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英音演讲60周年演讲稿
篇一：英国女王伊丽莎白二世登基60周年演讲稿(全球最美最标准的英音没有之一!)
英国女王伊丽莎白二世登基60周年演讲稿
（倪宁 译）
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
各位上下议院的议员们：
I am most grateful for your Loyal Addresses and the generous words of the Lord Speaker and Mr. Speaker.
我非常感谢主议长和议长先生的衷心赞扬。
This great institution has been at the heart of the country and the lives of our people throughout its history.
这个伟大的机构（议会）已经成为国家历史的心脏和我们民众生活的生命。 As Parliamentarians, you share with your forebears a fundamental role in the laws and decisions of your own age.
作为国会议员，你分享了你的祖先中的一个根本性法律。
Parliament has survived as an unshakeable cornerstone of our constitution and our way of life.
议会已经成为不可动摇的基石，存在于我们的宪法和生活方式中。
History links monarchs and Parliament, a connecting thread from one period to the next.
历史联系着君主和议会，像一根纽带把一个时代和下一个时代连接起来。So, in an era when the regular, worthy rhythm of life is less
eye-catching than doing something extraordinary, I am reassured that I am merely the second Sovereign to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.
所以，在做不平凡事比平常生活更受关注的时代，我很高兴我能成为第二个庆祝钻禧年的君主。
As today, it was my privilege to address you during my Silver and Golden Jubilees.
到今天为止，你们能参加我银禧和金禧的盛典，我很荣幸。
Many of you were present ten years ago and some of you will recall the occasion in 1977.
十年前你们中的很多人也出席了。你们中的一些人依然能回忆出1977年的情景。 Since my Accession, I have been a regular visitor to the Palace of Westminster and, at the last count, have had the pleasurable duty of treating with twelve Prime Ministers.
我在位期间，我是威斯敏斯特宫的常客，至今为止，我和12位首相有过愉快的合作。
Over such a period, one can observe that the experience of venerable old age can be a mighty guide but not a prerequisite for success in public office.
在这样一个时代，年长者的经验很管用，但对于担任公职来说却不是成功的先决条件。
I am therefore very pleased to be addressing many younger
Parliamentarians and also those bringing such a wide range of background and experience to your vital, national work.
我也很高兴向很多年轻议员提建议，我也把广泛的背景知识和经验运用到日常国家事务中。
During these years as your Queen, the support of my family has, across the generations, been beyond measure.
当女王的这些年，来自我家庭的几代人的支持难以衡量。
Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide. 菲利普亲王因为拒绝各种赞扬而出名。但是，他是一个坚定的支持者和向导。 He and I are very proud and grateful that The Prince of Wales and other members of our family are travelling on my behalf in this Diamond Jubilee year to visit all the Commonwealth Realms and a number of other Commonwealth countries.
威尔士王子和其他家人将代表我在钻禧年出访所有的英联邦王国和部分英联邦国家，他和我都感到非常高兴和自豪。
These overseas tours are a reminder of our close affinity with the Commonwealth, encompassing about one-third of the world’s population.
这些海外行程将使占世界三分之一的人口的联邦成员国紧紧联系着。
My own association with the Commonwealth has taught me that the most important contact between nations is usually contact between its peoples.
我与英联邦国家交往的亲身经历告诉我国家之间最重要的联系通常是人民之间的联系。
An organisation dedicated to certain values, the Commonwealth has flourished and grown by successfully promoting and protecting that contact.
该机构提供固定的价值，鼓励和保持成员之间的联系，促进联邦国繁荣和发展。 At home, Prince Philip and I will be visiting towns and cities up and down the land.
在国内，菲利普亲王和我将会访问南北方的城市和郡县。
It is my sincere hope that the Diamond Jubilee will be an opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of neighbourliness and celebration of their own communities.
我真诚地希望，钻禧典礼将成为人们团结的一个良好契机，传递友善的邻里关系和他们的社区价值。
We also hope to celebrate the professional and voluntary service given by millions of people across the country who are working for the public good.
我也希望能够表彰那些在公共领域工作的，来自全国各地自愿提供服务的数百万人民和专家。
They are a source of vital support to the welfare and wellbeing of others, often unseen or overlooked.
