1. American Culture and Pragmatics
Spring 2012
Ms. Candice Quiñones

2. Overview

 Definitions
 How to Explain
 Finding the Right Level
 Ten Ways to Explain Things More Effectively

3. Definition
ex·plain

 verb (used with object)
1. to make plain or clear; render understandable or
intelligible: to explain an obscure point.
2. to make known in detail: to explain how to do
something.
3. to assign a meaning to; interpret: How can you
explain such a silly remark?
4. to make clear the cause or reason of; account for: I
cannot explain his strange behavior.
 verb (used without object)
5. to give an explanation.
Source: Dictionary.com

4. Definition
ex·pla·na·tion

 noun
1. the act or process of explaining.
2. something that explains; a statement made to clarify
something and make it understandable; exposition:
a) an explanation of a poem.
3. a meaning or interpretation:
a) to find an explanation for a mystery.
4. a mutual declaration of the meaning of words spoken,
actions, motives, etc., with a view to adjusting a
misunderstanding or reconciling differences:
a) After a long and emotional explanation they were friends
again. Source: Dictionary.com

5. How To Explain

 When we explain, our goal is to make things clear.
 In order to do this, we need several “tools” in our
verbal “toolbox”.
 Clarity
 Details
 Reasons
 Honesty
 Foreshadowing
 Logical connectors
 Finding the right level

6. Clarity

 Being clear about what you are talking about.
 Give details: where, when, who, what, when, and
how.
 Instead of saying:
It is there.
-say-
The book is on the desk.
(what) (where)

7. Clarity

 Avoid pronouns and use nouns instead.
 Answer the question “who?” or “what?”
 A noun is a name for a person, place, thing or
idea.
 Ex. University, Grape Street, girlfriend, compassion,
etc.
 A pronoun is a word used to substitute for a
noun.
 Ex. He, she,Source: Dr. Deborah Mowshowitz,
it, they, we, me, him, her, us, them,
Department of Biological Sciences,
etc. Columbia University

8. Clarity

 Use active, descriptive verbs instead of passive,
boring ones.
 Answer the question “how?”
 Note: “be” is a passive verb
 Instead of saying:
We went there.
-say-
My family and I drove to the Lehigh Valley Mall.

9. Clarity

 So remember, to be clear:
 Give details
 Use nouns, not pronouns
 Use descriptive verbs

10. Reasons

 When you explain, it is important to give the reasons
behind your thoughts or actions.
 Answer the question “why?”
 Instead of saying:
I’m leaving.
-say-
I’m leaving now so I can catch my bus on time.

11. Reasons

When giving reasons it is important to be honest.
 If you don’t know how to explain something, it is okay
to say “I don’t know.”
 It is usually better to be honest about your reasons
for something than to lie.
 If you lie, the reasons you invent may not make sense.
 If you lie, you may forget the reasons you gave and
the person will find out later (and may be hurt or
angry).

12. Foreshadowing

Before you attempt to explain anything, say, in advance:
 (a) what you are about to explain
 Listeners feel much more comfortable when they know
what is coming and approximately how you are going
to get there.
 (b) why you are bothering to explain it.
 Listeners will be much more willing to concentrate on
details if they know why they matter.
Source: Dr. Deborah Mowshowitz,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Columbia University

13. Foreshadowing

 Example
 First you say “Let me explain how to get to Brooklyn
– it will take 3 trains.”
 Then explain: Why do we want to go to Brooklyn in
the first place? Why go now?
 Then you go into the details of which you take first,
where you transfer, etc.
Source: Dr. Deborah Mowshowitz

14. Logical Connectors

 Logical connectors are used to signal the relationship
between what you are about to say and what you
have already said.
 They are also known as transition words.

