PM Yingluck's Gaffe - Remember Your Lines

[webfact]

TALK OF THE TOWN

Remember your lines

Jeerawat Na Thalang

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's gaffe on Wednesday during her welcome to US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton received more than 10,000 hits in one night on YouTube.

Yingluck was heard saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" as she greeted Clinton at their joint press conference. Luckily, Yingluck's gaffe has been not as damaging as Rick Perry's brain freeze during a Republican presidential debate in the US. The evidence: Clinton did not make any objection.

Yingluck's supporters defend her, saying a Thai premier doesn't have to speak impeccable English with a perfect accent, like opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. But that's not the point. In fact, Yingluck's gaffe was not her accent, but the wrong word and pronunciation.

Language is communication. It enables people to understand each other. Saying Thai words in the wrong tone can invite conflict because words with different intonation carry different meanings, just as "overcome" cannot be used as substitute for "welcome".

Of course, some people have accent prejudice. They judge another person's intelligence by his or her accent. There is an old Thai saying: A gentleman will speak with conviction. If a person has a pattern of saying meaningless cliches over and over, he or she will eventually lose the attention of others.

Many Thai dignitaries have managed to command international respect even though they do not have a good English accent. Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, former World Trade Organisation chief and currently secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, speaks English with a Thai accent, but he commands respect because he speaks with conviction. Once, when Supachai attended an international meeting as a deputy prime minister, the Thai government distributed a copy of a speech that was handwritten in English by Supachai.

Accent is not as important as clear thought and right pronunciation. General Prem Tinsulanonda reportedly spent time on gruelling rehearsals before making public speeches in English when he was prime minister.

Some leaders opt for interpreters to make sure that they get the message across. In fact, speaking in one's native language on the international stage can suggest the national pride of the leader.

When former prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa chaired the Asia-Europe Summit in Bangkok, he made the press conference in Thai with simultaneous translation from veteran negotiators from the Foreign Ministry and Commerce Ministry to avoid any diplomatic faux pas. Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai often read out scripted speeches in English but chose Thai during the Q&A sessions.

At any rate, Yingluck may want to show off her English during international events. After all, she received a master's degree from Kentucky State University in America.

But her speech-writers should have done a better job in creating a speech with the right diction. Speech-writers should come up with the right notes to match the speaker. A speech from Yingluck will of course be different from one by President Barack Obama. Hopefully, Yingluck will feel more comfortable when she speaks English next time. Otherwise, a repetitive pattern of gaffes will define her premiership.

-- The Nation 2011-11-19

[Moruya]

Actually, I think the use of "overcome" is acceptable here.

Of course "G'Day Mate. Awesome!" Would have been more appropriate.

[BwindiBoy]

I'm no fan of her / her brother but what's the big deal here? Everyone will know what the intended word was and it's not her first language. You can bet your life she did better than ANY non Thai politician would do giving even a one minute speach in Thai. This just isn't a news story, just an incidental part of Clinton's visit...where any focus should be.

[swifty5x5]

Sounds more Freudian to me.

[nurofiend]

Talk of the town :lol:

[jonclark]

Must be a quiet day if her slip of the tongue is the talk of the town

For political language gaffs i suggest

G.W.Bush - nuff said (and i won't even go into HRH Prince Phillip and his use of language)

[scotbeve]

Must be a quiet day if her slip of the tongue is the talk of the town

For political language gaffs i suggest

G.W.Bush - nuff said (and i won't even go into HRH Prince Phillip and his use of language)

Thanks, I've always ended up on the floor laughing and pissin' myself at this pic of Georgie!! Made my morning!

[whatsupdoc]

I understood from Thais that Yingluck has made made an awful lot of these kind of mistakes during speeches (also when in Thai). It is not her English language skills, she is just not a gifted speaker in public.

[maiphedmaiaroi]

She will never be as bad as george bush.

Now he was just a complete donut.

[qualtrough]

This criticism is rich, considering that it comes from the pages of a paper that apparently did away with proofreaders long ago.

[Ulysses G.]

Much ado about nothing.

[mahtin]

Wonder how much Thai Hirrally has at her command.

[elgato]

So what!

[toenail]

Big Deal, so Yingluck pronounced a word wrong. The worse "gaffe" I have heard about is how the new minister of "tourism" of Thailand whose positon is to fly around and promote Thailand in other countries (appointed because of her connectioins with Thaksin) cannot speak the internatioinal language of English.

[mezcal]

If you want to see real gaffes, check out Silvio Berlusconi, the King of Gaffes. Like the time he compared the German delegate at the UN meeting to a Nazi concentration camp guard, or the other time he shouted at the Queen of England during a meeting or when he said Obama is tanned or.....the list is endless.

As much as I don't like Yingluck, this is not a gaffe.

[Payboy]

And dont forget the slippery eel from Suphan who welcomed QE2 at Don Muang in 1996 as Queen Elizabeth Taylor.

[Thailand]

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm

[eljeque]

At any rate, Yingluck may want to show off her English during international events. After all, she received a master's degree from Kentucky State University in America.

How real is the MA? If she has an MA and says "overcome" instead of "welcome" there is definitely something wrong here.

There are many Thai politicians with "honorary" degrees, or instead call THEM BOUGHT DEGREES, and they erase the honorary when noting the degree.

But her speech-writers should have done a better job in creating a speech with the right diction.