他们是为公众福祉提供重要支持的源泉，却往往被忽视。
And as we reflect upon public service, let us again be mindful of the remarkable sacrifice and courage of our Armed Forces.
我们对公共服务进行思考，让我们再一次注意到我们军队做出的卓越贡献和勇敢。
Much may indeed have changed these past sixty years but the valour of those who risk their lives for the defence and freedom of us all remains undimmed.
在过去的六十年里，许多已经改变，但是为了守护国家和我们的自由而献身的勇气会永存。
The happy relationship I have enjoyed with Parliament has extended well beyond the more than three and a half thousand Bills I have signed into law.
我和议员之间的愉快关系很好地延续着已经超过我签署3500份法案的时间。 I am therefore very touched by the magnificent gift before me, generously subscribed by many of you.
结果我收到了非常壮观的礼物，你们中许多人慷慨地付出了。
Should this beautiful window cause just a little extra colour to shine down upon this ancient place, I should gladly settle for that. 如果这扇漂亮的窗户能为这个古老的地方增添色彩，我将为此感到高兴。
We are reminded here of our past, of the continuity of our national story and the virtues of resilience, ingenuity and tolerance which created it. 在这里，我们想起过去我们国家的故事，国民的坚韧性、创造力和宽容心。 I have been privileged to witness some of that history and, with the support of my family, rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come.
我亲历了其中的一些历史，在我家人的支持下，现在和将来，我将致力于为我们伟大的国家和人民服务。
篇二：十招教给你发出地道英国腔
十招教给你发出地道英国腔
英格兰、苏格兰、北爱尔兰和威尔士各自拥有独特的'口音，通过练习，就可以用听起来颇为纯正的英式英语与人交谈。除了语言，你的行为举止也要相配，这样才能发挥最佳效果。下面的内容介绍了英格兰南部和威尔士所用的女皇英语或”标准英音”，也就是外国人对英国人说话的固有印象，尽管这在现代英国其实几乎从未用过。学习标准英音很大程度关乎发音，而要学习标准语言，还需注意其他方面，如正确的语法、较正式的词汇和语言风格。
1. “R”不发音
要知道，大多数说英音的人发R音的时候都不卷舌(除了那些来自苏格兰、诺森比亚、北爱尔兰和兰开夏郡部分地区的人)，但并非所有英式口音都相同。元音之后的R不要发音，同时拉长元音，还可以加上一个“uh”音(here就读成“heeuh”)。在像“hurry”这样的单词中，不要把R和元音混在一起，要读成“huh-ree”。
在美式英语中，以“rl”或“rel”结尾的单词发音时可以用一个或两个音节，没有区别。但在英式英语中就不同。以“rl”结尾的单词，如“girl”、“hurl”等只发一个音节，R不发音;而“squirrel”则要读成“squih-rul”，而“referral”则为“re-fer-rul”。
有些单词用英式口音读起来比较轻松。比如“mirror”读起来就是“mih-ra”。别把它读得像“mere”一样，英国人几乎从不这么发音。
