If you’re going to campaign to save the world, then best do it with a strong command of the English language. Dean Frenkel weighs in on the fury that surrounds a young Swedish climate activist. Why do Australian conservatives bristle at Greta Thunberg? It begins with who she is, not what she’s saying. They are insultedMore

Thunberg is a Swedish resident who speaks English as a second language.

Many 2nd generation immigrants speak better English than 6th generation Australians.

These Australians are not jealous of Thunberg’s speech-competence nor do they necessarily want to speak better than her, instead they have a deep-seated bias against people who speak too well.

Greta’s accomplishment as an elite English speaker is amazing for someone born and raised speaking Swedish in a non-English-speaking country; even more-so that she probably hasn’t spent a lifetime nurturing her English.

Most Australians don’t speak clearly and many don’t speak confidently or functionally and it’s not only tradespeople who are impeded but also politicians, judges, air traffic controllers and doctors - it’s across the board.

  • Icaria@aussie.zone
    42·
    11 months ago

    They are insulted by the audacity of her age – a protester who became a worldwide superstar at the age of 15; they’re disoriented by her lack of regard for social niceties and particularly dislike that she’s given airtime and taken seriously. They don’t like her tone and intensity. “How dare you?”

    I mean the article starts out on a sensible foot - she’s an awful choice of spokesperson. I probably agree with 90% of what she has to say, but I’m not going to get as far as finding out. I bristle at celebrity at the best of times, never mind when some team of marketing people and managers keep shoving some blunt kid in my face.