You will have to take my word for this, but so far I have managed to write 2020 at the first attempt every time without having to edit my script. Maybe I’m not going senile after all.
I have had to do a considerable amount of driving in the last forty eight hours which involved listening to a lot of radio. This is invariably a pleasurable experience although because of my trade, (commentator and broadcaster) I can’t help but listen with a critical and judgemental ear. There are a few things that you hear, from sports broadcasters in particular, that baffle and more often than not, irritate me. For decades, football commentators have talked about how “Smith will pass the ball to Jones, who will lob it over the goalkeeper….and SCORES!’. Why, why, why do they talk in the future tense about something that has just happened in front of their eyes? Are they trying to sound clever, or is it just a lazy habit? Those same numpties also talk about “your leaderboard” or “our leaderboard”. It’s not mine or yours it’s “THE”. Traditionally the role of the commentator is to remain an objective and unbiased observer. It can’t therefore be “our leader” or the commentator is immediately claiming a part in the team or organisation. Then there are the presenters and Classic FM can boast a couple of these, who talk in a curiously and unnaturally interrupted fashion, leaving pauses…..where…..pauses aren’t supposed…..to be. I am thinking of two former newsreaders in particular who didn’t talk like that when reading the news from autocue or in real life. So why do they inflict such irritation on their long-suffering listeners? Perhaps more importantly, why don’t their producers say something? Why isn’t everyone as perfect as me?!
When I was learning my trade, I was always encouraged to listen and watch tapes of my work with a critical ear and eye. I was astonished to hear some quite eminent actors talking recently and admitting that they couldn’t stand watching their own work and therefore never did. How on earth can you improve if you have no idea how you come across? How you look and sound? I am obviously wrong about this, because the actors in question are very successful, rich and famous. Or perhaps they could be even better if they critically analysed their work?
On which most unsatisfactory note I am retiring to bed to listen to the 10 o’clock news on BBC Radio 4, which will undoubtedly be presented with precision and élan. Perhaps.
2DtC
ADayInTheStrifeOf 