WE Finns are not used to debating and we find it challenging. There are also a few cultural differences due to linguistic features why it is so. Our commmunication lacks phrases that would make debating natural and easy for us. Even so, it is important to be aware of the main characteristics of debating and arguing.

Useful debating phrases

Opening a debate

 

■ Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome. The motion for debate today is…

Introducing arguments

■ Let us come to our first/second/next argument…

■ The first/second reason why we propose/oppose this motion is…

■ We’d like to draw your attention to…

Giving your opinion

Strong

■ We are convinced that…

■ It’s perfectly clear to us that…

Neutral

■ As we see it, …

■ From an ethical point of view…

Tentative

■ We are inclined to think that…

■ We tend to favour the view that…

Disagreeing

Strong

■ We disagree completely!

■ That’s out of the question.

■ We’ve never heard such utter nonsense!

■ We must contradict the ridiculous arguments of the previous speaker.

Neutral

■ We can’t agree with that.

■ We can’t go along with that.

■ We are afraid we have to disagree with you there.

Tentative

■ We appreciate your point of view, but…

■ Do you really think so?

■Yes, but aren’t you forgetting…?

■ That may be true, but…

Supporting your argument

■ Let us give you an example…

■ It’s common knowledge that…

■ Statistics show that…

■ According to experts…

■ Therefore…

Referring to a previous speaker

■ The previous speaker brought up an interesting point concerning…

■ Going back to what the first speaker said…

Interrupting politely

■ Sorry, could I just add something here?

■ If I may interrupt you for a moment, …

Clarifying information

■ I’m not sure I understand what you mean by…

Checking that you have understood

■ Are you suggesting that …?

■ So what you’re saying is…?

■ If I understood correctly, you’re implying that…

Checking that someone else has understood

■ Do you see what I mean?

Summarizing

■ To conclude…

■ To summarize this debate…

■ For all these reasons, we beg you to support/oppose the motion.