Self-study and classroom lessons based on newspaper feature stories

This column is for self-study or classroom use and gives guided help with reading the wide variety of writing styles and topics that appear as feature articles in the Bangkok Post. The lessons include background information, skill-building practice and vocabulary explanations.

February 24, 2004

Say it with style

INTRODUCTION

In any one issue of the Bangkok Post, there are many different styles of writing. News stories have their own style, human-interest features are written quite differently, and subjects like science and medicine require a specialised type of vocabulary.

The story for you to read today is from the social page of Outlook and concerns the visit of the King and Queen of Sweden to the Kingdom of Thailand. This kind of story demands a set of phrases and vocabulary that suits the subject. The style you will find in the story will help you to read other articles about people in high society. It will also help you on those occasions when you have to write formal invitations, or letters and reports about formal events.

You won’t find this story difficult to read; the events are familiar – a dinner, a lunch, some touring and meetings. But because the people are high ranking, there are special words to refer to them and formal vocabulary to describe the events they take part in.

After you have read the story, write the terms or phrases you find that have the same meaning as the following descriptions in normal English. Then write the appropriate Thai words or expressions.
The people

more than one royal person:

special guests:

people who have important official positions:

the highest ranking representative of one country serving in a foreign country

How do you read the following titles: HM, HRH, HSH, MR
The event

to be the person, company, etc. that invites guests and is responsible for an event:

a very fancy dinner:

an event requiring formal dress:

to be formally greeted by someone:

to show respect for:

to make a formal speech:

to leave a place

to go by cars that follow and are followed by official cars

Are there other words or expressions you found in the story that you would like to make note of so you can use them in future? List those too.
It’s your turn

Suppose you are responsible for writing an invitation to a formal dinner arranged by your company when the President comes from Germany to Thailand to open the expansion of the in-country office here.

The phrase often used in a formal invitation is: “(the name of the host) requests the pleasure of your company at ….

Fill in the details of the time and place on an invitation-sized sheet of paper. Then write a brief cover letter to explain the reason for the dinner and who the special guests will be. You should make sure the guests know what style of dress is appropriate.

OUR STORY FROM THE BANGKOK POST

Know these words and phrases

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
an agreement signed by two (or more) parties which states what each party will do in the cooperative effort

platform
a place from which to start

defend
to protect

donor
a person or an organisation that makes a gift of money, clothes, food, etc. to a charity

consul general
second highest-ranking representative of one country serving in a foreign country

foreign service
work in a foreign country where you represent the government of your own country

coincidentally
happening accidentally at the same time

décor
the style in which the inside of a building is decorated

predominantly
mostly; mainly

cascading
flowing downward

strewn
spread around

terrine
a soft mixture of finely chopped meat, fish, etc. pressed into a container and served cold

bouquet
an attractive arrangement

brioche
a type of sweet bread

frothy
having small bubbles on the surface

bisque
a thick soup, especially made with fish

vintage
the wine that was produced in a particular year or place;

Armagnac
a brand of French brandy (a strong alcoholic drink made from wine.)

free range
allowed to eat naturally-occurring food

ratatouille
a thick mixture of vegetables and sometimes meat

soufflé
a baked dish made from egg whites, milk and flour mixed and flavoured with cheese, fruit, etc.

tuille
a sweet sauce

Royal helping hands

The king and queen of Sweden
celebrate beginning of a joint charity venture

Story by USNISA SUKHSVASTI

Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were guests-of-honour at a gala dinner at the Royal Ballroom, The Oriental Hotel, to celebrate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a joint venture in Thailand between HM Queen Silvia's World Childhood Foundation (founded in 1999) and the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW) under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Soamsawali.

This joint venture will provide a platform for the foundation's work to defend the rights of children in Thailand. As the main donor of the APSW, Volvo Car (Thailand) hosted the event.

The black-tie event was attended by 100 leading Swedish and Thai dignitaries including HSH Prince Chatrichalerm Yugala, HSH Prince Bhisadej and Thanpuying Datchari Rajani, Thanpuying Pharani Mahanonda, Dr Charoen and Khunying Wanna Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chote and Dr Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, Sanan and Khunying Natthika Angubolkul, and sisters MR Malinee and MR Supinda Chakrabandhu, to name a few.

Despite having checked in at the James Michener Suite of the hotel's Authors Wing at a very late hour the night before for a two-day stay, the Royal guests had embarked upon a full-day agenda the next day from as early as 9:30am, their first visit being Kanitnaree Centre, Don Muang, where they were received by HRH Princess Soamsawali, in whose presence the MoU was signed.

Their Majesties hosted a private lunch in honour of HRH Princess Soamsawali at the residence of Swedish Ambassador Jan Axel Nordlander afterwards.

Following the luncheon, King Carl proceeded to Chinatown for a guided tour by THAI's Thamnoon Wanglee, while Queen Silvia returned to The Oriental Hotel for a brief meeting in the Authors Lounge with HRH Princess Norodom Vacheahra of Cambodia, who was occupying the Joseph Conrad Suite in the Author's Wing of The Oriental.

In the evening, some 40 Swedish ambassadors, consuls general and other foreign service dignitaries, who were coincidentally in Bangkok for a regional meeting, were greeted by Their Majesties in the company of Ambassador Nordlander in the hotel's Regency Room before the royal guests proceeded to the Royal Ballroom for the gala dinner.

The decor in the Royal Ballroom was predominantly yellow: The 10 tables were decorated with yellow cascading orchid centrepieces with yellow rose petals strewn at the base, while plants tastefully dotted with yellow flowers were placed around the ballroom.

Karl-Johan Sandesjo, president of Volvo Car (Thailand), delivered a welcome speech after which the guests enjoyed a four-course dinner consisting of terrine of goose liver with currants and natural jelly, bouquet of micro spring lettuces with warm brioche, frothy red crab bisque with vintage armagnac and small floating fritters, carved roast rack of free range lamb crusted with fragrant herbs, potato fingers, ratatouille and glazed daikon and exotic lime ice souffle with fresh berry melba and grapefruit tuille.

The Royal Navy Quintet entertained during dinner.

HM Queen Silvia also gave a short presentation on the World Childhood Foundation of Sweden and its cooperation with the APSW.

A little after midnight, Their Majesties departed The Oriental Hotel by motorcade for the airport to fly back to Sweden on THAI Airways International.

Answers: Their Majesties, guest-of-honour, dignitaries, Ambassador; HM (His Majesty or Her Majesty) HRH (His/Her Royal Highness; we can address them as Prince/Princess) HSH (Her/His Serene Highness) MR (Mom Rachawong, no English equivalent) to host, gala dinner. black-tie, received by, in honour of, deliver, depart, by motorcade.

• This lesson was prepared by Maureen Paetkau, a professional teacher of English as a second and foreign language and Assistant Manager and Webmaster for Learning Post at the Bangkok Post.

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