2. 字母“U”在“stupid”和“duty”中的发音为“ew”，和单词“you”一样
不要像美式口音那样发“oo”音，所以正确的发音应该是stewpid ，或者schewpid 也很常见，但不是stoopid ;而duty 应该是“dewty”，或更常见的“jooty”。在标准英音中，“A”(比如在“father”中)应该是在口腔后部发的开嗓音，听起来就是“Arh”。这点在几乎所有英式口音中都不例外，不过在标准英音中尤为突出。在英格兰南部和标准英音中，诸如“bath”、“path”、“glass”和“grass”这样的词也发这个元音(bawth、pawth、glawss和grawss，等等)。不过在英国其他地区，“bath”、“path”这些词还是发“ah”音。
3. 辅音较多的单词要发音清晰
“duty”中的T 发T 音：不要像美语中那样发成D ，读成doody，所以“duty”应该读dewty ，或者柔和一点，jooty 。读后缀“-ing”的时候要加重“G”的后鼻音。这样听起来就应该是“-ing”而非“-een”。不过有时候也会缩短为“in”，比如“lookin”。
“human being”这个词组要读成“hewman being”，有的地区读成“youman been”，不过也可以是“hewman bee-in”。
4. 略去“T”
包括伦敦腔在内的某些口音中，单词中的“T”不发音，而美国人会用“D”取而代之。不过在原本“T”的位置上通常会有短暂的停顿。所以“battle”的发音就应该是“Ba-ill”，在第一个音节末尾含住舌根的气息，然后在发第二个音节的时候才把它吐出来，这就是所谓的“喉塞音”glottal stop。 美国人也用喉塞音，比如像“mittens”和“mountain”这样的词，只是英国人用得更多罢了。
说河口英语、标准英音，以及操苏格兰、爱尔兰和威尔士口音认为把“T”吞掉是懒惰粗鲁的行为，因此也就没有这种发音方法。不过几乎在所有口音中，在非正式情形下单词中间的T不发音，都是可以接受的;而在词尾加上喉塞音就更加普遍了。
5. 请注意，有些单词的发音与拼写是一致的
单词“Herb”的发音中有“H”的音，而“Often”通常都读成“Off tin”而非“Off in”。单词“Been”的发音为“Bean”，不是“bin”或者“ben”。“Again”和“renaissance”读成“a gain”和“run nay snce”，“ai”的发音和在“pain”中一样，而不是“said”中那样。以“body”结尾的单词也都按照拼写发音，如“any body”而非“any buddy”，不过“O”的发音是英式的短促音。
6. 请注意，“H”并不总是发音
单词“herb”中的“H”是发音的，和美语中的“erb”相反。不过，在很多英式口音中，比如不少北部口音和伦敦东区口音，词首的“H”往往略去不发。
7. 单词“been”的读音是“bean”，而不是“bin”
在英式口音中，“been”是较常见的发音，而“bin”则更多出现在非正式谈话中不对单词做特别强调的情况中。
8. 聆听语言的“乐曲”
所有的口音和方言都有自己的音乐性。留意细听说英音的人的语调和语气。句子一般是以升调、平调还是降调结束通常整个句子中语调变化会有多大不同地区的语调相差迥异。英式英语，尤其是标准英音在整句话中的语调变化一般都比美式英语要少得多，而且整体趋势是在一个短语的结尾略微降调。不过利物浦和英格兰东北部却是显著的例外。
9. 请一位英国人来说一些有名的句子：
“How now brown cow”和“The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain”，并留神细听。在伦敦读成圆口元音的单词，如“about”，在北爱尔兰常会变成平舌音。
10. 请注意，两个或多个元音在一起，可能会增加一个音节。
比如，“road”这个单词通常读作“rohd”，但在威尔士和一些生活在北爱尔兰的人口中，它的发音可能就会变成“ro.ord”，有些人甚至可能会说“reh-uud”。
【英音发音小贴士】
和其他任何口音一样，倾听并模仿母语者说话是最好最快的学习方法。记得吗，小时候我们都是通过倾听和重复听到的话来学习语言的，同时也模仿听到的口音。
听英国人交谈。这能增加你的词汇量。
