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Radio-interview met een deskundige

Radio interview: the expert who avoids the question

C1 · Advanced · ≈ 27 min

Listening to an expert's answers at C1 means distinguishing between three things: a direct answer, a cautious answer, and avoiding the question. All three sound equally polite. In this recording, the host asks about the same thing four times, and the guest avoids answering in four different ways — and finally gives one direct answer. Find that moment.

  • Question 1: what exactly does the host want to know?
  • Question 2: what words does the guest use to avoid the question the first time?
  • Question 3: which question does he answer directly?
  • Question 4: what can't he say and why?
  • Question 5: what does he advise listeners at the end?

Radio — Hoe veilig is het drinkwater?

Morning radio show: a water quality expert answers questions from the host.

  1. Janine
  2. Wouter
  3. Janine
  4. Wouter
  5. Janine
  6. Wouter
  7. Janine
  8. Wouter
  9. Janine
  10. Wouter
  11. Janine
  12. Wouter
  13. Janine
  14. Wouter
  15. Janine
  16. Wouter
  17. Janine
  18. Wouter

How to avoid answering

Formula and what it means
FormulaEnglishWhat it actually means
Dat is een goede vraag …good question…most often — a pause before avoiding the question
Laat ik beginnen met …let me start with…changing the subject to a convenient one
Ik zou het anders willen formuleren.I would phrase it differentlyrefusal to answer “yes” or “no”
Daar kan ik geen uitspraken over doen.I cannot comment on thata prohibition or someone else's area of responsibility
Laat ik het zo zeggen: …let me put it this way: …a hint instead of an answer
Daar wil ik me niet op vastleggen.I don't want to commit myself to thatthere will be no deadlines

Not all caution is evasion. Over de lange termijn is de wetenschap het nog niet eens is an honest answer: there really is no data.

When the answer is genuine

Signs of a direct answer

  • Sign

    a direct “yes” or “no”

    Example from the transcript

    Nee. Dat is niet nodig.

    Why it's an answer

    without reservations

  • Sign

    explicitly ruling out reservations

    Example from the transcript

    en dat zeg ik zonder enig voorbehoud

    Why it's an answer

    the speaker notes their confidence

  • Sign

    the degree of confidence is stated

    Example from the transcript

    met vrij grote stelligheid

    Why it's an answer

    it's clear how confident they are

  • Sign

    acknowledging someone else's argument

    Example from the transcript

    Dat is een terecht punt, en daar kan ik wel iets over zeggen

    Why it's an answer

    this is followed by the content

  • Sign

    specific advice

    Example from the transcript

    lees de jaarlijkse waterkwaliteitsrapportage

    Why it's an answer

    something can be done

Interview words

  • zich zorgen maken

    to worry

  • tot stand komen

    to arise, to come about

  • de wettelijke norm

    the legal standard, statutory limit

  • met stelligheid

    confidently, emphaticallyformeel

  • de geruststelling

    reassurance

  • onderbouwen

    to substantiate, to back up

  • uitspraken doen over

    to comment on

  • een brief op de mat

    a letter on the doormat (official notice)

  • zonder enig voorbehoud

    without any reservation

  • het kraanwater

    tap water

  • een terecht punt

    a fair point

  • herzien

    to revise

  • zich vastleggen op

    to commit oneself to

  • het trajectpl. trajecten

    process (the whole course of a procedure)

  • meegeven

    to give (advice to take away)

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