Writing

Sunday March 6, 2011 The Star Newspaper online

Expressive sentences

EXPLORING ENGLISH

By KEITH W. WRIGHT

Written and verbal communication can be improved by understanding and using colloquial and idiomatic terms.

Over the last few weeks, eight techniques of the 4S-Accelerated English Program’s Art of the Alternative have been highlighted to help learners quickly and significantly improve their speaking and writing skills. In this final instalment of the series, encouragement is given to those for whom English is an additional language (EAL) to set about learning, copying and using common colloquial and idiomatic terms.

The objective behind this recommendation is not just to make an EAL person sound “more native”, but also so that they can be better equipped to understand some of the things primary English speakers say in everyday conversations and written communications.

(ix) Using appropriate colloquial and idiomatic terminology.

Developing the ability to use colloquial and idiomatic terminology can add colour and variety to one’s communication, be it written or oral – providing the technique is not over-done or abused, and the terms applied are not crude.

In today’s global society, it is almost an imperative for speakers, in a wide range of occupations and professions, to master the ability to use and moreover, understand colloquial and idiomatic speech.

This can certainly be the case in contact-call centres and help desk positions — and in fact, in most jobs where one is dealing with primary English language speakers, such as travel, tourism, hospitality, media, immigration, trade, and so on.

It would be a challenging task for EAL learners to comprehend the multitude of colloquial terms or idiomatic constructions used in the different primary English-speaking countries.

However, the more common and accepted ones can be mastered and used with good effect to be able to comprehend better what a person from countries like Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States might be contending.

For example, it would be important for a tourist/travel agent to understand what a potential traveller meant when asked what was the “best bet” when talking about different routes to take.

This term means “the best idea or course to follow”, and does not have anything to do with gambling!

Again, it is advantageous for a person serving at a help desk of a product manufacturer to understand what an irate customer was saying when threatening to “bung on a blue”, that is, “start an argument or a fight”, if he or she did not receive satisfaction in relation to a complaint.

It is important to remember that colloquial and idiomatic terminology can vary from country to country.

Often, different terms can mean different things to different people. However, generally, there are similarities in meaning particularly in the case of the more traditional and historic sayings.

“Acting like an ostrich” can mean “not willing to accept the facts or truth”, but it also can mean “pretending that there is no problem”. It will be noted that there is a similarity in the meanings.

Likewise, “as good as gold” can mean “very valuable”, “in good health” or “feeling well” as well as “safe and secure” particularly in relation to a potential investment.

For more examples of common colloquial and idiomatic terms, e-mail the address mentioned at the end of this column.

(x) Using different words and constructions to begin sentences.

The way people communicate can become mundane, especially when writing, if almost every sentence or paragraph commences with “the”, “I” or other pronouns.

Superior writers and speakers of English are usually skilled at using different words and constructions, such as phrases, when writing reports or composing correspondence.

Instead of saying: I was wanting to raise the issue of ... with you as a matter of some urgency. One can use the alternative approach and say: As a matter of some urgency, the issue I need to raise with you ...

Again, instead of writing: I was hoping to visit you next week as I will be on holidays. One could say instead: Being on holidays next week, I was hoping to visit you ...

The same benefit can be obtained by commencing paragraphs with phrases instead of pronouns, for example: We all feel sorry at your personal loss. — Every one of us feels sorry at your personal loss.

This aspect of the Art of the Alternative also includes using different salutations and conclusions in business and personal correspondence, e.g. Good morning! – Greetings from Australia! – Great to hear from you! – It’s been ages since we corresponded, etc.

Likewise, to sign off: Please convey my personal regards to ….. – I await your response with great expectation/ anticipation – Until we talk/correspond again – etc.

How one begins and ends a written communication can often determine the response. In the business community, it is often said that “you get more with sugar than you do with salt,” meaning positive reinforcements often produces better results. It is also common knowledge that “aggression attracts the negative, while appreciation draws the positive.”

With will and practice, learners can use the tecniques highlighted to improve their communication skills and develop their confidence to become superior speakers and writers of the English language.

Keith Wright is the author and creator of the 4S Approach To Literacy and Language (4S) — a modern, innovative and proven method of accelerating the learning of English.

The 4S methodology and the associated Accelerated English Program (AEP) mentioned in this fortnightly column are now being used internationally to enhance the English language proficiency of people from a diverse range of cultures and with different competency levels.

E-mail

contact@4Sliteracy.com.au for your free PDF file, 300 Colloquial and Idiomatic Terms.