BBC Learning English

People and Places

Words and politics
Doug:

Hello, and welcome to People and Places. I want to talk about politicians and the
words they use. This year we have heard from politicians who want to be the
President of the United States. For one of the political parties the Democrats
there have been two main candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

There have been lots of speeches and lots of interviews from both of them - both
of them want to be the most popular candidate. Now a candidate wants to say
vote for me, vote for me, but youve got say more than that.

Listen to this bit of an interview from Hillary. Shell say that she has a proven
track record. This means that people can already see what she can do.

And

listen how many times does she say the word change.

Hillary
I have a proven track record of creating change for people and I think that thats what the
country needs. Its not a choice between experience or change. I have the experience we need
to make the changes we want.

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Doug:

Hillary Clinton and how many times did she say the word change three times!
But its a powerful word change its a very attractive word a word that is
very popular with politicians.

In fact Barack Obama has probably used this word the most it has even been in
his slogan. Every politician has slogans. Its a sentence or just a few words that
are very, very powerful. One of Obamas slogans is Change We Can Believe in
- Change we can believe in.

But no politician can own a word. Hillary uses the word change as well but she
also uses another popular word for politicians. Listen again to her interview. She
uses the word change but what other word?

Hillary
I have a proven track record of creating change for people and I think thats what the country
needs. Its not a choice between experience or change. I have the experience we need to make
the changes we want.

Doug:

So in that short bit of the interview we heard the word change 3 times followed by
the word experience yes experience. She says I have the experience we need to
make the changes we want. (Hey, that sounds pretty good perhaps I should be a
politician.)

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Well lets hear another slogan from Obama. He doesnt use the word change this
time. He was speaking to his supporters in February. Can you hear the slogan in
this speech? And how will you know when you have heard the slogan you will
always hear cheering Yeah!

Obama
There is one thing on this February night that we do not need the final result to know our
time has come CHEERING.

Doug:

Yes, there was the slogan our time has come. You heard the cheering after it.
What does that mean? Well, its an expression that meanswe will now get what
we have waited for. Our time has come!

Obama
Our time has come! CHEERING.

Doug:

Politicians they love to use powerful words moving words. Words like hope or
challenge or change. The next time you hear a politician, listen for those moving
words.

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Hillary
I have a proven track record of creating change for people and I think thats what the country
needs. Its not a choice between experience or change. I have the experience we need to make
the changes we want.

Obama
Our time has come! CHEERING.

Doug:

You can download todays script and find out more about todays vocabulary
at the People and Places website on BBC Learning English.com. Goodbye.

People and Places

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