另外，英语中能轻松辨别一个人的口音的单词之一是“Water”。在英国，它通常被读作“war-tah”，而在美国它听起来则更像是“wa-der”。
用英式口音说“at all”的时候，发音与“a tall”相近。
孩提时代，你耳朵不同频率声音的能力较强，这让你能更好地辨别并重复身边各种语言的语音。要有效地学习一门新语言，你就要一遍遍重复听这种口音的例句，努力施展耳朵的能力。
除了口音以外，还要留意俚语用词，比如“lads”或“blokes”就是指男孩或男人，而“birds”或“lasses”(用于英格兰北部和苏格兰)则是指女人。“Loo”是厕所，但“bathroom”则是供你清洁洗澡的房间。
不太确定的时候，就去看Monty Python的喜剧或者科幻剧《神秘博士》吧，《哈利波特》也有帮助。
遇到特别强的区域性口音时，往往会用“ff”来替代“th”——“through”听起来可能像是“froo”，而“birthday”则要读成“birfday”。《神秘博士》中的Billie Piper说起话来就是这样。
通过听别人说话来学习口音比较容易。如果你所在的地方能常常听到BBC新闻，那就是正规的英音。正式的英式言谈的确比美语更严谨，也更清晰，不过这在电视和广播播报中得到了着意强调，这方面哪里的新闻播报员都一样。
如果英式英语中用词和美语不同，一定要用英式的。英国人会倾向于保护这些差异，尤其注意，“垃圾”和“水龙头”要说“rubbish”和“tap”，而不是“trash”和“faucet”。另外，在说“schedule”
的时候，最好读成“sh_”而不是“sk_”。不过“specialty”这个词一定要读出5个音节，别读成3个(像这样：spe-ci-al-i-ty)。
标准英音被誉为女皇英语是可不是没来由的，你可以自己听听伊丽莎白二世女皇殿下说话。在国会开幕大典上她总会作很长的演讲，那是个观察她说话方式的绝佳机会。
一旦掌握了技巧，也听过英国人说话，你可以尝试用这种口音朗读书中的片段。这既很有趣，又是一种很好的练习。
无论说什么，都要发音清晰，每个词都念得清楚得当，而且要确保单词间有一定间隔。
许多地方有不同的语言风格和用词习惯。用网上的英式字典查一查更多英式用语，请记住，除了像tap/faucet和pavement/sidewalk这样较明显的差异外，要是你想全盘应用本地人的地方用语和语言风格，他们顶多会觉得你是个讨喜的开心果，最糟糕的结果则是认为你自命不凡，屈尊俯就。
联系英格兰、威尔士、苏格兰和爱尔兰中某种口音的另一种方式是认定某一英语新闻频道的某位新闻播报员，坚持复读他们的讲话。这样每天看半小时，只需几周时间，你的语言模式会大有长进。
试着想象嘴里含了一个梅子。在发元音的时候，口腔上壁抬高，而舌头则尽可能下压。尽量正常说话(别弄得笨拙可笑)。舌头的位置再加上加强的共鸣效果，应该能让你在“假装”英式口音方面顺利起步。
英国有几百种不同口音，所以把它们一概归为英式口音其实是相当不正确的。无论走到那里，你都会发现不同的发音种类多得难以置信。
想想你的听众。如果你想真正让别人以为你是英国人，就要考虑到地区因素，而且要多加努力，这可比在学校演出里装个皮毛要难得多。
如果你想听听这种口音较为当下的版本，可以去看几集电视剧《东区人》和《只有傻瓜和马》。现在的人的确还是这么说话，尤其是伦敦东部和埃塞克斯及肯特郡部分地区的工人阶级，不过在年长者中更为明显。
记住：影星朱莉安德鲁斯(《音乐之声》中女教师的扮演者)和艾玛沃特森(《哈利波特》中赫敏的扮演者)说的是标准英音，不过她们的口音和明星主厨杰米奥利弗以及达人秀评判西蒙考威尔的口音(河口英语，大概是英格兰南部传播最广的日常会话口音了，介于伦敦东区口音和标准英音之间)大不相同，也与比利康纳利的口音(格拉斯哥口音)大相径庭。
随着听辨能力的加强，说就变得水到渠成了。当耳朵能“听出”一种声音时，口腔就有较大的把握能发出这个声音。
你也许听到过伦敦东区口音(伦敦最东部)。这种口音在21世纪越来越少听到了，不过如果你想模仿，留意他们的发音几乎像唱歌，而且所有元音几乎都被替代，并且吞掉一些字母。比如“change”中的“a”就变成了“i”的音。狄更斯作品改编的电影中或许有这种口音的样板，如《窈窕淑女》。
发挥创意，乐在其中。带着你所学的新知识自己探索。试着对你的朋友用英式口音说话。他们会告诉你你说的怎么样!
