This document provides information on developing language fluency and etiquette. It discusses topics like polite sentences and words, voice modulation, and developing vocabulary. It defines language fluency as the ability to communicate clearly without hesitation. Tips are provided on how to show language proficiency levels in resumes. Examples of polite phrases for corporate environments are also given. Classroom activities to practice vocabulary, intonation, and etiquette are described.

1. Unit II -
Fluency and Etiquette

2. Topics to be covered
◦ Polite sentences and words
◦ Use of persuading words
◦ Intonation and voice Modulation
◦ Developing Vocabulary

4. Language Fluency
 What is Language Fluency?
 The word fluent is derived from
Latin word ‘fluentem’ meaning
‘free-flowing’.
 The noun ‘fluency’ is an ability to
flow freely without any obstacles.

5.  Hence one can define language
fluency as ‘an ability of an
individual to communicate
effectively and clearly without
any hesitation with other
people, in their common
language.’

6. Why fluency in English language
is important?
 The higher your level of fluency in
English the better it is for your employer,
as you present a more efficient,
professional image for your company
when doing business with others.
 English dominates the online world, as
can be seen on social media,
commerce, entertainment and the fact
that most foreign websites provide
means for translation into English.

7. Level
Group
Level
Nam
e
of
th
e
L
e
v
el
Description
Examples
Basic
User
A1
Breakthrough
Can
understand
and
use
basic
expressions,
familiar
words
andphrases
Introduce
yourself,
Ask
and
answer
basic
questions
Such
as
personal
details
like
How to achieve the fluency in
English?

8. Independent User Level Group
B1
A2
Level
Intermediate Elementary Name of theLevel
Can producesimple
connected texton
the topicsthat are
familiarand of personal
interest.
Can communicate
clearly whiletravelling
atknown
Englishspeaking region
Can communicate insimple
and
routine task requiring
directand simple exchange
of
information.
Can interact with
native speaker if talk
slowlyand clearly
Description
Describe experience,
event, dreams,
ambitions, opinions
andplans
Exchange standard
inputs at work,school,
leisureetc.
Basic personal
and family
information, shopping,
local
geography, employment
etc.
Examples

9. Proficient User Level Group
C1
B2
Level
Advanced Upper Intermediate Name of theLevel
Can use
language flexibly
forsocial,
academic and
professional
purpose
Can understand wide
range ofdemanding,
longer clauses
Can interact with
degree offluency
and
Can understand and reciprocate
the main ideas
of complex text on both concrete
andabstract topics.
Description
Express abstract ideas, concepts etc.
Produce clear, well structured, detail text on
complex subjectsshowingcontrolled
organisational patterns.
Subject specific technical discussions, sharing
ideas onSpecialised topic etc.
Explaining viewpoints advantages,
disadvantages etc.
Examples

11. Tips for profession
 If you are pursuing career in corporate
jobs, it can be important to add your level
of language fluency in your job application,
instead of just mentioning languages
known.
 In multilingual country like India, it
becomes even necessary to be explicit yet
concise in your profile.
 As per the popular global standard there
are five level of proficiency to incorporate in
resume.
 The employer requires at least level three
which is professional working fluency level.

12. 0-5 scale level of language
fluency
 0 (Zero) – No fluency-
 This is the lowest level of fluency, there
is no knowledge of language. A person
may know few words. E.g., ‘No English.
Kannada yes.’
 1 (One) – Elementary fluency-
 Speaker can form basic sentences,
like asking questions and answering.
E.g., If you travel for job you can try to
capture the meaning in context but will
have a limited vocabulary.

13.  2 (Two)- Limited Working Fluency
 Speaker can handle basic commands and
social phrases.
 He can successfully converse professional
and personal experiences in group.
 But the speaker at this level still needs the
guidance or help for extensive conversation.
 3 (Three)- Professional working Fluency-
 At this level speaker can conduct
professional meetings, handle clients,
make flawless presentations.
 Speaker can converse in normal speed of
language and must have gather extensive
vocabulary..

14.  4 (Four)- Full professional Fluency-
 At this level speaker can have wide range
of conversation of various topics
around the world, personal life, global
issues, current affairs, business,
finance etc.
 Speaker at this level may have minor
accent and can make few mistakes in
the structure of language but this the
level corporate sector expects their
professionals to achieve for smooth

15.  Native/ Bilingual / multilingual
Fluency-
 This the level where speaker either
raised speaking or learning the
language as a mother tongue or native
tongue and achieve the fluency over a
period.
 In Indian situation this level is most
likely to be observed.

