Angela Merkel - 6 Minute English

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

also find us on social

media and on our free app.

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.