还有， 不要 用鼻音说话，也就是说别用鼻咽说话。
如果你要去英国，牛津大学和剑桥大学都是传统标准英音和“皇后英语”口音的最后据点之一。不过越来越多的学生现在都带着英国乃至世界各地的口音说话，而这两个城市及周边地区的本地人则用自己的本地口音(往往都非常独特)。如果你假设他们用“典型英国腔”说话，可能会冒犯他们。别以为牛津郡或剑桥郡的口音就是标准英音，这可是个常见的陷阱。
拜访口音的发源地，并观察当地人谈话的方式。
一次只学习一种口音。河口英语和纽卡斯尔的”Geordie”口音大不相同，很容易让你混淆。 去英国旅行，真正听听他们是怎么说话的。
试着找一个英国人做你的电话聊友!
去伦敦，那里的英式口音比一些其他地方更清楚。
篇三：美国大牛人Sarah模仿八国英语口音
美国大牛人Sarah Jones模仿八国英语口音
如果恰好您对于各种口音有强烈的兴趣，这篇TED是绝对要列为必看之列的。TED牛人女演员——莎拉·琼斯（SARAH JONES）惟妙惟肖地模仿了八国人说英语，惊为天人。里面包括了英式口音、美式口音、印度口音、法国口音、中式口音、阿拉伯口音，这短短的20分钟内，Sarah Jones好像领着你去了一次环球旅行。莎拉·琼斯一个人分别扮演了一位固执的犹太老太太、一个语速极快的多米尼加裔女大学生以及其他众多精彩角色。
被莎拉·琼斯模仿的八个国家和地区为：英国（British English）, 纽约皇后区（New York Queens）, 澳大利亚（Australia）, 多米尼加（Dominican American）, 法国（French）,德国（Germany）, 印度（India), 中国（China）,约旦（Jordan）。代表了八种不同的口音：英音，美音，西班牙音，法语音，德语音，印度音，汉语音，阿拉伯音。即使你的英文水准不是很高，还是能一下就听出她是在什么时候模仿中国人说英语。
开始英音---42秒，美音 ----2分13秒，澳大利亚---- 6分06秒 多米尼加 ----10分20秒 法国 ----- 10分58秒 德国 ----- 11分40秒 印度 ----- 13分 中国-----17分31秒，约旦。
当然，从Sarah的本意出发，这次旅行的重点并不仅仅是口音，还有文化与交流的问题。我们生活在一个距离越来越短，联系越来越紧密的地球村里。一种 语言就像是一把钥匙，打开地球另一边人们生活的大门。如果说你的语言是一个维度，它带来了一个角度，多一种语言能力就是多一个思考的维度，多了一扇看世界 的窗，生活的厚度就这样叠加起来越发丰富多彩。
特别推荐的原因是Sarah模仿中国口音的那段超级超级搞笑！她说的实在是很准，让人叹服。其中还讲到了中国人的思维方式与文化传统，拿捏得还是很到位的，幽人一默。
Sarah Jones演讲稿：
I should tell you that when I was asked to be here, I thought to myself that well, it's TED. And these TEDsters are -- you know, as innocent as that name sounds -- these are the philanthropists and artists and scientists who sort of shape our world. And what could I possibly have to say that would be distinguished enough to justify my participation in something like thatAnd so I thought perhaps a really civilized sounding British accent might help things a bit.
And then I thought no, no. I should just get up there and be myself and just talk the way I really talk because, after all, this is the great unveiling. And so I thought I'd come up here and unveil my real voice to you. Although many of you already know that I do speak the Queen's English
because I am from Queens, New York. (Laughter) But the theme of this session, of course, is invention. And while I don't have any patents that I'm aware of, you will be meeting a few of my inventions today. And I suppose it's fair to say that I am interested in the invention of self or selves. We're all born into certain circumstances with particular physical traits, unique developmental experiences, geographical and historical contexts. But then whatTo what extent do we self-construct, do we self-inventHow do we self-identify and how mutable is that identityLike, what if one could be anyone at any timeWell my characters, like the ones in my shows, allow me to play with the spaces between those questions. And so I've brought a couple of them with me. And well, they're very excited. What I should tell you -- what I should tell you is that they've each prepared their own little TED talks. So feel free to think of this as Sarah University. (Laughter)
Okay. Okay. Oh, well. Oh, wonderful. Good evening everybody. Thank you so very much for having me here today. Ah, thank you very much. My name is Loraine Levine. Oh my! There's so many of you. Hi sweetheart. Okay. (Laughter) Anyway, I am here because of a young girl, Sarah Jones. She's a very nice, young, black girl. Well you know, she calls herself black, she's really more like a caramel color if you look at her. But anyway, (Laughter) she has me here because she puts me in her show, what she calls her one-woman show. And you know what that means, of course. That means she takes the credit and then makes us come out here and do all the work. But I don't mind.
