Topic 1.3.2 Hedging and Tentative Language

HEDGING AND TENTATIVE LANGUAGE

Introduction

1.Work in pairs or small groups. If an influential team member in your organisation falsely accused you of not pulling your weight, what would you do? What are the pros and cons of each option (a-d)?

  1. Argue with them, probably only to find yourself making matters worse.
  2. Ignore the issue at first, then become frustrated and start blaming others.
  3. Talk to them, although you didn’t get off to a good start, and try to get to the root of the problem.
  4. Ask HR to mediate – you think talking to the other party will only exacerbate tensions.

Listening

2a.Listen to a conversation between Ruth, an HR manager, and Claire, an employee, about a conflict with Claire’s line manager, Zoe.

  1. What seems to be the problem?
  2. What is Claire’s point of view? What has she tried to do about the problem?
  3. How do you think Claire would like the issue to be resolved?

2b.If you were the HR manager, what would you say to Claire’s line manager? How difficult might that conversation be?

3.Ruth is holding a discussion with three managers, Zoe, Will and Carla, on management styles and resolving conflict. Listen to the first part of the meeting and choose the correct option.

4a.Listen to the final part of the meeting in which Ruth talks about an approach to help stop conflicts from escalating. 

4b. Compare your notes in pairs or small groups. Discuss the advice given. Which principles would you find most difficult to follow?

Grammar: Hedging and tentative language

5a.Look at this sentence from the recording in Ex. 2a. Which words and phrases does Ruth use to sound more tentative.

But perhaps if you explained to your family situation to her a little, you might find she would be more understanding.

5b.Look at the words and phrases in bold in the extracts (1-10) from the recordings and classify them according to the structures used (a-e)

  1. I’ve been leaving a bit earlier to look after my younger brother, who hasn’t been well, actually.
  2. The three of us should be able to reach some kind of reconciliation.
  3. It’s inconceivable that Zoe might be more flexible than you give her credit for.
  4. There have been a few minor conflicts between managers and certain members of staff.
  5. I thought it would be a good opportunity to hear what you have to say.
  6. It appears quite a few employees think their line managers are ‘on top of them’, and that they are being micromanaged to a certain extent.
  7. I was wondering, actually, whether micromanaging is always effective.
  8. Could there possibly be mitigating circumstances?
  9. It is possible they’re already made up the time.
  10. What seems fair to you might seem quite unfair to a colleague.

 

Sounding tentative: Use

a. modal verbs

b. quantifiers and adverbs of degree

c. certain verbs

d. adverbial phrases of degree

e. adjective + clause

6.Grammar Reference

When we are less certain, or want to sound less direct and more polite, we can use hedging or tentative language such as modal verbs, certain verbs, quantifiers, adverbs/adverbial phrases and adjectives.

Modal verbs

We use the modal verbs may, might, could and would, to express doubt, possibility and (un)certainty and also to sound less direct and more tentative.

  • She may/might be more flexible than you think. Could there be mitigating circumstances?
  • Thinking of a third option would possibly help you achieve reconciliation.

Certain verbs

We use certain verbs to soften our message, including appear to, consider, indicate, look like, seem, suggest and tend to.

  • What appears tobe the problem?
  • It looks like she’s very upset.
  • I suggest the three of us talk together.
  • Our senior staff tend to avoid micromanagement.

 

Quantifiers, adverbs of degree and adverbial phrases of degree

We can use a variety of expressions to mitigate or soften our message. These include: quantifiers like a few, a little and a bit; adverbs like quite, fairly, pretty and slightly; and adverbial phrases like to a certain degree and to some extent.

  • If he was a little more flexible, he would be easier to work with.
  • It’s fairly likely we won’t get the contract.
  • She was pretty/quite upset about the office move. (pretty = informal)
  • Micromanaging can be useful with trainees to a certain degree. / to some extent.

Other adverbs / adverbial phrases

We can use certain adverbs and adverbial phrases to sound less direct, e.g. possibly, probably, in all probability, and other adverbs to sound more tentative, e.g. just and only.

  • Listening without judging is possibly the most difficult thing. In all probability, I don’t think we’ll reach an agreement.
  • It’s just that I’m having family problems at the moment.
  • I only asked if he’d met his targets, but he got very annoyed!

We can also use time adverbials to soften our message, e.g. at times, sometimes and not always/often.

  • Managers may sometimes feel overwhelmed. Dealing with people is not always an easy task.

Adjectives

We can use it+ be + adjective to express different degrees of possibility, or to sound less direct, e.g. it’s possible/(un)likely/ probable/conceivable (that), etc.

  • It’s possible (that) we’re going to introduce hot-desking. It’s unlikely (that) these talks will end in reconciliation. It’s probable (that) this dispute won’t be resolved quickly.

We can use an adjective + infinitive to express a tentative or less certain position.

  • It is possible to mediate as long as they are prepared to listen. It may be possible to mediate as long as everyone listens.

Other expressions for hedging

We can use certain expressions to sound more tentative and less direct, especially when introducing a negative idea or implied criticism. These expressions include The thing is, I’d hoped, We were hoping, I thought andI was wondering if.

