language learning center · C1 · Lesson 8
Precise paraphrase
Paraphrase complex meaning accurately while distinguishing the speaker’s claim, emphasis, and intended implication.
Understand and learn
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Ravi
I am not suggesting that expertise is irrelevant; my point is that expertise alone does not guarantee sound judgement.
Ravi protects a distinction between value and sufficiency.
Clara
If I understand you correctly, you value expertise but reject the idea that it should settle every decision.
Clara preserves both sides of Ravi’s contrast.
Ravi
Exactly. More specifically, judgement also depends on context, incentives, and whose experience is represented.
Ravi confirms and sharpens the paraphrase.
Clara
Then the emphasis is on broadening the basis of a decision, not discrediting specialist knowledge.
Clara identifies the intended emphasis and excludes a false implication.
Notice, try, and speak
Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.
Useful words and phrases
These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.
If I understand you correctly,…
Offer a paraphrase for confirmation.
If I understand you correctly, you value expertise but reject the idea that it should settle every decision.
In other words, you are distinguishing… from…
Preserve a conceptual contrast.
In other words, you are distinguishing… from…
More specifically,…
Replace a broad paraphrase with a more exact one.
Exactly. More specifically, judgement also depends on context, incentives, and whose experience is represented.
The emphasis is on… rather than…
Identify the speaker’s intended priority.
Then the emphasis is on broadening the basis of a decision, not discrediting specialist knowledge.
That does not imply that…
Block an inference the original claim does not support.
That does not imply that…
Notice, try, and speak
Which paraphrase preserves the meaning of “Cost matters, but cost alone should not determine the decision”?
Make it yours
Paraphrase a complex English claim, then check its emphasis and name one conclusion that would not follow from it.
Use a claim whose meaning depends on a careful distinction.
Use it with someone
Paraphrase complex meaning in English
- 1. If I understand you correctly,…
- 2. In other words, you are distinguishing… from…
- 3. More specifically,…
- 4. The emphasis is on… rather than…
- 5. That does not imply that…