Alternatively, a more assertive intervention uses a falling intonation, inviting the
other person to stop and listen:(Ja) dazu kann ich etwas [\]sagen.
Ah, I can tell you something on that score.(d) Where the person interrupting wishes to challenge or amend what has just been
said, the following might be used (in addition to those listed above):Aber [/]wissen Sie...
But you know...Das [/]stimmt zwar, aber...
That’s right, but...A direct contradiction of what has just been said can be achieved by using Nein! or
(where one wishes to correct a negative assertion) Doch! (possibly together with
schon):First speaker:Sie machen eigentlich keine Fehler.
You don’t really make any mistakes.Second speaker:Doch, ich mache schon Fehler.
That’s not so. I do make mistakes.121 Delivering monologues (formal speaking)
See^58 (p. 146); see also 60.6c (p. 163) on ‘Welcoming’; 66.5b (p. 198) on proposing a
toast; 66.7–8 (pp. 199–201) on congratulating and celebrating; 67.1–2 (pp. 201–4) on
expressing thanks.Situations in which a person speaks on his or her own without interruption are usually
formal or semi-formal occasions, e.g. giving a speech (eine Rede halten), a lecture
(einen Vortrag halten), a report or ‘paper’ (ein Referat halten). Some of the
vocabulary and structures given in this section are found only in such formal or
semi-formal contexts, and are identified es ‘formal’.121.1 Formally introducing a speaker
The usual way to hand over formally to a speaker is jmdm. das Wort geben.
Alternatively, das Wort haben can be used:(Damit) gebe ich Ihnen, Herr Johnson, das Wort.
(And with that) I hand over to you, Mr Johnson.Herr Johnson, Sie haben das Wort.
Mr Johnson, over to you.121
Delivering monologues