Greta Thunberg sorry for 'against the wall' Swenglish slip-up
Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg has apologised for the "Swenglish" that led a host of critics to accuse her -- admittedly probably in bad faith -- of calling for the mass execution of world leaders.
In a speech in Turin, Italy, on Friday, Thunberg rued the looming failure of climate talks in Madrid.
"World leaders are still trying to run away from their responsibilities, but we have to make sure they cannot do that," she said. "We will make sure that we put them against the wall, and they will have to do their job to protect our futures."
The phrase "against the wall", is a direct translation of the common Swedish phrase "ställa mot väggen", which means to "hold someone to account".
But it was quickly misinterpreted as calling for world leaders to face the firing squad.
#GretaThunberg shows her totalitarian colors
She threatens world leaders
If they don't do their jobs
"We will put them against the wall"
Support #ClimateHysteria
Or face a firing squad
Not sure these children are a future anyone should want pic.twitter.com/UhVSgtkhvR
— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) December 14, 2019
On Saturday, Greta apologised for her rare misstep in the English language.
"That's what happens when you improvise speeches in a second language," she said on Twitter. "Of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this. I cannot enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement - are against any possible form of violence. It goes without saying but I say it anyway."
Yesterday I said we must hold our leaders accountable and unfortunately said “put them against the wall”. That’s Swenglish: “att ställa någon mot väggen” (to put someone against the wall) means to hold someone accountable.
That’s what happens when you... (1/2)
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
... improvise speeches in a second language.
But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this. I can not enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement- are against any possible form of violence. It goes without saying but I say it anyway.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
While Swedes are generally excellent speakers of English, they do make a few common mistakes.
READ ALSO:
-
Ten mistakes Swedes make when speaking English
-
'Swenglish': the definitive guide and top ten
-
Stay away from Swenglish grammar, Swedes are told
The phrase "ställa mot väggen" is very common in newspapers and political speeches.
In Saturday's edition of the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, for instance, the therapist Carina Bång said that when dealing with a drug addict, it seldom works to "ställa honom mot väggen" and try and force him to confess to his problems.
She wasn't suggesting that the addict's partner was considering having him shot.
When Swedish public television channel SVT wrote in October that Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson had "taken the opportunity in parliament to "ställer [Prime Minister] Stefan Löfven mot väggen", they did not mean he had had him summarily executed in the debating chamber.
And in September, when reality TV star Emilio Ingrosso told Aftonbladet that in a meeting with his sister's boyfriend, Phillipe Cohen, he planned to "ställa honom mot väggen", he wasn't making a violent threat.
Thunberg is currently on her way back from Italy to Sweden where she plans to take a break from her campaigning.
Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home! pic.twitter.com/ssfLCPsR8o
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
Comments
See Also
#GretaThunberg shows her totalitarian colors
— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) December 14, 2019
She threatens world leaders
If they don't do their jobs
"We will put them against the wall"
Support #ClimateHysteria
Or face a firing squad
Not sure these children are a future anyone should want pic.twitter.com/UhVSgtkhvR
Yesterday I said we must hold our leaders accountable and unfortunately said “put them against the wall”. That’s Swenglish: “att ställa någon mot väggen” (to put someone against the wall) means to hold someone accountable.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
That’s what happens when you... (1/2)
... improvise speeches in a second language.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this. I can not enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement- are against any possible form of violence. It goes without saying but I say it anyway.
- Ten mistakes Swedes make when speaking English
- 'Swenglish': the definitive guide and top ten
- Stay away from Swenglish grammar, Swedes are told
Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home! pic.twitter.com/ssfLCPsR8o
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
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