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that at least in the case of smoking, people have made
some innovation. Nowadays they write, “Thank You for Not
Smoking”.

11. Can’t we try to use better terms in other cases also? I am
to the author?be republished
not suggesting that in every case we should say, “Thank you
for ……” We can think of innovative methods to make our orders,
instructions and notices sound more polite, more polished. In
south India, some restaurants are famous for the tasty fare they
©KTBS
offer. Naturally therefore, they have big rush and it is a problem
for the management. In one such restaurant I saw a board, “Don’t
sit here for a long time”. How odd! Can they not say the same
thing in better words? Luckily, I saw in another place a board,
“Please make room for waiting customers”. In yet another place
I saw a notice which read, “Kindly make room for waiting friends”.
Check your comprehension

Share your responses

1. How do you think doctors can improve their image with
their language?
2. What difference do you find in the autorickshaw driver’s
response? Discuss.
3. If we decide to give alms to a beggar, how should we give
Not to
it?
How would public notices need to be changed, according
4.

Pick out any public notice. Try to make it read more polite.
5.

Read on
12. It is our practice to be brief while sending telegrams. Here
again the reason is brevity. We want to save words in order to
cut costs. So if someone wants to request his brother to receive
him at the station he might send a telegram somewhat like this.
“REACHING MUMBAI THURSDAY (STOP) SHATABDI (STOP)
MEET STATION”. Now just for the sake of one single word the
telegram has become totally devoid of any courtesy. What could

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