Writing a 40-60 word delay message to a host
A candidate on a school exchange in Aanaar must write a 40-60 word message in Inari Sámi to their host, Márjá. The bus from Rovaniemi is delayed by 70 minutes because of snow. The original arrival time was 17.10; the new estimated arrival is 18.20. The candidate knows how to greet, how to say 'I am coming', and how to write clock times, but does not know a word for 'late'. They have a pocket dictionary that gives a Finnish loanword for 'late' but no Inari Sámi example. The host will leave for a meeting at 17.30 unless told otherwise. The candidate has 15 minutes and may use a dictionary but no grammar checker. The task requires: an apology, the new time, and a request for the host not to wait. The candidate is unsure whether to use the loanword, to paraphrase with times, or to write a shorter message that omits the apology.
1. Should the candidate use the Finnish loanword for 'late' or paraphrase with times? Justify.
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Paraphrase with times is safer. The candidate cannot verify that the loanword is understood in Inari Sámi or that it fits the required case; a wrong loanword could obscure the key information. The message can convey lateness by contrast: 'I am not coming at 17.10. I am coming at 18.20.' This uses known forms and makes the delay explicit. The apology can be expressed with a known phrase or a simple 'sorry' if the candidate has seen it; if not, the time contrast plus a request not to wait carries the practical meaning. In a basic written task, communicative success and accuracy of known forms score better than an unverified lexical guess. If the loanword is used, it should be flagged as uncertain only in the candidate's notes, not in the message.
2. Draft a plan for the 40-60 word message that meets the three requirements and stays within the word limit.
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Plan four moves: (1) greeting to Márjá; (2) apology and reason (bus/snow) in one short clause; (3) time contrast: original 17.10, new 18.20; (4) request: 'don't wait' / 'go to your meeting'. Keep one idea per clause. Use digits for times to save words and avoid spelling errors. A workable skeleton: 'Tiervâ, Márjá. Sorry - bus is late because of snow. I am not coming at 17.10; I am coming at 18.20. Please don't wait; go to your meeting. Kittâ.' The candidate should count words after drafting; if over 60, cut the reason ('because of snow') before cutting the new time or the request. If under 40, add a closing greeting, not extra invented vocabulary.
3. The host might leave at 17.30. How should the candidate sequence the information to make the request work?
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Put the new time before the request, and make the request explicit. If the message opens with a long apology, the host may not reach the key line before leaving. The most important line is 'I am coming at 18.20; don't wait.' The original time should appear only as a contrast, not as the first time in the message, to avoid confusion. The apology can be short and initial. In a 40-60 word limit, sequence: greeting → apology → new time → contrast with old time → request → closing. This order mirrors the host's decision: they need to know whether to wait. Culturally, a direct request is acceptable with a host family in Finland; excessive indirectness could cost words and clarity.