::: Star Insight :::

Reader's Club

Why Say It?

In this section we will give some tips about the nature and function of English language.
We will cover areas like some simple conversational patterns, some basic points about pronunciation, stress and intonation, a few strategies for developing vocabulary and, some grammar items, all placed within a context. We would like to mention here that on demand from our Readers' Club members from different parts of the country we have also started holding workshops and seminars under the Learners' Club banner.
All talk begins with an idea. One person has an idea, a thought. To communicate that idea to another person, the speaker uses spoken words and the writer uses written words. There are many reasons for which a person may want to communicate to others and also many ways in which a person can use words to express his or her idea. For example, look at the following illustrations:

	THE IDEA I'd like Farid to hand me the glue. THE WORDS “Farid, will you hand me the glue, please?” THE REASON The speaker wants someone to do something.
	THE IDEA The guest should take the backdoor key with him when leaving the hotel. THE WORDS “Here's the key of your room, sir, and this is the key for the back door. We lock the front door at 11 p.m. So, if you want to come back after that, you have to get in through the back door. THE REASON The speaker wants to tell the boarder something new so that the latter acts wisely.
	THE IDEA I wish Mom had seen that bird I just saw. THE WORDS Mother! A little yellow bird came to our garden! THE REASON The speaker wants to share an experience.
	THE IDEA I'll help James so he won't be upset. THE WORDS Don't worry, James, I'll help you change the tire. THE REASON The speaker wants to make his listener feel different. He offers to help.
	THE IDEA Mita is bored. I'll tell her a story. THE WORDS Come, Mita. I'll tell you the story of the adventures of Sindabad. THE REASON The speaker wants to entertain her listener with a story.
	Here is a fun exercise for you. This little girl wants to get her idea across to her mother. She wants her mother to do something for her. How is she going to express her idea? The answer depends on the girl. Is she polite? Is she rude? Does she talk a lot? Does she love to use grown-up words? THE IDEA I want to wear my red dress at the school function today. THE WORDS ???? ???? THE REASON I want mother to iron it. Write down as many different ways as you can think of in which she might express her idea. We'll give you some possible answers in the next issue and discuss more about saying the same thing in different ways in different situations.