Episode 129 - How Can You Sound More Diplomatic in English?

The first tool in your toolkit is the art of minimization.

You aren't lying exactly, but you change the weight of the words you use.

Let's try this.

We have a big problem with the schedule, so there's a delay.

It makes instant stress.

Whereas if you say, we have a minor problem with the schedule, so there's a bit of a delay, the reality hasn't changed and the schedule is still broken.

But by swapping big problem for minor problem and the delay for a little delay or a bit of a delay, we've lowered the stakes.

We aren't panicking.

We're just managing a temporary bump in the road.

English people love this stuff.

And there are some automatic swaps that you need to work on until you can do them properly.

We don't have problems.

Well, we do, but often we have minor problems or slight issues.

We don't have delays, we have a little bit of a delay, or a minor delay.

And we don't have nightmares, we have a bit of a challenge.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

Richard, you're just being kind of weird and hypocritical in an English way.

But every language does this to some extent.

French people do this all the time.

In French, when you want to bring up a sensitive topic to your partner or a colleague...

You don't just walk into the room and say, I want to.

You say, I wanted to talk to you about.

Right? In French, you would use the imperfect.

It's the same in English.

Instead of I want, you say, I wanted.