To sum up the essentials of the unit, formulate brief recommendations for effective communication between Ukrainians and their English speaking partners.
VARYING THE DEGREE OF FORMALITY
Effective communication largely depends on the appropriate strategy. Choosing their strategies interlocutors should first of all take into account the context (the setting, partners’ social status, gender, interrelations, psychological atmosphere etc.). Those factors determine the style speakers adopt, the necessity to conceal or reveal their intentions, to suppress emotions or lessen straightforwardness of their messages. Softening, the most widespread strategy, manifests itself in the conventional set of question formulae varying according to the degree of politeness. The formulae are commonly used to implicitly request, ask for information or express opinions.
Softening devices
| in question formulae | in opinion phrases | ||||||
| probability phrases | verbs of thinking | right- phrases | mind- phrases | as/if- phrases | I’d- phrases | verbs of seeing, thinking | mind /view- phrases |
The tactics is quite common for the following functions:
requesting, enquiring / inviting an opinion, suggesting, advising, asking permission etc.
Request formulae graded
Consider the examples below illustrating possible ways of asking questions politely. Think of situations where those phrases can be appropriate and give your own examples illustrating their use in different contexts.
| degree | mind -phrases | wonder / think | modal verbs | probability phrases | tag | |||||
| I hope you don’t | ||||||||||
| ****** | mind (my asking) | but I wonder | if it might be / | at all possible for | ||||||
| but would it be | me to... | |||||||||
| ***** | I was wondering | if you could | possibly | |||||||
| Do you think | you could | possibly | ||||||||
| Could you | possibly | |||||||||
| **** | Would you mind if I... | Don’t you think | it might be an idea/ Might it be an idea/ Would it be If you could... I’d be | possible alright alright if I.. | ||||||
| *** | Do you mind if I... Do you mind my.......ing | I wonder Do you think | You couldn You could if you could... you could... | Is it alright if I... | could you? couldn \ you? | |||||
| ** | Anyone mind if I... | Have you ever thought of... | Do you happen to Have you... by any chance? | You haven’t... have you? | ||||||
| * | I thought | I might... I’d like to... If I were you I’d... | I don’t seem to... | |||||||
| Hey, | I | need | some | |||||||
Opinion phrases graded
Consider the examples below illustrating possible ways of expressing opinions politely. Think of situations where those phrases can be appropriate and give your own examples illustrating their use in different contexts.
| degree | as/if- phrase | n. of opinion | vb. of thinking/ seeing | I’d- phrase | negative question |
| As for me / as far as I’m concerned / know / can tell | From my point of view | I’d like to point out that... I’d say / think that... | Wouldn’t you agree / say that... | ||
| In my view | I hope / believe / suppose / think / imagine that... | I’d just like to say that I think... | |||
| ** | As I see it... If you ask me... / If I’m not mistaken | The point is | The way I look at it / see it /1 reckon /guess | Don’t you agree/ say that... |
Task 21. Make the following questions more indirect; other polite variants could be possible. (Choose any 5 sentences).
1. Do you mind my accompanying you to the evening meeting?
2. Shall I ask our new assistant to join us?
3. Can I borrow your car to get there?
4. May I use the telephone over there?
5. Can you tell me where the meeting takes place?
6. Do you know what’s going on there?
7. Do you know where the secretary is?
8. Can you spare me a few minutes?
9. Have you got an extra copy of the agenda?
10. Is it possible for me to get draft proposals?
11. Do you agree with the project considered?
12. Isn’t the initial project more time-consuming?
13. Still, do you prefer the latest variant?
14. Is it the best solution?
15. So you don’t insist on further discussion?
Task 22. Write a brief note (in the form of questions)
a) suggesting a plan for improving the present-day school system;
b) asking your teacher/ colleague to confirm the changes in the work you both are engaged in.
