…an expert in phonetics, convinced that the quality of a person’s English decides his/her position in society. 一位语音学专家，认定一个人的英语水平决定这个人的社会地位。

(1) convinced vt. to cause to believer or feel certain; to persuade 说服；使相信，说动 （某人）

我们说服了他坐火车去，不要搭飞机去。 ______________________________________

We convinced him to go by train rather plane.