16. How to show Languages known
in Resume
 LANGUAGES
 English Full Professional Proficiency
Kannada Native or Bilingual
Proficiency Telugu Native or Bilingual
Proficiency Hindi Full Professional
Proficiency

17. Language Etiquettes:
 What are etiquettes?
 Etiquettes are system of norms, the
customary code of a polite behaviour
in society by the member of group.
 These rules and manners have been
established by convention and followed
by the society diligently.
 They are the guiding principle of our
behaviour in social and professional
surrounding

18. Types of Etiquette
 Social Etiquettes: The norms and
behavioural pattern accepted by the
particular society
 e.g., Indian Society, Western Society
etc.
 Corporate Etiquettes/ Professional
Etiquettes: How to behave at workplace
and maintain dignity.

19.  Business Etiquettes: Guidance force
for a professional to conduct the
business effectively and ethically.
 Table Etiquettes: check list for table
manners like,
 do not speak when mouth is full,
 thank the person who is serving you
food,
 do not leave the table until everyone
finished eating. Etc.

20.  Telephone Etiquettes:
 How to interaction phone.
 Not to put other person on hold for a long
time,
 do not speak loudly,
 minimum or no loud gestures while
having telephonic conversation maintain
your pitch and tone at perfect level.
 These are few of the examples of
Telephone etiquette.

21.  Linguistic Etiquettes: With the
recurring demand at professional level
language etiquettes have become
most important factor in human
behavioural pattern.
 System of norms and rules of polite
speech behaviour which ensures the
existence of polite communication and
correctness of the linguistic action in
any communication event.’

22. Corporate Language
Etiquettes
 Maintaining Professional image at
workplace while dealing with
clients, co-worker and customer.

23. Following are the means to
achieve it.
 Introduce
 Handshaking
 Use title-
 Body language:
 Professional Tone:
 Proper Grammar
 Social Behaviour

24. Polite sentences and words
 In sociolinguistics and conversation
analysis, language politeness
strategies are speech acts that
express concern for others and
 minimize threats to self-esteem in
particular social contexts.
 Positive politeness strategies are
intended to avoid giving offense by
highlighting friendliness.

25. Tips for profession
 Honorifics may change as per the
culture and language e.g. in Hindi if
you want to use honorifics you need to
use suffix ‘ Ji’ as in ‘ mahatmaji’.
 In Marathi while addressing an ordinary
person you need to use honorifics ‘ rao’,
in Kannada it is ‘ avaru’,
 In Telegu its is ‘ garu’. (These are few
common honorifics we observe while
speaking).

26. Politeness strategies can be
further divided into four main
strategies:
On Record Strategy,
Positive
Politeness,
Negative
Politeness
Off-Record Strategies.

27. 1.On record strategy: Direct way to of
saying things without any ambiguity,
in concise manner. For example,
instead of “please send us the offers”
verb “do” is used like “do send the
offers.”
2. Positive politeness: it is usually
seen in group of friends, or in an
environment where people in the group
know each other well. It usually helps to
communicate effectively by expressing
friendliness and interests in hearer’s

28.  3. Negative politeness. There is greater
use of indirect speech is involved in
negative politeness. It normally makes
the request less infringing. E.g., “if it isn’t
too much trouble, can you pass the file”
or “If you don’t’ mind
 4. Off record: The politeness in sentence
is communicated in such a manner that it
is impossible to attribute one clear
intention behind the act. It uses
metaphor, it is vague, ironic and can be

29. Polite phrases to be use
in corporate environment
Situation: Meeting people for the first
time Phrases:
 I am (Your name)
 It’s so nice to finally meet you (face to
face).
 You must be (name).
 Here’s my business card.

30. Situation: Small talk at the beginning of
a meeting Phrases:
 Did you have any trouble finding the
location? / Did you have any trouble
getting here?
 How was your journey? / How was
your flight?
 Is this your first time (here) in (name of
place)?
 Nice day/ Lovely day/ Horrible
weather/ Rather hot/ A bit humid
(today), isn’t it?

31.  Exercise:
◦ Perform a corporate Role paly and
use the situation and phrases
mentioned above in the classroom.
◦ Listen the British Council Audios for
proper pronunciation of the phrases.

32. Use of Persuading words
Abolish Define Improve Refresh
Accelerate Defuse Increase Replace
Achieve Deliver Innovate Resist
Act Deploy Inspire Respond
Adopt Design Intensify Retain
Align Develop Lead Save
Anticipate Diagnose Learn Scan
Apply Discover Leverage Segment
Asses Drive Manage Shatter
Avoid Eliminate Master Shave-off
Boost Ensure Maximize Sidestep
Break Establish Measure Simplify
Bridge Evaluate Mobilize Solve
Build Exploit Motivate stimulate
Burn Explore Overcome Stop
Capture Filter Penetrate Stretch
Change Finalise Persuade Succeed
Choose Find Plan Supplement
Clarify Foresee Position Take
Comprehend Gain Prepare Train
Confront Gather Prevent Transfer
Connect Generate Profit Transformed
Conquer Grasp Raise Understand
Convert Identify Realize Unleash
Create Ignite Reconsider Use
Cross Illuminate Reduce Whittle-
down
Decide Implement Refers Win

33.  Abolish
 Accelerate
 Achieve
 Act
 Adopt
 Align
 Anticipate
 Apply
 Asses
 Avoid
 Boost

34.  Ask students to use each verb in
sentences and speak loudly.
Observe and improve the manner
of utterance.
 David students in group give topic
for group discussion and ask them
to use persuading words during the
same.

