Pardon My English Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

Please pardon my English
sorry I did not understand?

It is not your English
which is not at fault.
These native speakers
are speaking in idioms.
Idioms are fixed expressions
with nonliteral meanings.
A natural way of using language.
A natural way for native speakers to speak.

Your problem arises
because a fixed
distinctive expression
whose meaning
cannot be deduced
from the combined
meanings of its
actual spoken words

is not directly translatable.

Jargon and accents
betray speakers
places of origins
social background
and educational
class privileges
intonation inflection
betray mood character.

Note a
greater stress
emphasis
in pronouncing
a syllable
within a word
or a word
within a phrase.

An aspect
of situation
or issue
that is
emphasized
reveals
each speakers
main emphasis.

The best
speakers
are employing
contrasting
detail because
contrasting
decorative
features used

adds interest.

However
the most
persuasive
speakers
weight
their argument
with
lateral thinking

outside
the box
revealing
themselves
to be
master
orators
par excellent.


Copyright © Terence George Craddock
http: //www.poemhunter.com/terence-george-craddock/