Stating a position, conceding, refuting and concluding - the phrases and structures that carry a Belarusian argument.
I can state, support, concede, refute and conclude in written Belarusian argument.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Безумоўна, гэта каштуе дорага. Аднак кошт бяздзейнасці вышэйшы.
Certainly it is expensive. The cost of doing nothing, however, is higher.
Наўрад ці гэта адзіная прычына.
This is hardly the only reason.
Часта сцвярджаюць, што гэта немагчыма.
It is often asserted that this is impossible.
Хутчэй за ўсё, справа ў фінансаванні.
The matter is most likely one of funding.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
| Move | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Stating a position | На маю думку, я лічу, што; варта прызнаць, што |
| Supporting | па-першае; пра гэта сведчыць; напрыклад; як паказвае |
| Conceding | безумоўна; нельга не пагадзіцца, што; праўда, што |
| Turning | аднак; разам з тым; тым не менш; і ўсё ж |
| Refuting | наўрад ці; гэта не так; аргумент не вытрымлівае крытыкі |
| Concluding | такім чынам; з гэтага вынікае; падсумуем |
The strongest standard shape is a concession followed by a reversal, and it is worth drilling as a unit: Безумоўна, гэта каштуе дорага. Аднак кошт бяздзейнасці вышэйшы. Granting the opposing point first is what makes the reversal land, and an argument that concedes nothing reads as unserious.
An argument that states everything at maximum strength persuades nobody. The scale:
Whether you are reporting a view or endorsing it must be visible: Прыхільнікі гэтага меркавання лічаць..., Часта сцвярджаюць, што..., Як мяркуе аўтар... The verb сцвярджаць in particular signals that you are not vouching for the claim - the same distinction the journalistic article makes.
Written argument in Belarusian is more formal than in modern English: longer sentences, more explicit connectors, and no first person singular in academic contexts. In journalism the first person plural is normal and does argumentative work by including the reader.
Apply this grammar in C2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesTypical errors: stating every claim at full strength, and presenting the opposing case only to dismiss it without stating it fairly.
Stating every claim at maximum strength
Grade it: магчыма, верагодна, хутчэй за ўсё.
Not stating the opposing case fairly
The concession is what makes the turn work.
Blurring reported and endorsed positions
Сцвярджаюць signals you do not vouch for it.
Ending by restating the thesis
The conclusion says what follows.
Безумоўна, гэта каштуе дорага. Аднак кошт бяздзейнасці вышэйшы.
Certainly it is expensive. The cost of doing nothing, however, is higher.
Concede, then turn - the standard strong shape.
Наўрад ці гэта адзіная прычына.
This is hardly the only reason.
<em>Наўрад ці</em> refutes without asserting the opposite.
Часта сцвярджаюць, што гэта немагчыма.
It is often asserted that this is impossible.
<em>Сцвярджаць</em> reports without endorsing.
Хутчэй за ўсё, справа ў фінансаванні.
The matter is most likely one of funding.
A graded claim rather than a flat one.
Такім чынам, з гэтага вынікае адзін вывад.
One conclusion therefore follows from this.
Two conclusion markers together, standard in formal writing.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in C2 course exercises