David: You are listening to Dialogically Minded. Dialogical Discourse for Second Language Learners. In this program we explore the language used in public, civic, and academic discussion for the purpose of achieving various communication goals. Hi Jennie.
Jennie: Hi David. So what fascinating facet of dialogic discourse are we ever so eruditely edifying our listeners with today?
David: Wow, that was some assiduous alliteration there. I’ve got a little more alliteration you. Clarification and confirmation. Not as good as yours, but that’s the topic of today’s program.
Clarification means helping the person you’re speaking to understand what you are saying. We clarify when we restate, in different wording, something that we have said at an earlier time. We reword it in a way that it will be better understood. Phrases that are commonly used to clarify your own words are:
Let me put it another way.
What I’m saying is
In other words,
Sometimes, when another person has misunderstood what we have said, we may say.
I didn’t mean to say that.
That’s not what I meant.
Other times we want to clarify what another person has said so that he or she can tell us if our understanding is correct. In such cases we might say:
What you mean then is . . .
If I understand you correctly, then
Do you mean that . . . ?
So, are you saying that . . . ?
Jennie: Other times when we are not sure that we have understood another person, we may say:
David:I don’t see what you mean.
What do you mean by . . . ?
Could you explain that in more detail?
Could you be more specific?
But we’re not finished yet-there’s more. Because we also need to be able to ask other people if they understand, by using phrases like:
Are you following me?
Do you follow?
Are you still with me?
Have you got it?
Okay so far?
and . . .
Is that clear?
Jennie: We also need to be able to tell other people that we understand, by using phrases like:
David:Okay,
I got it
I’m with you
I’m following you.
Jennie: Lastly, we need to be able to tell other people that we do not understand, by using phrases like:
David: I don’t follow you.
I’m not sure what you mean.
Sorry, you’ve lost me.
Okay, well let’s get straight into those dialogues. If you’ll recall, in an earlier episode, maybe Episode 3, some police detectives were discussing a house burglary. Let’s listen to them continuing their investigation.
[4:00]
- House Burglar Part 2
[The police detectives are continuing their discussion of the home burglary.]
[Speaker A]: So <1> we have spoken to the little boy, we have <2> that those are the thief’s fingerprints on the window sill.
[Speaker B]: <3> that those were the thief’s fingerprints, but <4>.
[Speaker C]: What? . . .
[Speaker A]: Well, the boy says he was playing on the window sill, last week. <5> the footprints match the pattern on the bottoms of his shoes.
[Speaker C]: Last week? . . .
[Speaker A]: Yes, it was last Sunday morning.
[Speaker C]: . . . the thief didn’t enter through a window?
[Speaker A]: . . .. The thief might have entered through a different window or through a door. <5> is that the fingerprints don’t belong to the thief.
[Speaker B]: . . ..
David: So listeners, what do we hear in this conversation? Quite a lot! First, the first speaker uses the expression we have ruled out.
Jennie: The expression has nothing to do with rules or following rules. It mean that we have decided that something could not be true or that that something is impossible.
David: That’s what the second speaker means when he says that he has been persuaded that his original idea was incorrect and that he now agrees with Speaker 1.
Jennie: But the third speaker is a little hard-headed–
David: Yeah, just a little––
Jennie: and can’t understand the reasoning. He asks the first speaker for clarification with three phrases. What were they? They were . . . Could you explain that in more detail?, Could you be more specific? and So, are you saying . . .?
David: The first speaker indicates that the third speaker has misunderstood him. What phrase did he use to do this? He says, I didn’t mean to say that. And finally, the third speaker tells the others that he still doesn’t understand by saying . . . You’ve lost me.
Jennie: With police detectives like him, it’s easy to see why there are so many unsolved crimes. Okay, next let’s go to a nightclub.
David: That’s a great idea!
[6:48]
- Asking for Directions
[A Chinese woman asks for directions on the streets of San Francisco.]
[Speaker 1]: Excuse me, could you tell us the way from here The Castro Theater?
[Speaker 2]: Castro, you say. Sure. Are you two sightseeing?
[Speaker 1]: That’s right.
[Speaker 2]: I thought so. Right, so we’re on 24th Street now.
[Speaker 1]: Yes. There’s the street sign.
[Speaker 2]: So you want to go west, cross Guerreo Street and turn right at Dolores Street. _______
[Speaker 1]: Follow you here? No, we can go ourselves.
[Speaker 2]: No, no. _______, do you understand me?
[Speaker 1]: Yes, perfectly.
[Speaker 2]: Hmm. Alright, so you go north on Dolores for quite a number of short blocks. You’ll pass by Mission Dolores Park on your left. Then go one more block, and at that intersection–
[Speaker 1]: _______ we turn at the park?
[Speaker 2]: No, you go one more block, and then you turn. You turn left at the intersection of Dolores and 17th Street. _______
[Speaker 1]: _______ intersection?
[Speaker 2]: Oh, an intersection is, you know, where two streets cross. _______.
[Speaker 1]: I think so. _______, we should turn left at the intersection after Mission Dolores Park.
[Speaker 2]: That’s right. From there it’s easy. You just go straight on 17th for about six short blocks. It’ll be on your right.
[Speaker 2]: _______
[Speaker 1]: Yes, _______. I go there all the time.
Jennie: In this exchange, the American asks for confirmation that the Chinese woman has understood her by asking . . . Do you follow? The Chinese woman misunderstands the meaning of “follow”.
David: Right, she thinks that the American is offering to lead her there. She doesn’t need to follow her there. The American then rephrases the question, saying, . . . What I mean is and then asks in simple English, Do you understand me?
Jennie: The American then starts giving directions until the Chinese woman asks for clarification, using the phrase, Do you mean . . . ? After that she has to explain the meaning of the word intersection and then asks if the Chinese woman understands her by asking Are you still with me?
David: And the Chinese woman confirms that by saying, If I understand you correctly, then . . . and then repeats what she thinks she has heard.
Jennie: Lastly we hear her ask the American if she is sure. And the American answers, with a strong level of conviction, that she is absolutely sure. Let’s move on to the last dialogue.
[9:50]
- Not So Easily Understood
[A mathematics teacher is explaining how to do a math problem.]
[Speaker 1]: So, _______ the steps needed to calculate the answer take too much time, especially in an examination, and so you should look for a shortcut. The key point to remember is that since the number in column A is positive, the final result will also be a positive number.
[Speaker 2]: _______. _______.
[Speaker 1]: Well, _______. Given that the number in column B is negative, then the final result of raising the number to an odd power will be negative. Thus, the positive quantity in column A will be greater. Now, _______
[Speaker 2]: Sorry, _______.
David: This is the kind of talk that can make us crazy, especially if we don’t have good math skills.
Jennie: But he does use some good signposting techniques, for example when he creates focus by saying . . . The key to remember is.
David: The student responds with Sorry, I don’t see what you mean, and then Could you explain that in more detail?
Jennie: The teacher attempts to clarify by saying the same thing in different words and signposting with, Let me put it another way. He then checks the student’s comprehension by asking Is that clear? But the student still doesn’t understand, saying, I’m not sure what you mean.
David: I’m not sure what he means either, but math isn’t my strong suit either. I do admire people who are good at it though. Well, Jennie, I think that should be enough for today.
Jennie: I have nothing to add to that.
David: So until next time Think Critically
Jennie: and speak dialogically.