READING COMPREHENSION | The art of saying nothing

1 As the next American election

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approaches, everyone in politics

from local politicians upwards to
the two main candidates for the
presidency will be talking in
sound bites and bumper-sticker
slogans. Voters have a better
chance of remembering short
catchphrases than long speeches.
But lets be honest: political catchphrases are just examples of the
advanced art of saying nothing.
A candidate has to appeal to a wide
spectrum of voters in order to get
elected. For that reason, he or she
tries to avoid saying things that
could alienate potential supporters. Although armies of advisers are on hand to make sure only the right
words are said, the safest strategy is simply to be as vague as possible. This was the logic behind the current presidents promise of change and his battle cry of yes, we can.
As Harvard language specialist Steven Pinker has pointed out, its hard to be against changing something. Everybody can fill the promise of change with his or her own content. And yes, we can but
what exactly can we do? The disappointment felt by many young people who supported Barack Obama
four years ago can be traced back partially to his ability to eloquently say nothing and his inability to
change very much.
With his opponent, Mitt Romney, the president is in good company. Romney wants us to believe in
America. Thats something that most people do anyway and what does it have to do with a particular
candidate? Similarly, Romneys promise of a better America is lovable yet at the same time empty.
Negative statements by politicians are often empty, too. As Pinker says, politicians try to fill ordinary
words with so much negative emotion that they sound like swear words. For four years, Obamas ideas
have been called socialist a term that most Americans dont understand. In the months before the
2010 congressional election, Merriam-Webster reported that socialist was one of the words that were
looked up most often in its online dictionary.
Democrats reacted by calling Republicans the party of no for their efforts to block all the presidents
policies. New York Times language columnist Ben Zimmer says that along with yes, we can this is
emotionally powerful because yes and no are among the first words we learn as children.
I have to marvel at how simple phrases are remembered and how they often win an election. Think of
Are you better off than you were four years ago? (the question asked by Ronald Reagan in 1984) and
Its the economy, stupid (the reminder given to Bill Clinton by his campaign team in 1992). Romneys
campaign is building on that tradition with Its still about the economy, and were not stupid and
Where are the jobs, Mr President?
This year, few people believe that either candidate has an answer to the problem of unemployment. But
pay attention, and see if you hear arguments or just more empty rhetoric.
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Hemera

In Talking Point (page 70), John Riach looks at the language of politics. Reread his article,
THE ART OF SAYING NOTHING, and try the exercises on the opposite page.

1.

What does it say?

Are the sentences below true (T) or false (F) according to the article?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

2.

American politicians campaign with bumper stickers.

It helps politicians to gain support if they make general statements.
American voters think that Barack Obama is a poor speaker.
Politicians use swear words.
Most Americans believe that President Obama is a socialist.
The author is surprised how often simple phrases win elections.

What does it mean?

Match the explanations (14) to the highlighted expressions from the article.
a)
b)
c)
d)

3.

If you alienate people,

If things or people are on hand,
If you marvel at something,
If you trace something back
to something,

a
b
c

1.
2.
3.
4.

they are available to help.

you find it surprising and impressive.
you find its origin or cause.
you make them dislike you.

Perfect pairs

Underline the word in blue that goes with the following noun to make collocations from the article.
a)
b)
c)
d)

We offer our customers a wide / large spectrum of services.

The actual / current president promised change four years ago.
Being vague is the safest / securest strategy.
I believe that his latest statement is just blank / empty rhetoric.

4.

Just words?

Which expressions marked in blue in the text are defined below?

a) It announces a persons opinion on the back of his or her car. a _______________
b) You might say it when you are angry. a _______________
c) You can hear it at a wedding, funeral or political rally. a _______________
d) You connect it with the famous person who first made it popular. a _______________
e) It is taken from a longer speech and often used because it is particularly effective. a _______________
f) Soldiers and politicians give it to encourage their own side. a _______________
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