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Unit 1 · Precision, Voice & the Mastered Self · Lesson 03

Saying It Sideways

Implicature, indirection and understatement

CEFR C245–60 minImplicature & hedgeCore

By the end of this lesson

You'll be able to:

  • say difficult things diplomatically
  • make a point without saying it outright
  • understand what people mean when they don't quite say it
  • soften bad news without burying it
Primary pattern: role-play
1

Stage 1

Warm-up

4 min

Here's what you'll do

Three real sentences. What is each speaker NOT saying?

You produce

Quick reactions with your teacher, then compare interpretations.

  • 'I'm sure you did your best.' — said by a manager about a missed deadline.
  • 'It's an interesting choice of restaurant.' — said by a guest, smiling.
  • 'I'll think about it.' — said in a salary negotiation.

Group extension (optional)

In pairs, learners compare guesses first; in groups, share the most surprising read.

2

Stage 2

Language Discovery

6 min

Here's what you'll do

Four ways to say 'no' without saying 'no'. You'll figure out the pattern.

You produce

You state the rule before I do.

Indirectness: softeners, distancers, understatement

Compare 'No, that won't work' with the four versions below. What is each one doing to soften the same message?

  • I was wondering whether we might revisit that.

  • It's a somewhat ambitious timeline, isn't it?

  • Wouldn't it be safer to wait a week?

  • That's not exactly the result we were hoping for.

The rule you'll arrive at

English softens disagreement with (a) tense distancing ('I was wondering…'), (b) hedges ('rather', 'somewhat'), (c) negative questions ('Wouldn't it be…?'), and (d) understatement ('not exactly ideal'). The listener still hears 'no' — but the relationship survives.

Try three

  1. 1. Soften: 'This budget is too low.'

    Reveal

    'This budget feels a little tight, doesn't it?' or 'I was wondering whether there's any flex on the budget.'

  2. 2. Soften: 'You're wrong about the deadline.'

    Reveal

    'I may be misreading the brief, but isn't the deadline the 14th rather than the 17th?'

  3. 3. Soften: 'I don't want to take on this project.'

    Reveal

    'I'd love to help — I'm just not sure I'm the best fit for this one right now.'

3

Stage 3

Vocabulary in Use

6 min

Here's what you'll do

Six diplomatic moves you can drop into any difficult conversation.

You produce

You match each to a real situation from your own week.

with respect

polite signal that disagreement is coming

"With respect, I think the data tells a different story."

Intro Guided Speaking Writing Review

to push back (on)

to disagree firmly but professionally

"I'd push back gently on the second recommendation."

Intro Guided Speaking Writing Review

I take your point, but…

acknowledge then disagree

"I take your point, but the cost picture has changed."

Intro Guided Speaking Writing Review

to read the room

to sense the mood of a group and adjust

"He didn't read the room — the joke died."

Intro Guided Speaking Writing Review

to walk something back

to soften or partly retract a previous statement

"She walked back the comment by lunchtime."

Intro Guided Speaking Writing Review

let me put it this way

signal that you're about to rephrase, more directly or more tactfully

"Let me put it this way: we can't afford another slip."

Intro Guided Speaking Writing Review

Guided practice

  1. 1. Fill: 'I ____ ____ ____, but the numbers don't support it.' (4 words)

    Reveal

    take your point, but

  2. 2. Fill: 'She had to ____ ____ the comment after the meeting.' (3 words)

    Reveal

    walk back

  3. 3. Fill: 'He completely failed to ____ ____ ____.' (3 words)

    Reveal

    read the room

4

Stage 4

Speaking Task

8 min

Here's what you'll do

Two-minute role-plays. You deliver bad news without ducking it.

You produce

You run each scenario twice — once as Speaker, once as Listener — with your teacher in the opposite role.

You and your teacher swap roles each round. Speaker delivers the bad news; Listener reacts naturally. Speaker must use at least TWO target items per round. After each scene, swap.

Roles: Speaker (you) · Listener (teacher) · swap each round

Use these

with respectto push back (on)I take your point, but…let me put it this way

Prompts

  • · Tell a friend their business idea has a serious flaw.
  • · Tell a colleague their part of the presentation isn't working.
  • · Tell a client the launch date is slipping by two weeks.

Group extension (optional)

In pairs, learners swap; in small groups, add an Observer who scores face-saving (1–5) each round.

