Paraphrase — AQA GCSE Bengali
Teaching note based on the AQA specification.
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Paraphrase explained
Paraphrase is a communication strategy: when a learner cannot recall a precise Bengali word, the learner keeps the message going by describing or rephrasing it in acceptable Bengali rather than falling silent or switching to English.
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The source gives two illustrations. If the word for 'field' is forgotten, the learner can say something like 'the place where crops grow'; if the ordinal 'fifth' is forgotten, the learner can say 'number after four'. The aim is to convey meaning to a sympathetic native speaker, who can infer the intended word from the description. In an exam this strategy is assessed on how effectively the message is communicated, so the paraphrase must fit the sentence grammatically and stay in Bengali. A good paraphrase is specific enough to be understood, keeps the sentence flowing, and avoids distorting the meaning.
Your focus
- Describe a forgotten word in acceptable Bengali so the intended meaning is clear.
- Select a paraphrase that fits the grammar and sense of the surrounding sentence.
- Explain why staying in Bengali communicates better to a sympathetic native speaker than switching to English.
Paraphrase exam tips
Marking Points
- Keeps the intended meaning clear by describing the forgotten word in acceptable Bengali rather than abandoning the sentence.
- Uses a specific description that a sympathetic native speaker could match to the intended word, such as naming what grows in a field.
- Maintains grammatical fit so the paraphrase slots into the sentence without breaking its structure.
- Stays within Bengali rather than substituting an English word for the forgotten item.
- Preserves the original sense of the message so the paraphrase does not change what is being communicated.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Practise describing common nouns and numbers in Bengali so you have ready alternatives when a word will not come.
- 💡Keep the paraphrase short and specific; a clear description communicates better than a long, vague one.
- 💡Read the whole sentence back after paraphrasing to check it still makes sense and stays grammatical.
- 💡Remember the listener is sympathetic and will infer meaning, so aim for clarity rather than a perfect single word.
Common Mistakes
- Abandons the sentence when a word is forgotten; keep going by describing the word in Bengali instead.
- Switches to an English word as a substitute; describe the meaning in Bengali so the message stays in the target language.
- Offers a vague description that a listener could not match to the intended word; make the paraphrase specific enough to be understood.
- Lets the paraphrase break the grammar of the sentence; check that the description fits the surrounding structure.