35. Intonation and Voice Modulation
 The noun modulation has several
meanings, including a change of key in
music or of the sound of a person's
voice.
 It always involves deliberate modification
or slight change, like an actor adjusting
his pitch or volume depending on the
role he's playing or the mood of the
scene. The Latin root, modulationem,
has a musical meaning: "rhythm, singing
and playing, or melody”.

36.  In simple words modulation is defined
as “manner of speaking in which
the loudness, pitch, or tone of the
voice is modified.”
 It is rise and fall of voice pitch. Proper
intonation and voice modulation is key
for language fluency and etiquette.

37.  Intonation is set of rules which helps the
listener to understand how the words are
being spoken in languages based on the
inflection patterns and emphasis on
certain words.
 When you regulate your voice to express
the emotion it is called as modulation.

38.  Speaker can change the message by
changing the tone, stress on words,
pitch and tempo of speech while
talking.
 Effective voice modulation can
transform dull technical presentation
into audience captivating one.

39. Elements of Voice modulation
 Volume (Loudness)- It plays a vital role to
give clarity in speech. It is necessary to be
loud enough to reach the audience or the
recipient but at the same time it should
not end up in shouting.
 Pitch (Rise and fall)- When we speak our
voice create high and low sounds.
 Vary your speech by using high and low
sounds. Modulate to stress certain
keywords while speaking.

40.  Pace (Rate)-
Determine your normal pace of speech,
slow down a little but do not speak in a
monotone. Speed up your delivery while
discussing fewer interesting facts.
 Pause (Silence)- One way to achieve
successful pace is to use pause. Pause to
ask for and to answer question, to allow
idea to sink in, and to use references.
Pauses don’t lengthen the speech, they
improvise it.

41.  Resonance (Timbre)- Resonance is
voice quality that results from sound
vibrations in the pharynx (throat), oral
cavity (mouth) and nasal cavity
(nose).
 Intonation- It complements the rise
and fall of the voice while speaking.
The three main patter of intonation in
English are

42. ◦ Falling Intonation – Falling intonation
describes how the voice falls on the final
stress syllable of phrase or word. A falling
intonation is common in wh- questions.
 e.g., Where is the nearest Post-office?
 What time does lecture finish?
 Falling intonation is used while saying
something definite.
 e.g., ‘I think we are completely lost.’

43. ◦ Rising Intonation- It describes how the
voice rises at the end of a sentence. It is
common is Yes- No questions.
 e.g., Are you hungry?

44. ◦ Fall-rise intonation – It describes how
the voice falls and then rises. While
making uncertain statements we normally
take help of this intonation pattern.
 e.g., I don’t support any IPL team now.
(But I may change my opinion in
future)

45.  Exercise:
 Ask students to speak following sentences
loudly emphasizing underline word.
 Read following sentences by stressing the
underline word.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.
◦ I told you he murdered the gardener.

46. Developing Vocabulary:
 To achieve language fluency this is the
most important parameter.
 One can acquire vocabulary by
reading extensively. The most
valuable words are those which you
can recall and reuse in your
conversation.
 The goal of language is to use
words effectively and correctly.

47. There are many ways one can
expand the vocabulary in English.
 Develop a reading habit-
 Use the dictionary and thesaurus-
 Play word games-
 Use flashcard-
 Subscribe to online feeds-
 Use mnemonics- A mnemonic device is a
form of word association that helps you
remember words’ definitions and proper
uses. For instance, ARETHMATIC- A Rat In
The House May Eat The Ice Cream.
 Practice using new words in conversation-

48. Vocabulary building classroom
activities
 Exercise 1: Previewing in Context
Select 5-6 words from a chapter or
selection students are about to read.
Have students turn to the page in
which each word is located. Ask the
students to read the word in context
and try to figure out its meaning.
Have students write down what they
think each word means.
Discuss possible meanings and arrive
at a definition in this context.

49.  Exercise 2: Self-Collection
 Have students collect interesting
words from different sources,
preferably non-school sources.
 Have students identify each word and
the context in which it is used.
 Next, have them analyse the word
using its context, word parts, and
dictionary definitions.