Disagreeing and Negotiating Disagreeing and Negotiating in American Culturein American Culture

How to do this respectfully

Pattern OnePattern One

(1) I’m not sure I understand the point you are making about the problems with this contract

Start with “I” not you. Take the responsibility

for not understanding

Pattern OnePattern One(a)Yesterday, you said

that this clause would take effect immediately. (b) But today, you seemed to be saying that it would take effect after the first of the year. (2) Could you explain?

Contrast the two ideas Ask for clarification

(Could you explain Could you clarify NOTE: “Seems” is

frequently used in this pattern.

Pattern Two More OvertPattern Two More Overt Mr. Franklin - I’m not sure I agree with this interpretation of the contract.

State your disagreement respectfully

I’m not sure I agree I’m uncomfortable

with I don’t know about

that

Pattern Two More OvertPattern Two More Overt

It seems to me that these figures do not reflect an accurate tally.

State your point of view

Pattern Two More OvertPattern Two More OvertTherefore, I don’t think we consider that this is an effective case.

State your conclusion

Negotiating WorkNegotiating WorkSue: Ok so what do you guys think about this topic? I’m not sure I really understood what the professor wants us to do.

A version of (I’m not sure) What do you think?

Negotiating WorkNegotiating Work

Liu Yang: I think we’re just supposed to discuss the difference in the educational philosophies of pragmatism …

Sarah: I guess we could start by defining each of these.

Polite way to state your idea:

I think.. I suppose Its my understanding

that It seems that… I guess that…

Negotiating WorkNegotiating WorkWhy don’t we each take one and try to define it.

Now, how about social reconstructionism?

Liu Yang: I’ll take this one….

Polite way to say what you want to do..

Why don’t we… What do you think

about….. How about….. Let’s……..ok?

Negotiating WorkNegotiating WorkLiu Yang: I think we

’re just supposed to discuss the difference in the educational philosophies of pragmatism …

Sarah: I guess we could start by defining each of these. Why don’t we each take one and try to define it.

. Is that what you guys think?

Now, how about social reconstructionism?

Polite way to state your idea:

I think.. I suppose Its my understanding

that It seems that… I guess that…

Explaining Negotiating WorkExplaining Negotiating Work In this dialogue,

students are “negotiating” a joint task together. In this case, the task is to discuss a topic in class. We see one student use a similar pattern as the covert disagreement but saying they are uncertain about the assignment. This allows the group to clarify for itself what they are going to do.

One individual then makes a suggestion as to how to go about the task. (The group agrees and begins the task. Students can easily ask one another straightforward questions.

Explaining Negotiating WorkExplaining Negotiating Work

Also notice the use of …supposed to discuss the difference…

…I guess we could start by defining… …Why don’t we each take one…...I would think so...

The use of the modals and the “why don’t we” signal sensitivity to one another with nobody trying to be the “leader”.

.

ActivityActivity

In your groups, write and perform a brief dialogue in which you

1. Disagree covertly with an authority figure 2. Disagree overtly with an authority figure 3. Negotiate how to create a symbol for Perfect

Cross Cultural Communication