If you’re going to campaign to save the world, then best do it with a strong command of the English language. Dean Frenkel weighs in on the fury that surrounds a young Swedish climate activist. Why do Australian conservatives bristle at Greta Thunberg? It begins with who she is, not what she’s saying. They are insultedMore

Thunberg is a Swedish resident who speaks English as a second language.

Many 2nd generation immigrants speak better English than 6th generation Australians.

These Australians are not jealous of Thunberg’s speech-competence nor do they necessarily want to speak better than her, instead they have a deep-seated bias against people who speak too well.

Greta’s accomplishment as an elite English speaker is amazing for someone born and raised speaking Swedish in a non-English-speaking country; even more-so that she probably hasn’t spent a lifetime nurturing her English.

Most Australians don’t speak clearly and many don’t speak confidently or functionally and it’s not only tradespeople who are impeded but also politicians, judges, air traffic controllers and doctors - it’s across the board.