The English basically appear to disapprove all sorts of
Americanism. Whenever I speak in American English, an English friend of mine
corrects it, saying “That’s American.”
In a popular TV show called “Downton Abbey,” the main character
Mary from an aristocratic English family tells her mother, who is an American, “I can’t
deal with a man who doesn’t know table manner.” Seeing her mother does not
respond, she adds, “Well, that’s OK for you since you’re American.”
Regardless of social class, English people don’t like the idea of
using a fork with the right hand. Again, “That’s American.”
In other words, they are saying “it is not sophisticated because
it’s American,” it seems.
Obviously, it’s not that simple.
While I am challenged in terms of public speaking, I have a strong
penchant for excellent speeches. As I usually get home at 6pm, I have a plenty
of time at night. What I normally do is searching good speeches in YouTube.
The best speaker I personally think is U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry. Especially his climate speech of this is a masterpiece I have to
say.
First of all, he does not look at notes at all. He does not even
appear to memorize line by line. Delivery is conversational, but he never
digresses. Rather, he is constantly getting closer and closer to the point he
is trying to make. Absolutely intelligent, and fundamentally human at the same
time. He does not need to make a joke or create an artificial laughing point,
because in my view the basic role of humor is to keep the audience awake.
Secretary Kerry’s written English is equally well done. Like his
speaking, he is not intentionally funny, well, that’s what I perceive, and yet
his overall articulateness makes me read until the end, with prudent yet solid
optimism.
This is what I call sophistication.
My goal is to reach that kind of sophistication in my
communication. Clearly that’s absolutely a bumpy road ahead, but I am doing my
best.
