public function root() : ContainerElement
    {
        // no need to check anything else, we are at the top
        if ($this instanceof Speak) {
            return $this;
        }

        // loop until we find an element that has no parent
        $currentParent = $this->parent;
        while ($currentParent->parent !== null) {
            $currentParent = $currentParent->parent;
        }

        return $currentParent;
    }