Frankly, I'm kvelling just to be here with all the luminaries you have attending something like this, you know. Really, it's amazing. Not only, of course, the scientists and all the wonderful giants of the industries but the celebrities. There are so many celebrities running around here. I saw -- Glenn Close I saw earlier. I love her. And she was getting a yogurt in the Google cafe. Isn't that adorable. (Laughter) So many others you see, they're just wonderful. It's lovely to know they're concerned, you know. And -- oh, I saw Goldie Hawn. Oh, Goldie Hawn. I love her, too; she's wonderful. Yeah. You know, she's only half Jewish. Did you know that about herYeah. But even so, a wonderful talent. And I -- you know, when I saw her, such a wonderful feeling. Yeah, she's lovely. But anyway, I should have started by saying just how lucky I feel. It's such an eye-opening experience to be here. You're all so responsible for this world that we live in today. You know, I couldn't have dreamed of such a thing as a young girl. And you've all made these advancements happen in such a short time. You're all so young. You know, you're parents must be very proud.
But I -- I also appreciate the diversity that you have here. I noticed it's very multicultural. You know, when you're standing up here, you can
see all the different people. It's like a rainbow. It's okay to say rainbow. Yeah. I just -- I can't keep up with whether you can say, you know, the different things. What are you allowed to say or not sayI just -- I don't want to offend anybody. You know. But anyway, you know, I just think that to be here with all of you accomplished young people, literally, some of you, the architects building our brighter future. You know, it's heartening to me. Even though, quite frankly, some of your presentations are horrifying, absolutely horrifying. It's true. It's true. You know, between the environmental degradation and the crashing of the world markets you're talking about. And of course, we know it's all because of the -- all the ... Well, I don't know how else to say it to you, so I'll just say it my way. The ganeyvish tetikeyt coming from the governments and the, you know, the bankers and the Wall Street. You know it. Anyway. (Laughter)
The point is, I'm happy somebody has practical ideas to get us out of this mess. So I salute each of you and your stellar achievements. Thank you for all that you do. And congratulations on being such big makhers that you've become TED meisters. So, happy continued success. Congratulations. Mozel tov. (Applause)
Hi. Hi. Thank you everybody. Sorry, this is such a wonderful opportunity and everything, to be here right now. My name is Noraida. And I'm just -- I'm so thrilled to be part of like your TED conference that you're doing and everything like that. I am Dominican American. Actually, you could say I grew up in the capital of Dominican Republic, otherwise known as Washington Heights in New York City. But I don't know if there's any other Dominican people here, but I know that Juan Eiquez, he was here yesterday. And I think he's Mexican, so that's -- honestly, that's close enough for me, right now. So -- (Laughter)
I just -- I'm sorry. I'm just trying not to be nervous because this is a very wonderful experience for me and everything. And I just -- you know I'm not used to doing public speaking. And whenever I get nervous I start to talk really fast. Nobody can understand nothing I'm saying, which is very frustrating for me, as you can imagine. I usually have to just like try to calm down and take a deep breath. But then on top of that, you know, Sarah Jones told me we only have 18 minutes. So then I'm like, should I be nervous, you know, because maybe it's better. And I'm just trying not to panic and freak out. So I like, take a deep breath.
Okay. Sorry. So anyway, what I was trying to say is that I really love TED. Like, I love everything about this. It's amazing. Like, it's -- I can't get over this right now. And, like, people would not believe, seriously, where I'm from, that this even exists. You know, like even,
I mean I love like the name, the -- TED. I mean I know it's a real person and everything, but I'm just saying that like, you know, I think it's very cool how it's also an acronym, you know, which is like, you know, is like very high concept and everything like that. I like that.
