As I’ve said in my past two posts, I’m no geopolitical expert.
But I know a thing or two about the English language.
Here I’ve dissected the entire 50 minutes of the chaotic misadventures in the White House last Friday, 28 February. Many people only witnessed the final 10 minutes, where most of the fireworks occurred. But the previous 40 minutes also featured its fair share of linguistic mayhem.
My last post, A Decision I Never Wanted to Make, was part 2 of 3 in my Ukraine-related reflections. Part 1 can be found here: Who Cares About Ukraine? I promised that part 3 would be whisky-related, but I’ve submitted it to be published elsewhere and have yet to hear back from them. To be on the safe side, I’ll hold off on posting that one for now.
Later this week I shall have some exciting news about my recent developments in the realm of social media and how I’m on the cusp of going mega viral (haha, only joking; like seriously, I’m really only joking).
The contents of this video
0-2:20 - my introductory remarks
2:20-3:00 - I hope the lunch wasn’t wasted
3:00-4:20 - Zelenskyy shows Trump pictures of prisoners of war; Trump answers, “That’s tough stuff.”
4:20-5:45 - Trump is confusing rare earths with “raw earths” - does he mean fertile soil for growing potatoes?
5:45-6:55 - Zelenskyy and Trump are actually having a laugh and a bit of banter
6:55-8:40 - an analysis of Trump’s grammar, and his obsession with conditionals and past modal verbs
8:40-11:30 - the infamous “Do you own a suit?” question and a discussion of false friends (in more ways than one)
11:30-12:40 - I wonder whether other world leaders insult their predecessors the way Trump does
12:40-15:00 - Trump is crapping on about “security” and more of his woulda coulda shoulda and “I wouldn’t have done this, etc”, and double standards
15:00-16:15 - Zelenskyy is being abrasive and somewhat derisively says “Mr President”, which Trump doesn’t seem to appreciate
16:15-17:40 - Trump is rambling on about preventing wars between nations no one has ever heard of while Zelenskyy smirks and thinks, “What is this clown on about now?”
17:40-19:45 - Zelenskyy gets a tad abrasive again when he says “Just a second” and I analyse the way Ukrainians speak and how native speakers might perceive this; I ask whether a translator might’ve been a good idea; I sympathise with Zelenskyy and praise his noble language efforts
19:45-end - the final 10 minutes are the infamous shitshow the world has been overanalysing; I offer my take, discussing non-sequiturs, the challenge with words like litigate and dictate, JD scolding Zelenskyy like a parent for not saying “thank you,” more of Trump’s ridiculous conditionals grammar, and concluding with JD’s shit-eating grin (and where I also call him a smarmy wee git)
Highlights
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