What They Really Mean: Questions As Warnings

Sometimes the things people say
don’t mean what we think they do.
and that can lead to misunderstandings.
Thinking about context is essential
if you want to understand what people really mean.
Mark’s not very good at this,
but luckily I’m here to help him
work out what people really mean.
Chloe: Are you really wearing that hat?
Claire: Of course Mark is wearing that hat,
it’s on his head.
So why is Chloe asking
him that question.
Any ideas?
Let’s watch and find out.
Mark: Well, I’ll be off to Dave’s party.
Chloe: Oh right…. Where did you get that hat?
Mark: I just picked it up down the market.
Chloe: Have you looked in the mirror?
Mark: Well, of course
it means that I can really admire my new hat.
Chloe: Are you really wearing that hat?
Mark: Well…
it’s on my head isn’t it?
So yes, I am wearing this hat.
Well, I’m off to the party.
Chloe: What’s up?
Mark: Everyone was laughing at my hat.
They said it looked ridiculous.
Why didn’t you tell me?
Chloe: But, I tried.
You did?
I don’t understand.
Mark: I don’t understand.
Chloe said that she tried to warn me,
but all she did was just ask me some questions.
Claire: No, Chloe did…
those questions she asked…
they weren’t really questions.
Mark: What do you mean?
Claire: These were questions used as warnings.
Chloe wasn’t looking for an answer.
In fact, the answers were obvious.
She knew that he was wearing that hat,
she could see that he was looking in the mirror.
She was just trying to draw his attention
to the hat…
and it’s a lot politer than saying
take off that hat, it’s ridiculous!
Now, these questions are written in the same way
as normal questions,
so to spot them try asking yourself this:
is this information that
the other person really needs?
Are the answers obvious?
Listen for their tone of voice,
questions that are used as warnings
often use the same intonation as a statement.
Listen to:
Where did you get that hat?
And
Where did you get that hat?
In this case, Chloe was warning about
his hat looking silly,
but they can be about lots of different things
the weather,
time,
people’s ideas.
You’ll see more examples
at the end of the programme.
Mark: I feel like I want to try that again.
Chloe: Are you still off to Dave’s party?
Mark: Yes… I’m off now.
Chloe: Are you really wearing that hat?
Mark: You don’t think it’s a good idea?
Chloe: Erm…
I’m not sure it’s your colour.
Mark: Oh…
um…
Alright, well…
Maybe I’ll leave it at home then.