Brave talk (From Penarth Times)

Brave talk

MR BLAIR'S speech on January 15 was described, even by the Prime Minister's critics, as a "bravura"

The word "bravura" can apparently be used in a musical context, to describe "a style of music, especially vocal, requiring exceptional ability".

More generally, the word can refer to "a brilliant or ambitious action or display" (source- Oxford Concise Dictionary).

From the (admittedly short) extracts from Blair's "bravura" speech shown on the television news bulletins, Blair seemed excitable, moving almost in the direction of hysteria, and the speech was evidently delivered in a very lively, persuasive, almost "manic" way.

But as for content, some critics might wish, as in the Eurovision Song Contest, to give it "nul points"!

As for bravura, a more fitting term might be "bravado"-"a bold manner or a show of boldness", even the less common Italian sounding word "braggadocio", meaning "empty boasting, a boastful manner of speech and behaviour".

So, a slight difference in choice of word to describe the Prime Minister's speech could lead some of us to a substantial shift in evaluation and interpretation.

Michael O'Neill Railway Terrace Penarth Vale of Glamorgan