Standing (a little) Aside From What You’re Saying
Help students identify phrases that indicate that what the speaker is saying should not to be taken too seriously or literally. This can also be a useful tool for teaching students how to distance themselves from controversial or contested ideas.
Title: Standing a little aside from what you’re saying
Author: John Swales
Date: August, 2003
Summary: These phrases communicate to the listeners that the speaker is not to be taken too seriously at this moment, not too literally. When speakers use this kind of phrase they stand a little aside from what they are saying; they detach, distance or disassociate themselves somewhat from the actual words. Look at these extracts and decide which contain a stand-aside, and which don’t. Then examine proper placement of these phrases in discourse.
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