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    01 Communicative Functions

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    Beatrizh01
    The document provides a list of communicative functions and example phrases for formal and informal debates and discussions. Some of the functions covered include arguing, making counterarguments, suggesting alternatives, identifying problems, persuading, agreeing, disagreeing, expressing opinions, and negotiating. The document appears to be from an English language certificate program and aims to support students in communicating effectively in professional contexts.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    01 Communicative Functions

    Uploaded by

    Beatrizh01
    29 views4 pages
    The document provides a list of communicative functions and example phrases for formal and informal debates and discussions. Some of the functions covered include arguing, making counterarguments, suggesting alternatives, identifying problems, persuading, agreeing, disagreeing, expressing opinions, and negotiating. The document appears to be from an English language certificate program and aims to support students in communicating effectively in professional contexts.

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    01 Communicative Functions

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    The document provides a list of communicative functions and example phrases for formal and informal debates and discussions. Some of the functions covered include arguing, making counterarguments, suggesting alternatives, identifying problems, persuading, agreeing, disagreeing, expressing opinions, and negotiating. The document appears to be from an English language certificate program and aims to support students in communicating effectively in professional contexts.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views4 pages

    01 Communicative Functions

    Uploaded by

    Beatrizh01
    The document provides a list of communicative functions and example phrases for formal and informal debates and discussions. Some of the functions covered include arguing, making counterarguments, suggesting alternatives, identifying problems, persuading, agreeing, disagreeing, expressing opinions, and negotiating. The document appears to be from an English language certificate program and aims to support students in communicating effectively in professional contexts.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    School of Continuing Studies 1

    Department of Language & Intercultural Communication


    Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

    COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS

    DEBATE: ARGUING

    Formal: I believe that…; I’m convinced that…; In my opinion…; Don’t you think/feel that...?
    Informal: I think that; I feel that…..; The thing is.….; I’m sure that…

    DEBATE: COUNTER ARGUMENTS

    Formal: Yes, but don’t you think...: However,…;On the other hand…; I agree with you, but...;
    I see your point of view, but…….
    Informal: I don’t think so; It seems to me that…; Yeah/yes, but…

    CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES / MAKING SUGGESTIONS

    Formal: There is an alternative….…; Rather than that, perhaps we could…


    Informal: Instead, why don’t we…; If that’s no good, we could always…

    DIRECT SUGGESTIONS: I suggest we/ you… You (really) should


    You’d better… You could (always)…….

    TACTFUL SUGGESTIONS: Why don’t you /we…… Do you think it might work if we……
    Don’t you think it might be a good idea to……..Why not……. We could always…..Perhaps you
    could….. One way would/could be to…….. …… Maybe you could try…..

    CLARIFYING A PROBLEM

    Formal: What concerns me is…..; The (most) important thing is…….


    Informal: What it comes down to is...; The thing is…

    INFLUENCING / PERSUADING

    Formal: Have you considered; I’d like you to think about…;Don’t you think it’d be a good idea
    to…; I agree with you on the whole, but it could be said that…

    Informal: Why don’t you/we……; Don’t you want to……; Just try(...ing); I’ll do …if you’ll do……
    Wouldn’t it be better if…. How about….. Yes/sure/ OK but….That’s (probably) true but….
    That’s a good idea but….. I see your point but…Possibly, but…

    CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 1


    School of Continuing Studies 2
    Department of Language & Intercultural Communication
    Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

    IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM

    Formal: The difficulty here is; The trouble with this is; As I see it…..
    Informal: Well, the problem is; What bothers me is;

    WARNING

    Formal: If you do/don’t …you might/will…; I’m not sure that’s a good idea…If I were you,
    I would/wouldn’t…; You should/shouldn’t…otherwise… You might want to……
    reconsider….; I would prefer that you……
    Informal: Be careful, or else…; You’d better watch out, because if you don’t…;
    That’s not a good idea because…; Maybe you should ….

    EXPRESSING PROHIBITION

    Formal: Under no circumstances should you…; Please ensure that you…;


    Remember to never/always…
    Informal: Don’t…; Always…; Never…; Make sure you…

    EXPRESSING REGRET

    Formal: I’m really/so sorry that I…; I can’t imagine why I…


    Informal: I should/shouldn’t have…; I don’t know what I was thinking!
    I don’t know what got into me!

    EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL

    Formal: I’m sorry that you did/didn’t…; I don’t understand why you…;
    Could you please explain why you…;
    Informal: Why on earth did you…; You should/shouldn’t have…; I don’t think you should…

    CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 2


    School of Continuing Studies 3
    Department of Language & Intercultural Communication
    Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

    EXPRESSING INDIFFERENCE (lack of concern or interest in something)

    Formal: I have no preference either way. It doesn’t matter in the least to me.
    As you wish… That doesn’t interest me in the least. (leans toward the negative)
    I have no opinion on the matter

    Informal: I’m not thrilled by…… It’s all the same to me. I could go either way.
    I don’t mind. I have no opinion on the matter
    . I don’t care. I could care less. (leans towards the negative)
    Whatever!

    HYPOTHESIZING

    Formal: Perhaps we could/there is…; I wonder if…;


    Informal: Do you think maybe…; What if…

    AGREEING

    Formal: I totally agree / I’m in total agreement with what you said about………(and I’d just like
    to add…)
    I think ______was right to say that……….and I couldn’t agree more…

    Informal: I agree 100% ! That’s exactly what I think /was thinking ! I agree with you
    completely! Absolutely! Yes! Certainly! Of course! For sure! Good/great idea! Good point!
    Great! Terrific! Super! Marvelous! Wonderful! Definitely! No doubt about it! Sounds
    good/great! Right!

    Weak Agreement: I don’t mind. I suppose so. If you/we have to. If you/we must. OK.
    Sure but….; You might be right ; maybe you’re right

    DISAGREEING:

    Formal: I’m not sure I share your opinion/point of view,


    I ‘m afraid I cannot agree with you here
    Perhaps, but what concerns me is………
    I know that, but, all things considered,…
    Yes, but you / people don’t seem to understand that…
    That’s all very well in theory, but you’ve got to take into account…
    You do have a point when you say that…but don’t you think that…?
    I understand what you’re saying but

    CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 3


    School of Continuing Studies 4
    Department of Language & Intercultural Communication
    Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

    DISAGREEING:

    Informal Yes, but what do you think of……..


    I’m sorry, but I don’t see it that way.
    I’m afraid that’s easier said than done.
    I can’t agree with that!
    That’s interesting but I think ________was wrong when he said…
    I’m not sure I can go along with you (agree with you) on that.
    Don’t you see that without…….it’s impossible to…

    EXPRESSING AN OPINION & INTRODUCING IDEAS

    Formal: Let’s look at the problem objectively, shall we?;


    Personally, I feel / believe/ think…. I’m certain that…. I’m convinced that….
    I think you were right to emphasize that…but, as far as I am concerned,…
    Not everyone will agree with me , but….
    The basic / essential point, in my view, is…
    Before we go any further, I’d like to be quite clear about…
    Let’s look at the whole question from a realistic point of view.
    In my opinion,……

    Informal: I think / feel ,…; If you ask me…; As I see it…; I’m (not) sure that…
    I’m positive that…..; I’m pretty sure that…..; I have an idea that…..
    My feelings about /opinion on that? Well, to be honest…

    NEGOTIATING / BARGAINING

    Formal: Perhaps if we both…; If you would consider/reconsider……I’m sure that I could…;


    Maybe we could mutually agree to……..
    Informal: Look, you/I could just…; How about if I…; Why don’t I/you…

    CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 4

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