BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
25 July 2013
Royal baby talk
6 Minute English ©bbclearningenglish.com 2013
Page 1 of 4
BABY CRYING FX
Rob: Ah, what a familiar sound - a baby crying! Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English,
I'm Rob…
Neil: ….and I’m Neil, hello. So Rob, is that the sound of the new royal baby?
Rob: No – it’s not the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s new-born baby – although I’m
sure their little one is just as loud!
Neil: Yes – we know all about babies, don’t we Rob, because we are parents. We know all
about childbirth – well, almost as much as our wives – and all the advice people give
us about caring for our children.
Rob: We do – hold on, I’ll just calm this baby down (Baby stops crying) – that’s better. So,
I might have excellent parenting skills but how different are they to the ones William
and Kate will need? We’ll be discussing that soon and looking at some of the
language of having a baby. But first, how about a question, Neil?
Neil: Good idea.
Rob: How well do you know the British royal family? Do you know when Prince William –
the father of the new baby – was born? Was it on:
a) 21st
May 1982
b) 21st
June 1982
c) 21st
October 1982
Neil: I don’t really remember but I’m going to go for b) 21st
June 1982.
Rob: Ok - I’ll let you know the answer later on. But now let’s get back to 2013 and the
arrival of the latest member of the royal family. Neil, when your baby was born, how
did you announce it – or tell people?
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Neil: With my first child I phoned and texted. With my second child only two years later it
was all about Facebook.
Rob: Indeed. Well, when my daughter was born in the maternity unit at our local
hospital, I sent out texts messages to my friends and family. I know people also send
out cards or photos of the baby.
Neil: And then later some people have a baby shower – not a shower with water – but a
party where people give presents for the baby.
Rob: I’m sure the royal baby will get a lot of presents but when royal births are
announced, there is a lot of protocol – or special, traditional ways of doing things.
Neil: Yes, when Prince Charles was born in 1948, the announcement was very formal.
Listen to the words that were used in this BBC broadcast….
BBC Newsreader:
It has just been announced from Buckingham Palace that her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth,
Duchess of Edinburgh was safely delivered of a prince at 9.14pm and that her Royal Highness and
her son are both doing well. Listeners will wish us to offer their royal congratulations to Princess
Elizabeth and the Royal Family on this happy occasion.
Rob: So, the newsreader very formally gave the good news that Princess Elizabeth – now
Queen Elizabeth – was ‘safely delivered of a prince’.
Neil: Delivered – that sounds like delivering a letter – but here it means ‘gave birth to a
baby’. The newsreader also said that people want to give their ‘royal
congratulations’.
Rob: Yes, and he described it as ‘a happy occasion’ – so a happy moment and something
to celebrate. But now, once it was officially announced, news about the latest royal
birth spread quickly around the world via social media.
Neil: It is the 21st
Century Rob - and I think this new baby will have a very different
upbringing – that’s the way parents look after the baby. Of course William and Kate
will have the benefit of having a nanny – someone to help out with childcare and
doing the housework around the palace.
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Rob: Very nice. But it has been reported they want to become more involved in caring for
their baby than royal parents did in the past. They don’t want the nanny to be a
replacement mother.
Neil: Well that’s good to hear and by showing modern parenting skills it may set an
example to other parents.
Rob: Of course the new baby is going to lead a very different life to our children. One
thing is for sure, ours won’t become king. But babies from all backgrounds need
feeding and changing. Not everything about having children is great eh Neil?
Neil: That’s true. I don’t think I’m going to miss those dirty nappies. So come on Rob, it’s
time you gave me the answer to the question.
Rob: Earlier I asked you if you knew when Prince William – the baby’s father – was born?
Neil: And I said 21st
June 1982.
Rob: You are right. He was born in June 1982 – so would you say he is quite young to be
a father?
Neil: These days I suppose he is quite young, compared with me, yes – but those
sleepless nights will make him feel older!
Rob: OK Neil, could you remind us of some of the vocabulary that we heard today.
Neil: little one
maternity unit
a baby shower
protocol
delivered
upbringing
nanny
nappies
Rob: Thanks Neil. OK that's it for this programme. Do join us again soon for more 6
Minute English.
Both: Bye.
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Vocabulary and definitions
little one baby
maternity unit part of the hospital where babies are born
a baby shower a party where people give gifts for the new baby
protocol accepted way of behaving at official occasions
delivered (in this case) given birth to
upbringing how a child is treated and educated by its parents
nanny a woman whose job is to help take care of someone’s
children
nappies thick pieces of soft cloth or paper fastened between a
baby's legs to catch solid and liquid waste. The
American word is diaper.
Read and listen to the story online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2013/7/130725_6min_royal_baby
More on this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23318651
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22971177
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14416799