What Did You Say?

Be polite when asking again

Interviews, meeting or phone calls – your conversations are important. But what if you can’t understand the person? In English, it can be rude to repeatedly ask, “What?” when you don’t know what someone has said. You don’t want that person to think their pronunciation is unclear. There are many ways to politely ask someone to repeat something. Start by apologizing for not hearing what the person said. You can begin with “excuse me” or "pardon me" or "sorry." Then politely say that you did not hear or understand what was said. For instance, you could say, "I'm sorry, but I didn't quite hear you."

You could also say, “Can you please say that again?” or “Could you repeat that?” It can be frustrating when you don’t hear someone clearly. But it is always important to say calm and pleasant. And be sure to put the blame on yourself. You didn’t hear clearly or understand. That makes people feel more comfortable even when you can’t understand them well.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Enunciation vs. Pronunciation教學主題: 表示「發音」的兩個字
You might have a large English vocabulary understand all the grammar rules and even know the exceptions to the rules. But if you can’t make yourself understood when you speak, expect to hear “Why did you say a lot?”

When speaking any language, knowing how to string words together to create coherent sentences isn’t enough. You also need skill in the delivering those words.

Right. You need both good enunciation as well as good pronunciation. Enunciation is making yourself understood, while pronunciation is saying sounds correctly.

Okay, consider the word February, the name of the second month of the year. Say the word aloud, being very careful to say each syllable clearly and precisely, [ fe, bju, e, ri.]

Good, now say it again. Each syllable clear and precise, [ fe , bju, e, ri.]

Okay, we tricked you to show that it is possible to have good enunciation, but poor pronunciation.

Right, our enunciation was clear and precise both times, but our pronunciation was correct only the second time. So is it possible for the opposite to occur to have good pronunciation but poor enunciation?

I think it is. I might pronounce February correctly, but say it so softly. You can’t hear me.


Closer Look
In English, it can be rude to repeatedly ask, “What?” when you don’t know what someone has said.
It can be [adjective] to [verb] when [situation].
- It can be frustrating to walk home on a rainy day when you have to carry many things by yourself.
- It can be embarrassing to ask for someone's name when you've already met them before.

Language Lab
repeatedly adv. [repeat v.]
said, done, or happening again and again
repetitively adv.
happening again and again : repeated many times
- I repetitively explained the importance of setting the alarm system to Grandpa, but he just didn't get it.

unclear adj. = clear as mud; crystal clear = very clear
confused or uncertain about something — often + about
- There are some points of your proposal that are unclear to me.
- The motives for the crime remain unclear.

frustrating adj.
causing feelings of anger and annoyance
- Losing the game again is really frustrating for the whole team.
frustrated adj.
- Irene is frustrated because she can't find a job.

blame n.
responsibility for something that fails or is wrong
put the blame on someone
- The business owner put all the blame on his factory manager for the fire.


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