The Power of Understatement
In high-stakes business negotiations, a direct statement can sometimes feel too blunt. Instead, you can use deliberate understatement (a rhetorical device known as litotes) to express strong affirmation in a more diplomatic, calculated way.
To do this in Dutch, take an adjective that begins with the negative prefix on- (the equivalent of un-, in-, or im-) and place the negator niet (not) in front of it.
| The takeover is not unthinkable. | De overname is niet ondenkbaar. |
| A counteroffer during the takeover is not unusual. | Een tegenbod bij de overname is niet ongebruikelijk. |
Emphasizing Through Negation
When you use this double negation, you are not just saying something is neutral or average. Saying a detail is niet onbelangrijk (not unimportant) usually means it is highly important. It softens the delivery while drawing special attention to the point.
| Even though a counteroffer is risky, it is not unimportant. | Al is een tegenbod risicovol, het is niet onbelangrijk. |
| This transaction has been ongoing for a month and is not unimportant. | Deze transactie duurt al een maand en is niet onbelangrijk. |
| As we assume, the transaction is not unattractive. | Naar wij aannemen, is de transactie niet onaantrekkelijk. |
Evaluating Risks and Options
This structure is especially common when evaluating risks, conditions, or financial metrics. It allows you to concede a point or validate a scenario without sounding overly enthusiastic or making absolute promises.
| A low profit margin is not unthinkable. | Een lage winstmarge is niet ondenkbaar. |
| The expected profit margin is actually not unrealistic. | De verwachte winstmarge is eigenlijk niet onrealistisch. |
| That condition is not unusual for a takeover. | Die voorwaarde is niet ongebruikelijk voor een overname. |