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⚡ QuickLearning: Diplomatic language

  1. Communicating diplomatically in professional English © Synergy Learning 2018 1
  2. 4 useful rules to remember 2© Synergy Learning 2018 1. Use modal verbs ('would', 'could', 'might', 'may'): these change an otherwise aggressive command into a polite request. • Send the coffee to table 5.  Could you send the coffee to table 5, please? 2. Alter your grammar by changing the present tense to the past or progressive ('- ing'). This has the effect of softening the verb, and is often done with verbs like 'think', 'hope', 'want', 'feel' or 'wonder'. • What is your name?  What did you say your name was? 3. Make your language more vague, through expressions like 'bit', 'around', 'a few', 'a little', 'quite', 'slightly', 'kind of', '-ish'. These qualifiers are often used when you want to provide less direct information. • We’ll have this ready for you in around 5 minutes, sir. 4. Negative questions are polite, because they make your language less direct: use these to be diplomatic, give your opinion or recommendation, or ask a question. • Yes, we’ve met before.  Haven’t we met before?
  3. Look out for our online learning materials and our other classes! © Synergy Learning 2018 3 www.facebook.com/SynLearning www.facebook.com/mygoentrepreneurs www.facebook.com/ideasglobally
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