a memory like a sieve

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.

There is no single answer, but here is one suggestion:

I have many pleasant recollections of Blackpool, but on my last visit, something dreadful occurred. A car knocked me over. I have no recollection of the incident, but the aftermath, including my long hospital stay, will remain etched on my memory forever. Now the smell of fish and chips always evokes bad memories.

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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)?

Interpreting Coach logo with strapline

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?

Negative impact – synonyms & reformulation

We so often hear of something having a negative impact, yet there are many more idiomatic ways of expressing this idea.

You can often use a verb or adjective instead, which allows you to be more precise or more colourful. Another option that often works is using a verb and modifying it with an adverb.

Here are some options for you.

Verbs

Instead of has a negative impact, try some of the following. Of course, your choice will depend on context.

  • damage
  • weaken
  • undermine
  • hurt
  • hit
  • affect
  • cause harm to…

Add adverbs to modify the verbs, especially if you want to make them stronger. Seriously, badly, and severely are usually safe choices.

A few idioms:

  • to leave a mark on
  • to play havoc with
  • to take a toll on
  • to deal a blow to (you could add adjectives: ‘a crushing blow’, ‘a severe blow’, ‘a serious blow’)
  • (informal) to do a number on

Adjectives

Instead of saying X has had a negative impact on the economy, you can use adjectives.

Either replace negative with something more descriptive, or say that the effect of X has been…(insert adjective).

Using adjectives allows you to play with register and emphasis, since some adjectives are much stronger or more formal than others.

  • unfortunate
  • destructive
  • damaging
  • harmful
  • detrimental
  • (formal) deleterious
  • dangerous
  • adverse

Stronger options:

  • catastrophic
  • disastrous
  • devastating
  • crippling
  • dire

Synonyms

Remember, there are a few words that have a similar meaning to negative impact. As always, they may or may not be suitable for the context:

  • drawback
  • disadvantage
  • downside

You could also choose to use a synonym of impact, along with a different adjective. For example:

  • damaging ramifications
  • undesirable consequences
  • adverse effects
  • an unfortunate outcome
  • catastrophic repercussions

Exercise

Here are some headlines (hence the missing verbs) and sentences taken from the press. All of them could have used the term negative impact.

See if you can come up with a different phrase. There are many possible solutions.

Pandemic’s negative impact on mental health of women and young people is most serious.

In France, nearly half (47%) of people aged 18 to 24 said the pandemic had had a negative impact on their mental health.

Half of people aged 18-24 in the UK say the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health.

Lockdown may have a negative impact on mental health

The negative psychological impact of coronavirus in Britain – a visual guide

Anxiety levels double and 80 per cent of people report negative impact of living with pandemic threat

Pandemic hits mental health of women and young people hardest.

In France, nearly half (47%) of people aged 18 to 24 said the pandemic had taken a toll on their mental health.

Half of people aged 18-24 in the UK say the pandemic badly affected their mental health.

Lockdown may have a number of negative consequences for mental health

The psychological toll of coronavirus in Britain – a visual guide

Anxiety levels double and 80 per cent of people report devastating effects of living with pandemic threat

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)?

Interpreting Coach logo with strapline

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.

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A reformulation exercise to improve your English B (or C, or even A!)

I’ve created a short reformulation exercise to help you work on your English – whether it’s a passive language in your combination, a retour language, or your mother tongue.

I’ve given a short speech about Shell and the windfall tax (see video below), but left gaps (silences) in the sentences.

  • if English is your mother tongue, pause the video when there’s a gap, and see if you can find 3 or 4 possible solutions.
  • If English is your B language, try shadowing the speech, repeating what you hear, and filling in the blanks as you go along (you’ll need a decalage of a few words in order to do this).
  • If English is one of your C languages, interpret the speech in simultaneous into your A language. Can you compensate for all the gaps and deduce what I must have said?

This is an exercise I created for members of my Rock your Retour group for English retourists.  They have access to the original text of my speech, as well as suggestions for filling in the blanks in different ways (and in different registers).

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