Boys and girls, the new words for this week are: aplomb and jaunty. With the death of Madam Kwa Geok Choo (Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew), Mediacorp had made the documentary clip below describing the life of the lady. In it is included one of the rare clips of an interview with Madam Kwa from some years back, where she was describing Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in his younger days. Madam Kwa not being known to give speeches often. In the clip, the English educated Madam Kwa was using the two terms: aplomb and jaunty. Pay attention at 1 minute 17 seconds into the clip.
In a time like this, where there is an opportunity for Singapore to look back at this lady and consider her the grandmother of our nation, I am not sure the choice of that particular clip was the most appropriate. There are social murmurings that certain segments of society exhibit a detachment from the average Singaporean, and showcasing the use of words that most Singaporeans do not know, may not be the best idea. Perhaps the propaganda intention is to show Madam Kwa as someone special and worldly, and they have succeeded in that. Her life and works are enough of a proof of that. I feel that there was a missed opportunity to give the general public a sense that she was one of us.
a·plomb
/əˈplɒm, əˈplʌm/
–noun
1. imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
2. the perpendicular, or vertical, position.
jaun·ty
/ˈdʒɔn ti, ˈdʒɑn-/
–adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est.
1. easy and sprightly in manner or bearing: to walk with a jaunty step.
2. smartly trim, as clothing: a jaunty hat.
From Dictionary.com
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