Welcome and overcome do not seem to be a diction problem. Maybe she though Hilary was overcome by being able to meet the great one's sister.

Speech-writers should come up with the right notes to match the speaker.

[tatsuyachiba]

I heard the speech on youtube and I believe she said and meant to say "welcome" - however, the Thai accent makes it appear otherwise. Wasn't exactly "nu-klear".

[sparebox2]

Same same. 99% of China, Japanese & Australia PMs don't speak good English if at all. It fact, most have worst English than YS. Yet they are SUPER powers.

Maybe in next PM acceptance citeria, Candidates should required to have a TOEIC 550 cert; just like in many semi-govt companies like PTT & TG.

Edited November 19, 2011 by sparebox2

[lannarebirth]

At any rate, Yingluck may want to show off her English during international events. After all, she received a master's degree from Kentucky State University in America.

How real is the MA? If she has an MA and says "overcome" instead of "welcome" there is definitely something wrong here.

There are many Thai politicians with "honorary" degrees, or instead call THEM BOUGHT DEGREES, and they erase the honorary when noting the degree.

But her speech-writers should have done a better job in creating a speech with the right diction.

Welcome and overcome do not seem to be a diction problem. Maybe she though Hilary was overcome by being able to meet the great one's sister.

Speech-writers should come up with the right notes to match the speaker.

Well, Kentucky State proudly ranks in the world's top 3,000 universities (just barely). It has a special program for Asian students.

Asian Affairs

Kentucky State University has a program of residential study for International students, focusing on development of skills in English, exposure to American university academic content, and an experience of American culture.

http://www.kysu.edu/about/

That sounds pretty rigorous doesn't it?

Edited November 19, 2011 by lannarebirth

[jackr]

You can bet your life she did better than ANY non Thai politician would do giving even a one minute speach in Thai.

Duh, and Thai is the international language now is it.

Right, it isn't big news - and about on par with her brother's tuk-tuk driver-esque tones - just highlighting some more ineptness. Those in power should at least make more of an effort with their English as they eventually need to collude with other nations.

For the record, Nation, Mark doesn't have the 'perfect' English accent (which would in fact be accent-less), but his grammar is cock-on.

[sparebox2]

And dont forget the slippery eel from Suphan who welcomed QE2 at Don Muang in 1996 as Queen Elizabeth Taylor.

During a state visit by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in October 1996 he mistakenly referred to her as Queen Elizabeth Taylor receiving many ridicules and criticisms as a result. [Wiki]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banharn_Silpa-archa

[sparebox2]

Perhaps she could use the services of Lionel Logue, like Georgy did.

[jackr]

At 2 minutes. Actually sounds more like she stumbled on 'welcome' as opposed to overcome.

[noitom]

With no opinion about her English or Thai one way or another, she appears to be charming. She is just a pawn in the game, so it's hard to critique her capabilities. That's not why she is there. Other posters have commented on many other former heads of state who haven't been JFKs, Degaulles, Reagans or Gorbachevs. So in ten years, she will just fall into a grouping that will be the others if they even remember them.

[noitom]

At any rate, Yingluck may want to show off her English during international events. After all, she received a master's degree from Kentucky State University in America.

How real is the MA? If she has an MA and says "overcome" instead of "welcome" there is definitely something wrong here.

There are many Thai politicians with "honorary" degrees, or instead call THEM BOUGHT DEGREES, and they erase the honorary when noting the degree.

But her speech-writers should have done a better job in creating a speech with the right diction.

Welcome and overcome do not seem to be a diction problem. Maybe she though Hilary was overcome by being able to meet the great one's sister.

Speech-writers should come up with the right notes to match the speaker.

Asian Affairs

Kentucky State University has a program of residential study for International students, focusing on development of skills in English, exposure to American university academic content, and an experience of American culture.

http://www.kysu.edu/about/

That sounds pretty rigorous doesn't it?

In other words, if you pay you play. You can win it if you're in it. Buy a seat, no scorecard necessary.

Well, Kentucky State proudly ranks in the world's top 3,000 universities (just barely). It has a special program for Asian students.

[hyperdimension]

Here is the video of the event:

I think the government originally thought that showing Yingluck next to the US Secretary of State would be good PR. Instead it has completely backfired and shows that she does not belong in the league of world leaders. She couldn't even read the script properly. Other good public speakers wouldn't even need a script to read from.

It's surprising to see that Clinton immediately answered the first question even though it was addressed to Yingluck and that the question was regarding an issue that is internal to Thailand (reconciliation, pardon for Thaksin), and this may be because Clinton knows that Yingluck is incapable. Yingluck still made an attempt to answer the question afterward, and this revealed her true public speaking skills - embarrassing.

Also, it's not just her lack of English communication skills or the poor manner in which she talks that is the problem, but the lack of substance in what she says (when not reading from a script). I think she has a problem in formulating coherent thoughts. Is this the best person that Thailand could find to lead the country?

Edited November 19, 2011 by sbk
derogatory name calling completely unnecessary

[ETatBKK]

is it matter rather it is 'welcome' or it is 'overcome' ?

well, I am not a Thai, I'm just a long term visitor in the LOS. even that I have 'implicit' expectations on a Thai PM, what is her/his priorities and what she/he should perform.

have a nice weekend !

[E1717007]

I think she has a problem in formulating coherent thoughts. Is this the best person that Thailand could find to lead the country? A bimbo?

agreed