Technically, English was not my Mother tongue, Singhalese the native language of Sri Lanka was. And although English was spoken to me from birth and my first words were in English, my real learning of the language began when I arrived in Canada at the age of two. I was fed on both languages growing up, but as few people spoke Singhalese the language never stuck. English therefore became my first language and as I learnt it at school, it was a little later that I was introduced to a certain fictional character that would shape the way I use it today – Bond, James Bond.
I know what you might be thinking; ok maybe you should consider getting a life. In addition, where you may not be incorrect, indulge me a moment. For most who learn English as a second language, influences come from a myriad of sources – literary, music and movie icons come to mind. For me, the love affair with the language came from the barrel point of a Walther PPK, courtesy of Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
James Bond always had a flare for words, a knack for women and cool toys, and one might assume that as a heterosexual man, the middle criteria would be the most important – ok it was and likely still is, but it was the former that shaped my usage of the language. It began quite early, I remember the first time I watched ‘’Thunderball’’ with my Dad and the scene in which he is dancing with the female antagonist and then places ‘’Fiona Volpe’s’’ body in a chair after she is shot, and says; “Do you mind if my friend sits this one out? She’s just dead.” I thought to myself, this person always knows what to say and how to say it. It was his humour - the English understatement and his choice of words, which hooked me. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that I am some sort of William Shakespeare or George Orwell, far from it in fact, but somewhere between puberty and that time watching Bond flicks, my use of English had become influenced by this character for good.
Bond’s style of speaking and use of the British Understatement was inspirational. Here are a few tidbits for your inspiration:
Octopussy
Bond: [Handing a wad of Indian cash to his accomplice.] “That should keep you in curry for a few weeks.”
[Bond is dragged from a river onto a tour boat.]
Woman on Tour Boat: “Are you with our group?”
Bond: “No, ma’am, I’m with the economy tour.”
The Spy Who loved Me
[The motorcycle henchmen flies off a cliff in a cloud of feathers.]
Bond: “All those feathers and he still can’t fly.”
[After structure falls on Jaws.]
Bond: “Egyptian builders.”
[Bond and Anya are discovered making love]
Sir Frederick Gray, Minister of Defence: “Bond! What do you think you’re doing?”
Bond: “Keeping the British end up, sir.”
Bond: [After detaining Jaws with a huge magnet.] “How does that grab you?”
Captain Carter: [As James is removing the warhead to a nuclear missile.] “James, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Bond: “Well, there has to be a first time for everything.”
Moonraker
Dr. Holly Goodhead: “You know him?”
Bond: “Not socially. His name’s Jaws, he kills people.”
[Bond dangles from a cable car a thousand feet up.]
Dr. Holly Goodhead: “Hang on!”
Bond: “The thought had occurred to me.”
[Bond and Drax are shooting pheasants.]
Hugo Drax: “You missed, Mr. Bond.”
[A sniper falls from a tree.]
Bond: “Did I?”
Dr. Holly Goodhead: “Come on, Mr. Bond. A 70-year-old can take 3 G’s.”
Bond: “Well, the trouble is there’s never a 70-year-old around when you need one.”
Bond: “Bollinger? If it’s ’69 you were expecting me.”
So, should you go out and buy the Blu-ray collector’s edition of all the Bond films? Not necessarily, but having a role model or perhaps a fictional character from the movies, TV, or even literature could provide you the necessary inspiration to fine tune your English or even kick start it. In my case it was Bond, in yours it could be Hugh Grant, Amy Winehouse, Harry Potter or Kelly Clarkson – whomever you choose, if you choose, try not imitate but rather adopt and make the style your own.
This is? Sithan, Sithan de Silva signing off!
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