  • The thing is, I’m not used to delegating.
  • We were hoping the meeting would finish on time.
  • I thought you might have had time to consider my proposal. I was wondering if you’d looked at our new guidelines?

Practice Exercise 1

Read the dialogue. Which lines hedge or use tentative language?

  1. A: Vicky, I was wondering if I could speak to you about something a little delicate.
  2. B: Of course, Kim; no problem. Go ahead.
  3. A: Well, I’m afraid it appears that a complaint has been made about you.
  4. B: Really? That’s pretty worrying … could it, perhaps, be a mistake?
  5. A: No; no mistake, Vicky. Do you know what it’s in regard to?
  6. B: I tend to speak my mind, so it may be possible I’ve upset someone on my team.
  7. A: Yes, that seems to be it. Do you think you could be less direct in meetings?
  8. B: I’ll definitely try. I never intend to offend anyone, you know.

Practice Exercise 2

Practice Exercise 3

Speaking

Read the scenario. How would you address the problem? What would you consider while trying to find an outcome which suits both sides?

Scenario

You work in HR at a manufacturing company, working closely with two managers, Stefan and Eva. Stefan heads Production, and wants to buy a 3D printer that will increase output. Eva is the Purchasing Manager, and is keen to reduce costs. She understands Stefan’s motivation, but has written to him informing him the organisation can’t make any new purchases. This has created conflict and tension that is spreading throughout your organisation

Homework

PART A: GENERALISED STATEMENTS

Rewrite each statement twice:

1) once with a lexical verb (e.g. assume, believe, suggest, think, seem); and

2) once with an adjective (e.g. possible, probable) or adverb (e.g. probably, usually, possibly, perhaps, likely).

For example: The bus will arrive in ten minutes.

    I believe the bus will arrive in ten minutes.

    The bus will likely be here in ten minutes.

  1. Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.
  2. He is guilty.
  3. Computers are taking away our privacy.
  4. Paper newspapers will disappear within the next decad
  5. I am right.
  6. Studying for standardized tests does not help students learn how to communicate in English.
  7. Never use that font for
  8. She was angry.
  9. He said turn left at the intersection.

PART B: HEDGE WITH A WORD

Rewrite each sentence by adding one adverb: hopefully, evidently, basically, apparently, somewhat

  1. People are goo
  2. The earth is getting hotter.
  3. The house fire was caused by a problem with the heater.
  4. Politicians are
  5. We will meet tonight at 8pm.

PART C: WRITE SENTENCES

Make complete sentences with these words and collocations.

  1. It is usually true that …
  2. It is possible that …
  3. The majority of …..
  4. … sort of …
  5. Generally, …
  6. About …

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

PART A: GENERALIZED STATEMENTS

Rewrite each statement twice: once with a lexical verb and once with an adjective and adverb.

  1. Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.
  • Many people think eating fast food is bad and should be avoided. § Eating fast food is likely bad and should probably be avoided.
  1. He is guilty.
  • Some people believe he is guilty.
  • It is possible that he is g
  1. Computers are taking away our privacy.
  • I believe computers are taking away our privacy. § Computers are probably taking away our privacy.
  1. Paper newspapers will disappear within the next decade.
  • A few people believe that paper newspapers will disappear within the next decade.
  • It is likely that paper newspapers will disappear within the next decade.
  1. I am right.
  • I suggest that I am right.
  • I am probably right.
  1. Studying for standardized tests does not help students learn how to communicate in English.
  • I think studying for standardized tests does not help students learn how to communicate in English.
  • Studying for standardized tests probably does not help students learn how to communicate in English.
  1. Never use that font for websites.
  • Web designers believe we should never use that font for websites. § Perhaps we shouldn’t use that font for websites.
  1. She was angry.
  • She seemed angry.
  • She was probably angry.
  1. He said turn left at the intersection.
  • I think he said turn left at the intersection.
  • He probably said turn left at the intersection.

PART B: HEDGE WITH A WORD

Rewrite each sentence by adding one word to hedge:

  • hopefully, evidently, basically, apparently, somewhat
  1. People are good.
  • Basically, people are good.
  1. The earth is getting hotter.
  • Evidently, the earth is getting hotter.
  1. The house fire was caused by a problem with the heater.
  • Apparently, the house fire was caused by a problem with the heater.

 

  1. Politicians are dishonest.
  • Politicians are somewhat dishonest.
  1. We will meet tonight at 8pm.
  • Hopefully, we will meet tonight at 8pm.

PART C: WRITE SENTENCES

Make complete sentences with these words and collocations.

  1. It is usually true that the star of an American movie does not die in the film.
  2. It is possible that the Big Bang theory is not correct and that not everything in the universe came from a single explosion.
  3. The majority of people in South Korea read at least eight books per year.
  4. Her boyfriend is sort of tall.
  5. Generally, students in Japan like to eat noodles.
  6. About 33% of the world’s population lives in China and India.
Anterior Tema
Volver a la Lección
Siguiente Tema