5

Stage 5

Reading / Listening Input

8 min

Here's what you'll do

A short overheard dialogue. Almost nothing is said directly — and yet everyone understands.

You produce

Three inference calls.

Listening · authentic-style transcriptnote completion

Instructions

Listen to the performance-review exchange. Note what is implied rather than said.

  1. 1The real seriousness of the issue is signalled by the phrase ______.

    Reveal

    'on my radar' / 'more than one client'

  2. 2The manager softens criticism with the phrase ______.

    Reveal

    'I don't want to make a thing of it' / 'Nothing dramatic'

  3. 3The employee's indirect probe is ______.

    Reveal

    'From … more than one client?'

Show audio transcript (Performance review (overheard) — script provided)

MANAGER: So… overall, a year of real growth. You've come a long way.
EMPLOYEE: Thank you. I feel like I have.
MANAGER: There's just one area — and it's a small one — where I'd love to see a bit more. The client communications piece.
EMPLOYEE: Right. Right, of course.
MANAGER: I don't want to make a thing of it. But it has come up.
EMPLOYEE: From … more than one client?
MANAGER: Let's just say it's on my radar. Nothing dramatic. Something to keep an eye on together this quarter.
EMPLOYEE: Understood.

6

Stage 6

Analysis Task

5 min

Here's what you'll do

Map the dance: where does each move soften, and what does it cost?

You produce

An annotated transcript you defend out loud to your teacher.

With your teacher, mark every softening move in the transcript. For each, write what the manager would have said directly, and what would have been lost (or gained) by saying it that way. Your teacher will challenge at least one of your calls.

  • · Which softener is the most generous?
  • · Which one is closest to evasion?
  • · Where, if anywhere, should the manager have been more direct?

Group extension (optional)

In pairs / small groups, swap annotated transcripts and pick the one annotation you'd argue against.

7

Stage 7

Communication Challenge

10 min

Here's what you'll do

A full 10-minute role-play with rotating listeners.

You produce

Three short scenes — same news, three different listeners (all played by teacher).

Pick ONE piece of difficult news. You deliver it three times in 3-minute scenes. Your teacher plays a different listener each round: (1) a friend, (2) a senior, (3) a junior. Between rounds, teacher gives a 30-second debrief: clarity of message, face-saving, naturalness (1–5 each).

Pick ONE scenario: (a) declining a friend's wedding invitation for an awkward reason, (b) telling a senior their pet project is being cut, (c) telling a junior they didn't get the promotion.

Use these

with respectto push back (on)I take your point, but…to read the roomto walk something backlet me put it this way

Deliverable

Three scenes + one self-named 'best move of the round'.

Group extension (optional)

In groups of 3, rotate Speaker / Listener / Observer every 3 minutes; Observer scorecard replaces teacher debrief.

8

Stage 8

Exam Connection

5 min

Here's what you'll do

C2 Proficiency Speaking Part 3 — long turn with diplomatic stance.

You produce

One 90-second attempt.

C2 Proficiency — Speaking Part 3 (extended individual response)

Task: Take and sustain a position on a contentious prompt for around 90 seconds without sounding aggressive or evasive.

Strategy: Open with a hedge ('I'd argue, with some caution, that…'), state a clear stance, concede ONE point ('I take the opposite view's point about X'), then return to your line.

Mini-task

Prompt: 'Schools should ban phones entirely.' 90 seconds. Must include one 'with respect / I take your point, but' move.

9

Stage 9

Writing / Production

5 min

Here's what you'll do

Five minutes to write the email you've been avoiding.

You produce

One short email handed in.

Write a 90–110-word email delivering one piece of difficult news (real or invented). The reader must understand what you mean — and not feel attacked. Use at least three target items naturally.

Word count: 90–110 words

Must use

with respectto push back (on)I take your point, but…to read the roomto walk something backlet me put it this way
10

Stage 10

Reflection & Homework

3 min

Here's what you'll do

Pick the moment you almost flinched. Why?

You produce

Spoken or written 30-second reflection.

Reflection

  • · Where did you over-soften to the point that your meaning got blurry?
  • · Where did directness actually serve the relationship better?

Homework

Listen back to one diplomatic exchange this week (in your L1 or English). Bring TWO softening moves you noticed to Lesson 4.