Hello. This is 6 Minute English from
BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.
And I’m Neil.
In this programme we’re talking
about a famous leader and
teaching you some
useful vocabulary…
..like ‘chancellor’ – the person in the
highest position in a government or a university – and especially the
title for the head of the government in some
European countries.
A country such as Germany.
It’s a position like the
prime minister in the UK.
And one of Germany’s longest
serving chancellors was Angela Merkel,
who led the country from 2005
until the recent elections
in September 2021.
Well, we’re going to find out
more about her soon but not
before I’ve challenged
you to answer this question, Neil.
Who was Germany’s first ever chancellor?
Was it:
a) Otto von Bismarck
b) Helmut Schmidt
c) Or Franz von Papen
Well, my knowledge of German history
isn’t great but a) Otto von Bismarck.
That sounds quite likely.
OK, I’ll reveal the answer later on.
But let’s talk more about Angela Merkel now.
She was in office for 16 years –
‘in office’ means ‘in power’
or ‘in charge’, until she
stepped down last month.
Yes, that’s a long time –
which meant that she had to
make lots of decisions,
popular with some people
and not with others.
Over that time, she’s gained a
nickname – ‘mutti’ – German for
‘mother’. This
could be seen as a compliment
but started life as more of an insult, as BBC
correspondent Damien McGuinness,
explained on the BBC Radio programme,
From Our Own Correspondent…
The ‘mummy Merkel’ image in fact,
started off as an insult from conservative rivals. It was made up during her
first term in office by hardline
conservatives in
her predominantly male party.
A patronising put down behind
her back,
to put her in her place as a woman,
possibly even meant to be hurtful,
given that in reality she has no children.
Oh dear, so the nickname of ‘mother’
was really used as an insult to start with,
probably invented by the men
in her political party –
described as the hardline
conservatives – ones with traditional
and strict beliefs that can’t be changed.
Yes, the nickname was used
as a put down – that’s an insult,
used to make
someone feel stupid or embarrassed.
And the intention was to make her feel less
important – or to put her in her place.
Well, politics is full of insults and
critics, but it sounds rather cruel, and Damien
McGuinness does go on to say
that this image is really a
‘media myth’ and not
quite accurate.
But, the media has not always been
negative about Angela Merkel. She is the
longest-serving amongst current
EU leaders and participated in an estimated 100 EU summits. She has often
been described as "the only grown-up in the
room". So, the media has
called her ‘The Queen of Europe’.
What is true is that following the
recent elections in Germany, her successor –
the person who became
chancellor - will lack the experience
and gravitas that
Merkel has gained over her
16 years as chancellor.
But Damien McGuinness, in his
report for the BBC’s From Our Own
Correspondent programme,
concludes that many people aren’t
sure which of her
nicknames is accurate.
What word does he use to
mean ‘phrases or ideas that
have become meaningless
because they’ve been overused’?
[But] The confusion around these
cliches does point to another truth -
The Chancellor is discreet, to the
point of sometimes being invisible.
So, there's a
fascination about what's really
going on behind that deadpan
exterior. Angela
Merkel may have been in power
for more than a decade and a
half, but people
are still not really sure they
know who she is.
He used the word cliches to
mean ‘phrases or ideas that have become
meaningless because
they’ve been overused.’
People are unsure which description of her is true
because she is discreet –
she keeps quiet about things
so as not to attract attention.
Yes, it’s hard to know what she is
thinking because she looks deadpan – that
means she looks serious and
doesn’t show expression or emotion.
Hmmm, I wonder if Germany’s
first ever chancellor had a deadpan exterior?
Ah yes, earlier you asked me who that was,
and I said it was Otto von Bismarck.
Was I right?
Wunderbar! Now it’s time
to recap some of
the vocabulary we’ve mentioned
today, starting with chancellor -
the person in the highest position in a
government in some countries.
Hardline describes someone with
traditional and strict beliefs
that can’t be easily changed.
A put down is an insult, used to
make someone feel stupid or embarrassed.
When someone is put in their place,
they are made to feel less
important than they are.
Cliches are phrases or ideas that have
become meaningless because they’ve
been overused. And deadpan
describes someone’s serious
facial expression that
shows no emotion.
Thanks, Neil. That’s all for now but
don’t forget there are lots more 6 Minute
English programmes to enjoy
on our website at
bbclearningenglish.com. You can
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And if you enjoy topical
discussion, like in 6 minute English,
why not try one of
our other podcasts?
In News Review we take a big
international story, discuss the
vocabulary used in the headlines,
and teach you how to use it
in your everyday English.
That’s News Review from
BBC Learning English. Try it out!
Thanks for listening and goodbye.
Goodbye.