And actually, I can relate to the whole like acronym thing and everything. Because, actually, I'm a sophomore at college right now. At my school -- actually I was part of co-founding an organization, which is like a leadership thing, you know, like you guys, you would really like it and everything. And the organization is called DA BOMB, And DA BOMB -- not like what you guys can build and everything -- It's like, DA BOMB, it means like Dominican -- it's an acronym -- Dominican American Benevolent Organization for Mothers and Babies. So, I know, see, like the name is like a little bit long, but with the war on terror and everything, the Dean of Student Activities has asked us to stop saying DA BOMB and use the whole thing so nobody would get the wrong idea, whatever. So, basically like DA BOMB -- what Dominican American Benevolent Organization for Mothers and Babies does is, basically, we try to advocate for students who show a lot of academic promise and who also happen to be mothers like me. I am a working mother, and I also go to school full-time. And, you know, it's like -- it's so important to have like role models out there. I mean, I know sometimes our lifestyles are very different, whatever. But like even at my job -- like, I just got promoted. Right now it's very exciting actually for me because I'm the Junior Assistant to the Associate Director under the Senior Vice President for Business Development. That's my new title. So, but I think whether you own your own company or you're just starting out like me, like something like this so vital for people to just continue expanding their minds and learning. And if everybody, like all people really had access to that, it would be a very different world out there, as I know you know. So, I think all people, we need that, but especially, I look at people like me, you know like, I mean, Latinos, we're about to be the majority, in like two weeks. So, we deserve just as much to be part of the exchange of ideas as everybody else. So, I'm very happy that you're, you know, doing this kind of thing, making the talks available online. That's very good. I love that. And I just -- I love you guys. I love TED. And if you don't mind, privately now, in the future, I'm going to think of TED as an acronym for Technology, Entertainment and Dominicans. Thank you very much. (Laughter) (Applause) So, that was Noraida, and just like Loraine and everybody else you're meeting today, these are folks who are based on real people from my real life. Friends, neighbors, family members. I come from a multicultural family. In fact, the older lady you just met, very, very loosely based on a great aunt on my mother's side. It's a long story, believe me. But
on top of my family background, my parents also sent me to United Nations school, where I encountered a plethora of new characters including Alexandre, my French teacher, okay.
Well, you know, it was beginner French, that I am taking with her, you know. And it was Madame Bousson, you know, she was very [French]. It was like, you know, she was there in the class, you know, she was kind of typically French. You know, she was was very chic, but she was very filled with ennui, you know. And she would be there, you know, kind of talking with the class, you know, talking about the, you know, the existential futility of life, you know. And we were only 11 years old, so it was not appropriate.
But [German]. Yes, I took German for three years, [German], and it was quite the experience because I was the only black girl in the class, even in the UN school. Although, you know, it was wonderful. The teacher, Herr Schtopf, he never discriminated. Never. He always, always treated each of us, you know, equally unbearably during the class.
So, there were the teachers and then there were my friends, classmates from everywhere. Many of whom are still dear friends to this day. And they've inspired many characters as well. For example, a friend of mine. Well, I just wanted to quickly say good evening. My name is Praveen Manvi and thank you very much for this opportunity. Of course, TED, the reputation precedes itself all over the world. But, you know, I am originally from India, and I wanted to start by telling you that once Sarah Jones told me that we will be having the opportunity to come here to TED in California, originally, I was very pleased and, frankly, relieved because, you know, I am a human rights advocate. And usually my work, it takes me to Washington D.C. And there, I must attend these meetings, mingling with some tiresome politicians, trying to make me feel comfortable by telling how often they are eating the curry in Georgetown. So, you can just imagine -- right. So, but I'm thrilled to be joining all of you here. I wish we had more time together, but that's for another time. OkayGreat. (Applause)
And, sadly, I don't think we'll have time for you to meet everybody I brought, but -- I'm trying to behave myself. It's my first time here. But I do want to introduce you to a couple of folks you may recognize, if you saw "Bridge and Tunnel."
Uh, well, thank you. Good evening. My name is Pauline Ning, and first I want to tell you that I'm -- of course I am a member of the Chinese community in New York. But when Sarah Jones asked me to please come to TED, I said,