Giving and Receiving Compliments

Intermediate English

WTUC

April 20, 2004

Giving Compliments, p. 114

Flattery

• A compliment that sounds sincere

• ‘Flattery will get you everywhere’

• Flatter people a lot

• Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not

Sincere Compliments, p. 115

• People are often suspicious of flattery

• The keys to offering compliments appropriately are timing, number, and phrasing.

Timing

• Give a compliment when a person has accomplished something special

• Or when a person is discouraged and you are reminding them of their good efforts and steady progress

Number

• Don’t overdo it

• One’s okay, and two are fine, but stop at three, and draw the line

• If you overdo it, you may look like you are flattering them to gain favor or approval

Phrasing

• Be careful when you use adjectives and analogies that the person is pleased to identify with

Expressions used to introduced compliments

• I don’t mind saying …

• I don’t mind telling you…

• I’d like to compliment you on…

• If you ask me…

• I’ve been meaning to tell you…

• Just between you and me…

Receiving Compliments, p. 116

• Undeserved compliments

• Do not deny or protest the compliment more than once or twice before you give in and accept the compliment graciously

Inappropriate compliments

• Say thank you or simply ignore it

• If the compliment is offensive, you should consider telling the person so

Expressions used to receive compliments

• Coming from you, that’s a real compliment• Coming from you, that means a lot.• Do you really think so? How nice

(sweet/kind) of you to say that.• I appreciate you saying that.• I’m really glad you think so.• I’m very flattered.• That’s nice to hear.

Listening for Appropriate and inappropriate compliments

• Conversation 1

1. He’s making Mr. McGovern late for his appointment. Doing this makes the compliment an annoyance rather than a pleasure.

2. There are too many compliments. There were 4 when there should be 2 at the most.

3. The phrasing is too exaggerated. Also, there is too much that is personal. It is better to compliment the course than say I like you sooo much.

Conversation 2

1. Yes, it is appropriate.

2. Her comment dealt with the course materials, was not exaggerated, and was not too personal.

Conversation 3

1. Larry says he can’t beat Helen at the checkers and that she’s definitely the checker champion around there.

2. Oh I wouldn’t say that

3. Because she is modest.

4. Martin says that Helen is the best player at the retirement home.

5. She says, ‘Thank you very much.’

6. Helen and Larry tell Martin that he is a very good dancer.

7. Martin’s daughter looked beautiful on the dance floor.

8. Martin likes getting a compliment from Helen about his dancing, because she is a very good dancer herself.

Conversation 4

1. Martin is feeling confused and old.

2. Yes- because it is specific about a quality that everyone admires, not exaggerated

3. She accepts his comment graciously by saying, “I appreciate you saying that.”

4. Larry tried to cheer Martin up by saying that he is a wonderful grandfather to even try to help his grandson and that a lot of grandfathers wouldn’t take the time to do this.

5. Helen says that she thinks that Martin is interested in lifelong learning and that he is “one of the brightest, most stimulating, most adventuresome and forward-looking men” she knows

6. Yes- because Martin gives a response that seems much more positive and cheerful now.

7. Martin says, “Why thanks, Helen! That kind of flattery will get you anywhere!”

8. He means that he feels the compliment is exaggerated, but that he likes it. He appreciates the compliment and he would be happy to do something nice for Helen in return.

Culture Note

Americans are often very direst and to the point, especially in giving compliments or expressing pleasure or positive emotions. Americans often tell each other how well or attractive they look. However, it is generally considered taboo to compl9iment someone on a specific body part.

• “You have great legs.” or “You have a great figure.” are not acceptable comments.

• In some cultures, receiving simple compliments may be an occasion for embarrassment. For example in Japan, people often feel the need to deny a compliment because it is culturally inappropriate to accept them.

Focus on Testing

1. B

2. D

3. C

4. A

5. C

6. A