LANGUAGE FOR DISCUSSION.pdf

LANGUAGE

1. LANGUAGE FOR DISCUSSION
PRESENTER & AUDIENCE

2. STARTING
Good morning/afternoon/evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Shall we begin.
Let’s get started then.
There are three/several/a number of points I’d like to make.
I would like to begin by ….

3. INTRODUCTION OF TOPIC
•I intend to talk about X
•I would like to tell you what I have learned
about X
•My paper is concerned with X
•The seminar paper that I am presenting is on
X
•My topic is X

4. METHOD OF PRESENTATION
•I intend to divide this talk into … parts: A, B, C
and D
•The way I am going to present my paper is by
grouping A and B together and then giving
several examples.
•I propose to present my paper in several
stages: firstly, a review of A, then an attack on
B, and finally an analysis of C.

5. STATING THE CONTENT OF THE PAPER
•Well, to start at part A,
•OK then, let’s go back to start with my first
point.
•Right then. To begin with ….

6. CONNECTING THE PARTS OF THE PAPER
•Well, that’s all I want to say about A. Shall we
turn now to part B.
•Unfortunately because of the shortage of
time, I will have to leave part A there and go
on to B.
•Perhaps we can come back to talk about part
Aalittle more later on, but for now I’ll have to
stress on with part B.

7. CONCLUDING / SUMMARIZING
•Finally,
•In conclusion,
•So, as you can see, my research is about these
areas ….
•The final point I wish to make is ….
•To sum up then, ….
•Briefly, the main points that have been made
are ….

8. INVITING QUESTIONS
•I’ll be happy to answer any questions now.
•If you have any questions, I’ll try my best to
answer them.
•Please feel free to ask me any questions.
•Do you have any questions or comments?

9. ASKING FOR AN OPINION
What’s your opinion of ….
What’s your position / view on ….
GIVING AN OPINION
I believe/think/feel that ….
In my opinion/view ….
BRINGING IN ANOTHER SPEAKER
I’d like to call on Mr/MrsL to present her views on ….
Allow me to give the floor to MsG

10. AGREEING
•I agree entirely/completely.
•I think we are in agreement on that.
AGREEING PARTIALLY
•I would intend to agree with you on that.
•I agree with you on the whole, but …
DISAGREEING TACTFULLY
•I agree up to a point, but …
•To a certain extent I agree with you, but ….
DISAGREEING
•I’m sorry, but I really can’t agree with you on that.
•With all due respect, I must disagree.

11. INTERRUPTING
•If I may just interrupt you for a moment, I’d like to ….
•I don’t want to interrupt, but ….
TAKING THE FLOOR
•I wonder if I might comment on that last point?
•Could/may I come in at this point?
CORRECTING MISUNDERSTANDINGS
•I’m afraid there seems to have been a slight misunderstanding.
•Perhaps I should make that clearer by saying ….
ASKING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
•Could you be a little more specific/precise?
•I’m sorry, but could you explain in a little more detail?

12. EVADING THE ISSUE
•That’s a very interesting/complex question and ….
•I’m afraid I’m not in a position to comment on that just yet.
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, PROPOSALS AND SUGGESTIONS
•I recommend/propose/suggest that …
•I wonder if we shouldn’t think about ….
PERSUADING
•Have you taken into account….?
•Wouldn’t you agree that …?
EMPHASIZING
•I particularly want to emphasize/stress/highlight the fact that …
•We mustn’t underestimate/underrate the importance of ….

13. OFFERRING A COMPROMISE
•We are prepared to …, on condition that ….
•We would be willing to ….., provided that ….