15. Logical Connectors
 Function: Show
Function: To Add Similarity
 again  moreover
 to  as well as
 and  together with
 also  of course
 then  likewise
 equally  comparatively
 identically  correspondingly
 like  similarly
 as  furthermore
 too  additionally
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

16. Logical Connectors

Function: Contrast Function: Contradiction
 although this may be true  but whereas
 different from  (and) still despite
 of course ..., but  unlike conversely
 on the other hand  or otherwise
 (and) yet however
 at the same time
 while rather
 in spite of
 albeit nevertheless
 even so / though
 Besides regardless
 then again  although notwithstandin
 in reality  instead g
 after all
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

17. Logical Connectors

Function: Rephrasing Function: Support
 in other words  in fact
 to put it differently  in general
 for one thing  in particular
 as an illustration  for example
 in this case  for instance
 for this reason  to demonstrate
 to put it another way  to emphasize
 that is to say  to repeat
 to clarify
 with attention to
 to explain
 by all means
 such as
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

18. Logical Connectors
Function:

Function:
Cause/Condition Effect/Consequence
 in the event that  in view of  as a result
 granted (that)  if  under those circumstances
 as / so long as  …then  in that case
 on (the) condition  Unless  for this reason
(that)  for
 When
 with this intention  because the
 Whenever
 then
 in the hope that  Since
 consequently
 to the end that  While  therefore
 for fear that  Because  accordingly
 seeing / being that of
Source: http://www.smart-
 in view of  as
words.org/transition-words.html

19. Logical Connectors

Function: Time
 at the present time   hence
at this instant  further
 from time to time  since  during
 when  first, second
 sooner or later  once  in time
 at the same time  about  prior to
 up to the present  next  instantly
time  now  presently
 to begin with  immediately  Occasionally
 in due time  quickly  after
 finally  later
 until now  formerly  last
 as soon as  suddenly  until
 in the meantime  shortly  since
 in a moment  whenever  then
 in the first place  eventually  before
 meanwhile
 all of a sudden
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

20. Logical Connectors

Function:
Space/Location/Place
 in the middle  adjacent to  above  between
 to the left/right  opposite to  below  before
 in front of  here  down  alongside
 on this side  there  up  amid
 in the distance  next  under  among
 here and there  where  further  beneath
 in the  from  beyond  beside
foreground  over  nearby  behind
 in the  Near  wherever  across
background  around
 in the center of
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

21. Logical Connectors:
Emphasis


 important to realize
notably  markedly
 including  especially  another key point
 like  specifically  first thing to remember
 to be  expressivel  must be remembered
sure y  point often overlooked
 namely  surprisingly  to point out
 chiefly  frequently  on the positive /
 truly  significantl negative side
 indeed y
 with this in mind
 certainly
 surely Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

22. Finding the Right Level

 Not everyone you explain something to is going to
understand everything the first time.
 To help them understand:
 Try to think about it from their position or point of view.
 Try to find out where they got stuck.
 Explain in small “bites” (a little at a time).
 If someone asks you a question, don’t assume you
have to explain a lot of background material.
 Don’t assume too much; sometimes you will need to
provide background information.
Source:. Deborah Mowshowitz,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Columbia University

23. Ten Ways to Explain
Things More Effectively

1. Keep in mind other’s point of view
2. Listen and respond to questions
3. Avoid talking over people’s heads (find the right
level)
 Don’t use vocabulary that is too technical
4. Avoid talking down to people
 Don’t insult people by assuming they don’t know
things
5. Ask questions to determine people’s understanding
Source: Calvin Sun, CNET Networks
Inc.

24. Ten Ways to Explain
Things More Effectively

6. Focus on benefits, not features.
 Features are inherent properties of objects.
 Benefits are ways features help a person
7. Use analogies to make concepts clearer
 Analogy is explaining an unfamiliar concept using a
familiar one.
8. Compare new concepts to familiar ones.
9. Use the concepts of subsets and supersets.
 Ex. Brooklyn is a subset of NYC, because all of it is in
NYC.
10. Confirm that your explanation makes sense.
Source: Calvin Sun, CNET Networks,
Inc.

25. Time to Practice

 Please explain to me the relationship between
humans and their pets.
 Please explain to me what “the early bird gets the
worm” means.
 Please explain the difference between fear and
respect to me.
 Please explain the process of buying a plane ticket to
me.
 Please explain what each color on your flag
represents.
 Please explain the main idea of a book you are