Rephrasing Strategies for Clear Communication

Review Strategies we’ve learned so far for the final group discussion: (1) Checking Comprehension (2) Asking For Clarification

Last Week Last week, we looked at asking for clarification as a strategy for avoiding misunderstandings. When we ask for clarification we followed three steps: Step (1) Interrupt Step (2) State the problem. Step (3) Ask speaker to clarify.

Last Week Step (1) We interrupted the speaker. I’m sorry. Excuse me. Hang on a minute. Just a minute. Wait a minute.

Last Week Step 2: We stated the problem: If you didn’t hear: I didn’t catch that. I didn’t hear you I didn’t hear what you said. I missed that.

Last Week If you didn’t understand I don’t follow you. I don’t understand. I didn’t understand that. I don’t get it. I’m not clear. You lost me.

Last Week Step 3: We asked the speaker to clarify. You can ask the speaker to clarify everything again: Can you repeat that? Can you say that again? Can you explain that again? Can you rephrase that? Can you clarify that for me?

You can ask your partner to clarify details: He did what? He went where? He left when? He did it because why? He talked to who?

This Week We are going to look at another good strategy for maintaining clear communication: Rephrasing What You Say

Rephrasing means ‘to say something again.’ When you rephrase, you say what you said again but you change the way you say it. Rephrasing will help your partner understand you because it gives your partner a second chance to catch your drift.

We usually rephrase in two steps (though adding comprehension check is also a good option): Step 1: Indicate You Are About to Rephrase Step 2: Rephrase Step 3 Optional: Check Comprehension

Step 1: Indicate You Are About to Rephrase Indicating you are about to rephrase is an important step. It allows your partner to prepare for what you are about to say. You can use the following phrases: In other words,.. To put it another way... What I am saying is... What I am trying to say is... What I mean is...

You can also use phrases like the following, which are a little more formal: Let me rephrase that. Let me explain that another way. Let me explain that again. Let me put that (to you) differently. Let me put that another way.

Step 2: Rephrase Exactly what the title says! Rephrase what you said. But here are some things that can help you simplify your argument. (1) Change/simplify Vocabulary (2) Change/simply Sentence Structure

Vocabulary: Synonyms Perhaps, the easiest way to begin paraphrasing is to find synonyms for key words. Smoking is forbidden in the building. Smoking is prohibited on the premises.

Vocabulary: Synonyms However, there are two important points to make about using synonyms to paraphrase. (1) Make sure the synonym actually works in that situation. (2) Many technical terms should not be paraphrased. comprehensible input understandable input

Vocabulary: Antonyms Antonyms can also be used when the structure is changed from an affirmative sentence to a negative sentence. Smoking is prohibited in the building. Smoking is not allowed in the building.

Vocabulary: Word Form You can also change the form of important keyword from say a noun to a verb or adjective. Chronic health problems have been linked to industrialization. Chronic health problems have been linked to the rise of industry.

Sentence Structure: Affirmative/Negative As already mentioned above negative sentences can be made affirmative or vice versa. Note some vocabulary shift is usually required to do this. Few learners willingly participate. Most learners do not willingly participate.

Sentence Structure: Active/Passive Voice Another good structural change is changing active to passive voice or vice versa. Researchers have found compelling evidence that smoking causes cancer. Compelling evidence that smoking causes cancer has been found.

Sentence Structure: Gerund/Infinitive Structures Another good structural change is changing active to passive voice or vice versa. Speaking with married women is taboo in some cultures. It’s taboo to speak with married women in some cultures.

Sentence Structure: Other Structures The possibilities are endless for changing structure. Modals for example can often be rewritten. He may have committed a fraud. It is possible that he committed a fraud.

Paraphrasing Longer Works When paraphrasing longer works (as in doing summaries) you should also consider changing the sentence order when possible.

Over grazing on the steppe lands of Asia has resulted in a loss of ground cover. This in turn has left soil exposed to the wind resulting in a yellow dust that blows across China, Korea, and Japan. The yellow dust that afflicts some East Asian countries occurs as a result of soil being exposed to winds. This is due to overgrazing on the Asian steppe which erodes the ground cover.

Here’s an example rephrasal:

Exercise Complete the rephrasal writing exercise on the handout. In the next hour we will practice rephrasing in a communication activity.