I guess we have at least one politician that can hold a speech in English

[Micael]

Ebba Busch, Swedish deputy prime minister and minister for energy, business and industry, spoke at CES in Las Vegas a few days ago. Now usually whenever a Swedish politician tries to hold some sort of speech in English it’s a bit cringe and awkvard. They’re not comfortable enough to drive home their point properly and the language skills may vary a bit.

However, video: https://x.com/drdanielschatz/status/187 ... 53036?s=46

This seems, well, good? The language skill level is acceptable, it seems that she’s as comfortable as when speaking in Swedish, and she’s got a natural talent for this kind of thing. Now if we could just find some more politicians like her and maybe we could boost up the ole’ image a bit in the world. I kind of get the feeling as well that she would have done pretty well in American politics had she been an American.

[David Newton]

Unfortunately Swedes in that sort of situation will always suffer from being compared to the Swedish Chef of the Muppets! Not fair I know, but at least the sketches are funny.

[Micael]

Unfortunately Swedes in that sort of situation will always suffer from being compared to the Swedish Chef of the Muppets! Not fair I know, but at least the sketches are funny.

Yes that is indeed true. The only way you might get off from that hook is if you speak perfect English without any distinguishable Swedish accent.

[Craiglxviii]

I wish we had a politician that could give a decent speech, and drive his/ her point home in English.

[Nathan45]

Sounded like a fluent native speaker that was also good at speaking under scrutiny in public. (Which very few people can do.)

[Micael]

Sounded like a fluent native speaker that was also good at speaking under scrutiny in public. (Which very few people can do.)

That’s interesting that you perceive her as a native speaker, because I can tell some swedishness here and there. But I’ve been told that it’s easier for a speaker of the source language to pick out such things due to familiarity with certain telltale intonations and such. But she’s definitely the best English speaker among the politicians I’ve heard.

[David Newton]

Sounded like a fluent native speaker that was also good at speaking under scrutiny in public. (Which very few people can do.)

I agree. She sounds like she's bilingual. So to both US and UK ears she sounds like a native speaker. Her accent is certainly leaning American fairly obviously.

[Micael]

Sounded like a fluent native speaker that was also good at speaking under scrutiny in public. (Which very few people can do.)

I agree. She sounds like she's bilingual. So to both US and UK ears she sounds like a native speaker. Her accent is certainly leaning American fairly obviously.

Interesting. Yes, she’s sounding a lot more American than British, even went very southern US for a sentence or two.