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Aug 3, 2010 23:06
13 yrs ago
16 viewers *
English term

thank you for keeping me informed

English Social Sciences Government / Politics British diplomacy
Shame on me! I’m not sure I understand something that’s been written by a compatriot. My only excuse is that although he and I theoretically share the same mother tongue, I don’t ‘do’ embassy-speak…

Context (as far as I can divulge it here in public):

A report on situation X was submitted to a high-ranking British diplomat in country Y.
Over the past several decades the UK has had an ambivalent attitude towards the general subject matter of the report, especially in the country where this diplomat is based. However, the same subject matter is known to be one of the diplomat’s areas of specialist interest, from the days when he was climbing the ladder in the FCO.

In his acknowledgement of receipt of the report, the afore-mentioned diplomat wrote:

"I write to acknowledge receipt of (report about X).
As you know, (reasons for not becoming officially involved in the matter), but thank you for keeping me informed.
Regards,
(diplomats signature)"

Question:
Is that last phrase “but thank you for keeping me informed”:
- A simple neutral reinforcement of the acknowledgement of having received the report?
- An invitation to send updates on the situation as and when there are fresh developments in the subject matter?
- Please don’t bother us again with this stuff, chum.

Enlightenment welcome!

MediaMatrix
Responses
4 +14 [reinforcement of the acknowledgement without objecting to further updates]
4 or 'thank you for bringing this to my attention'
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Sabine Akabayov, PhD

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Discussion

Andreas Hild Aug 6, 2010:
Hi mediamatrix, I thought this was very clear, when I wrote that the diplomat is trying to say "we are interested", without saying it (because of the aforementioned constraints). Not objecting means in this context being "interested". By no means does it mean spam, etc. Hope this makes sense. All the best, Andy

PS: Yes, indeed it deliberately avoids a time frame to indicate gratitude without being pined down that this gratitude actually extends to future action, which would be against current policy of none involvement.
Stephanie Ezrol Aug 5, 2010:
I think the answer to the question in embedded, so to speak, in your explanation. If the diplomat is interested in the area and is saying "keeping me" that certainly seems to strongly imply past and future -- and his own interest would fit with that. Add to that the twists and turns in every nation's foreign policy establishment and you see the interest of the individual and perhaps a larger group (perhaps out of power for the moment) with which he is affiliated.
mediamatrix (X) Aug 4, 2010:
Sorry to bore you, but ... ... as exemplified here:
"Sheila Wilson: Re Tony's note, I think this form is used deliberately to avoid any time frame - could be past and future"

... and despite 11 agrees (so far) for Andy's "reinforcement of the acknowledgement without objecting to further updates" (which is as vague as the diplomat's original FCO-speak) I haven't yet got a clear response to the underlying question:
What will the diplomat do if I send an update to the report? - Bin it (and write me off as a nutter)?
or:
Read it and 'thank me again for keeping him informed'?
Stephanie Ezrol Aug 4, 2010:
In American diplomatic speak this answer certainly fits your choice of thanks and keep keeping me informed.

Responses

+14
18 mins
Selected

[reinforcement of the acknowledgement without objecting to further updates]

This is standard phrase in British English in formal correspondence.

It is often followed by a statement of approval (e.g. "it was much appreciated"), directly inviting further correspondence, which in this specific case was not as outlined.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 mins (2010-08-03 23:55:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think, it is noteworthy that the correspondences ends with this phrases. As if there is an ellipsis for that what cannot be said in this situation (e.g. I look forward to corresponding with you). I sense, it is an indirect and subtle way of saying "we are interested".
Peer comment(s):
agree Nesrin : Agree, but I think that in this context, the diplomat's main concern was to outline his "reasons for not becoming officially involved in the matter". So the letter was meant to clarify that, and to acknowledge receipt of previously sent info - I think!
1 hr
Thank you!
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : He appreciates being kept up to date informally.
3 hrs
Thank you!
agree Maja Basara
5 hrs
Thank you!
agree Peter Nicholson (X)
6 hrs
Thank you!
agree Tony M : I think it is really poor EN for: "thank you for having kept me informed" in this way
7 hrs
Thank you!
agree Jack Doughty
7 hrs
Thank you!
agree Sheila Wilson : Re Tony's note, I think this form is used deliberately to avoid any time frame - could be past and future
7 hrs
Thank you!
agree Rolf Keiser
7 hrs
Thank you!
agree Yunas Halim
9 hrs
Thank you!
agree Nicole Y. Adams, M.A.
14 hrs
Thank you.
agree Helen Genevier : with Sheila
19 hrs
Thank you.
agree Paula Vaz-Carreiro
1 day 10 hrs
Thank you.
agree Mark Nathan
1 day 11 hrs
Thank you.
agree Phong Le
2 days 10 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to one and all."
18 hrs

or 'thank you for bringing this to my attention'

Depending on the context the sentence could imply that the contact is somewhat defensive about what you have told him ie he thinks you are hinting at some impropriety or breech of protocol.
Peer comment(s):
neutral British Diana : I don't think this is necessarily implied
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
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