One Out Of Many

Sir Winston Churchill will remain to be known as an individual with sharp intellect, extending his legacy far beyond the horizon with the eternal blend of courage, humour and deep insight that still continues to mesmerise the audience throughout the world.

 This article is a tribute to Sir Winston Churchill, who mesmerised the world with his exceptional command of the English language. His lifetime experiences and achievements as a statesman, writer, and speaker are truly remarkable, and his legacy continues to inspire. Am I right? If not, then please give me a blue ribbon of stupidity!

The article explores Sir Winston Churchill's unique way of speaking, which captivated audiences, especially during his discussions on war issues and Britain's role in the Allied forces fighting against Nazi Germany, rather than providing a biography. 

As a university student of English literature, I was more fascinated by the rhetorical skills he mastered than by his political career.

First of all, let us get to know about Churchill's childhood. Was it a troubled one? He often publicly stated, 'It is said that famous men are usually the product of an unhappy childhood.' Does this imply that an unhappy childhood is a prerequisite for achieving success later in life?

He would often say in his later years as British Prime Minister with great pride: 'We're all worms, but I believe I'm a glow-worm!' I fully agree with Churchill when he exemplifies himself with a glow-worm.

Not only for Great Britain was he the ‘crème de la crème’, but also for the world that heard him speak English, making him ‘e pluribus unum (out of many, one) in the history of English speaking. 

To truly understand Sir Winston Churchill's vision, one must delve deeply into his personality and examine how he tackled the challenges of his time as a wartime prime minister.

I am not going that deep to find out more about his human nature; rather, I prefer to keep my head above water and try to breathe his legacy as “the” most stylistic and witty speaker in his social and political surroundings then. One of his witticisms is here: ‘When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber!’ (his satire during one parliament session).

What a virile voice he had to express himself or his ideas on the myriad political and belligerent issues by putting his speeches in the forefront of his personality!

All throughout his career, Sir Winston Churchill was reported to have taken to the course of projecting himself as an ideal Englishman wherever he went and whenever he addressed the parliament and large public crowds.

No doubt at all! He was a great statesman and a gifted writer! I got to read that Sir Winston Churchill, besides being an outstanding orator, was also a prolific author and journalist.

In my opinion, he was a real warrior or knight equipped with diction so powerful and magnificent that hearts would often melt hearing him pounding his vocabulary on the anvils of speech powered by words that would get thrust through his throat, forcing even his hardest opponents to sit back and listen in shock and awe.

As a student of English literature, I have found that Sir Winston Churchill's linguistic approach was characterised by several distinctive features, which contributed to his remarkable oratory and writing skills.

His rhetoric devices

I have understood that Churchill frequently loved to use metaphors in his speeches in order to create vivid and memorable images, such as "Iron Curtain", when it was simple to use the term as an ideological barrier, and "their finest hour", meaning “a point of time or a relatively brief period of time when an effective action is performed”.

Very conspicuous of his masterly skill in playing with the language is this example when he aptly puts wit:

“The gin and tonic have saved more Englishmen’s ’lives and minds than all the doctors in the empire.” Going beyond his persona, Churchill was equally famous for writing and delivering speeches that often added to his authoritative and persuasive tone.

The greatest qualification he possessed was the use of descriptive language, by means of which he was able to paint myriad pictures in the minds of his audience, making his messages more evocative and memorable.

Churchill was also strategically believed to repeat key phrases, words, and ideas to emphasise their importance and create a sense of rhythm.

As a prolific speaker, he also mastered the art of pausing for dramatic effects, using inflections (modulations of voice) to convey emotion and emphasis like actors do on stages.

He was also known for his varied tone and pitch for the sake of conveying conviction, passion, and authority, drawing his audience into the message he wanted to convey.

When I was reading about him, I found that he occasionally used archaic words and phrases to evoke a sense of history and grandeur, giving an insight into the depth of his vocabulary.

As already stated, Churchill's linguistic approach was a key factor in his success as a statesman, writer, and orator.

Nobel prize

Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory. His speeches, such as the "We shall fight on the beaches" address (1940) and the "Iron Curtain" speech (1946), are iconic and continue to inspire even today.

Churchill also began his writing career as a journalist, reporting on conflicts in Cuba, India, and South Africa.

By virtue of his influence on literature, Churchill's writings have continued to influence many authors, including historians, biographers, and fiction writers. Please allow me to add myself to the list as well! Thanks!

During speeches, he varied his tone and pitch to convey conviction, passion, and authority, drawing his audience into his message (this was also my technique while reading English news over Radio Nepal in the bygone days).

The following speech at the British Parliament is the baritone delivery mustering the very patriotic sentiments of Great Britain’s brilliant and radiant politician.

Addressing the House of Commons on the sidelines of World War II on June 4, 1940, he said:

“We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender.”

Last but not least, Sir Winston Churchill will remain to be known as an individual with sharp 

intellect, extending his legacy far beyond the horizon with the eternal blend of courage, humour and deep insight that still continues to mesmerise the audience throughout the world.

Is it then wrong to describe Sir Winston Churchill as 'e pluribus unum'/'out of many, one'?

(The author is a retired broadcaster.)