ABSTRACT
Diplomatic communications come in a number of different forms, both spoken and written. They occur at the apex of political systems when heads of state come together in formal summits, but they are also a feature of routine, day-to-day discussions between ambassadors, less senior diplomats, and other officials, sometimes reflected in so-called notes verbales. This chapter looks at diverse forms of diplomatic communication: face-to-face, in written texts, and via mass media. It examines some peculiarities of language used in diplomacy and takes up specific issues of interpretation and translation. The chapter explores the question of what may be gained through looking at insights from the Natural Semantic Metalanguage approach and from the evolving discussion of ‘Minimal English’. In the sphere of diplomacy, there have often been brilliant practitioners who have been superbly accomplished linguists as well.
