Communication strategies
Some information on cultural differences
Distancing and compromising are the key features of British and American communicative behaviour; their projections manifest themselves on practically every level of human interaction - physical and psychological, social and interpersonal, verbal and nonverbal. Unlike Ukrainians whose style of communication is largely determined by the context and the so called human factor, Britons and Americans tend to rely on strategies as their communication is highly ritualised and conventional. In conversations they emphasise formal aspects often at the expense of the content, avoid saying what they actually mean, demonstrate skin deep emotions - to maintain comfortable atmosphere, to avoid conflicts and save face.
Effective communication between Ukrainians and their English speaking partners could be based on the two A-s of politeness: Avoid directness and Avoid silence which help to keep proper distancing and follow unwritten rules and regulations.
Consider the mini case below, choose the best answer and give your reasons.
a) A Ukrainian reporter intended to publish a news story in a British magazine. He contacted the secretary and told her about the details. "Oh, how very exciting", she said, "I'll inform the person in charge, he'll have a closer look at your story". "Do you think I should come and speak in person?" asked the reporter. "No, I wouldn't think so, I'll ring you up and let you know his opinion", said the secretary. "What did her remarks actually mean?
A The secretary was genuinely impressed by the news story.
B The secretary was just using a clicked expression of polite denial.
C The secretary wanted to gain time to form her opinion.
Think of your examples in English and in Ukrainian illustrating the following functions:
a) inviting sb,
b) offering to do sth,
c) expressing opinion (negative or positive).
Give examples of possible English set phrases involved in those functions and compare them with those typical of the Ukrainian conversation.
Distancing by tense shifting
Language review
Distancing is aimed at making requests and orders, suggestions and inquiries etc. sound less direct and therefore more polite. Consequently, certain tense forms and modals are used for this purpose. The tense shifting tactics is based on using utterances in the Future or Past Indefinite or Continuous tenses instead of those in Present Indefinite. Those tense forms serve to make the corresponding phrases in Present Indefinite more distant from the immediate reality.
Distancing by tense forms
| Future: | Present | Past: |
| Indefinite (Simple) | ------------- | Indefinite (Simple) |
| Continuous (Progressive) | Continuous | Continuous |
The tactics are quite common for the following functions:
ordering, instructing, requesting, enquiring, stating intentions, advising, suggesting, offering etc.
Shifting to the Future or the Past
Consider the examples below illustrating different ways of distancing your utterances by shifting Present Indefinite to the Future or the Past. Think of more examples possible for some other functions of English.
| Functions | Examples |
| ordering/ instructing | Open the books and start reading. |
| Will you open the books and start reading? | |
| You must complete the task in 5 minutes. | |
| I'll have to ask you to complete the task in 5 minutes. | |
| Now, fill in those forms, please. | |
| Now, you'll need to fill in those forms, please. | |
| suggesting | Let's go out for a meal downtown. |
| Shall we go out for a meal somewhere downtown? | |
| offering | Let me help you. |
| Shall I help you? | |
| stating a fact | It is $10. (In a shop) |
| That will be $10. | |
| accepting an offer | That's OK. |
| That'll be OK. (In a shop) | |
| enquiring | How many guests do you intend to invite? |
| How many guests did you intend to invite? | |
| I wonder if you are free at ten o'clock. | |
| I wondered if you were free at ten o'clock. | |
| offering /inviting | I wonder if you'd like to join our discussion. |
| I wondered if you'd like to join our discussion. | |
| advising | I think you could ask your teacher about it. |
| I thought you could ask your teacher about it. | |
| suggesting | I think it might be nice to have a break. |
| I thought it might be nice to have a break. |
Shifting to Continuous
Consider the examples below illustrating different ways of distancing your utterances by shifting Indefinite tenses to Continuous. Think of more examples possible for some other functions of English.
| Functions | Examples |
| enquiring | Let us know your plans. |
| What are you planning to do? | |
| Are you staying with us at Christmas? | |
| Will you be staying with us at Christmas? | |
| stating intentions (parting formulae) | Sorry, I must go now, (or I'll be late for dinner). |
| Sorry, I must be going now, (or I'll be late for dinner). | |
| I look forward to hearing from you soon. | |
| I 'm looking forward to hearing from you soon. | |
| suggesting | I thought - what about having a picnic? |
| I was thinking - what about having a picnic? | |
| requesting | I hope you can give me a hand in packing. |
| I 'm hoping you can give me a hand in packing. | |
| I wondered if you had a bag to spare. | |
| I was wondering if you had a bag to spare. |
Task 1. Make the following sentences more polite (indirect). (Choose any 5 sentences).
1. Fetch me some application forms, please.
2. Use block letters only.
3. Sign it, please.
4. What do you look for?
5. Are you looking for anything special?
6.1 want this blouse and two shirts.
7. That's 120 dollars.
8. Let's take a few days off in July.
9.1 think it will be nice to go to the lakes.
10. What about borrowing a boat for our trip?
11. Could you help me?
12. Are you busy right now?
13. Have you got a double room?
14. How many days do you intend to spend?
15. Are you staying for the weekend?
16. What date do you plan to leave?
