Phrases for each part of a presentation
Opening
Signposting
Emphasis
Closing
In a discussion: from full agreement to firm disagreement
German discussion culture is direct: disagreeing openly is normal and not rude, as long as it is about the point, not the person. Choose a position on the scale to see how to say it. The same techniques work in English; see our guides to public speaking and presentations.
Taking the floor, buying time, steering
| Move | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Taking the floor | ▶ Darf ich kurz etwas dazu sagen?darf ikh KOORTS ET-vas dah-TSOO ZAH-gun | May I say something about that? |
| Interrupting politely | ▶ Entschuldigung, wenn ich Sie unterbreche, …ent-SHOOL-di-goong, ven ikh zee oon-tuh-BREKH-uh | Sorry to interrupt, … |
| Keeping the floor | ▶ Lassen Sie mich bitte ausreden.LAS-un zee mikh BIT-uh OWS-ray-dun | Please let me finish. |
| Buying time | ▶ Das ist eine gute Frage. Lassen Sie mich kurz überlegen.das ist INE-uh GOO-tuh FRAH-guh. LAS-un zee mikh KOORTS ü-buh-LAY-gun | Good question. Let me think for a moment. |
| Buying time | ▶ Wie soll ich sagen …vee zol ikh ZAH-gun | How shall I put it … |
| Checking | ▶ Habe ich Sie richtig verstanden, dass …?HAH-buh ikh zee RIKH-tikh fair-SHTAN-dun, das | Have I understood you correctly that …? |
| Rephrasing | ▶ Anders ausgedrückt: …AN-duss OWS-guh-drükt | In other words: … |
| Returning | ▶ Um auf meinen Punkt zurückzukommen, …oom owf MY-nun POONKT tsoo-RÜK-tsoo-kom-un | To get back to my point, … |
A model debate: a four-day working week
Three speakers in a C1-style discussion. Discourse phrases are in red. Every word has its English meaning underneath.
Moderator
“Should the four-day week become the norm?”ZOL-tuh dee FEER-tah-guh-VOKH-uh tsoor RAY-gul VAIR-dun Move: Opens the debate with a clear question.
SollteshoulddietheVier-Tage-Wochefour-day-weekzurto-theRegelrulewerden?become
Jonas
“In my view, yes, because productivity goes up.”MY-nuh MY-noong NAHKH YAH, den dee proh-dook-tee-vee-TAYT SHTYKT Move: Opinion + reason with denn (normal word order).
MeinermyMeinungopinionnachafterja,yesdennbecausedietheProduktivitätproductivitysteigt.rises
Mira
“I have to disagree there. That doesn’t apply to all sectors.”dah moos ikh vee-duh-SHPREKH-un. das GILT nikht für AL-uh BRAN-shun Move: Firm disagreement, then a reason. Direct but polite.
DatheremussmustichIwidersprechen.contradictDasthatgiltappliesnichtnotfürforalleallBranchen.sectors
Jonas
“In principle you’re right, but it works in offices.”dah HAH-bun zee im prin-TSEEP REKHT, AH-buh in BÜ-rohs foonk-tsyoh-NEERT es Move: Partial agreement before a counter-point.
DatherehabenhaveSieyouiminPrinzipprinciplerecht,rightaberbutininBürosofficesfunktioniertworkses.it
Mira
“Have I understood correctly that you’d exclude care workers?”HAH-buh ikh zee RIKH-tikh fair-SHTAN-dun, das zee PFLAY-guh-kref-tuh OWS-nay-mun Move: Checking understanding, which also pins down the argument.
HabehaveichISieyourichtigcorrectlyverstanden,understooddassthatSieyouPflegekräftecare-workersausnehmen?exclude
Moderator
“To sum up: it depends on the sector.”tsoo-ZAM-un-fas-unt LEST zikh ZAH-gun: es KOMT owf dee BRAN-shuh AN Move: Closing summary; ankommen auf, “to depend on”.
Zusammenfassendin-summarylässtletssichitselfsagen:sayEsitkommtcomesaufondietheBranchesectoran.on