商务英语：误解

 　　Feifei: Hello and welcome to another episode¹ of 6 Minute English with me Feifei.

　　Neil: And me Neil.

　　Feifei: How are you Neil and what are we talking about today?

　　Neil: I’m very well, and today we’re talking about misunderstandings. A famous French writer once said that "Language is the source² of misunderstandings" and with me in the studio³ today are colleagues⁴ Conrado and Stephani, who have come in to tell us all about a misunderstanding they had recently. Conrado and Stephani, welcome.

　　Stephani: Thank you.

　　Conrado: Thank you.

　　Neil: So, tell us about your story.

　　Conrado: Well, we work in the same company, but in different offices. And one day I was speaking to Stephani on the phone, and I asked her a question, and she didn’t know the answer, so she said "hang on".

　　Stephani: ‘Hang on’ means⁵ wait. I wanted him to wait while I found the answer.

　　Conrado: But I got confused⁶, I thought ‘hang on’ was the same as ‘hang up’, and ‘hang up’ means ‘put the phone down, finish the phone call’

　　Stephani: So when I came back with the answer, he was gone! So I called him back and told him the answer, then he asked another question, so I said ‘hang on’ again, and again he was gone! Three times I had to call him back!

　　Conrado: I didn’t understand why she was getting angry with me. She got really angry actually, before we sorted it out.

　　Neil: Hang up, hang on… That’s a really good one!

　　Feifei: If only you’d had Business Betty there to help…

　　Neil: Ah Business Betty. (The door opens) Ooh here she is now.

　　Neil / FF: It’s Business Betty!

　　BB: Hello!

　　Neil: Hello Betty and may I say you’re looking absolutely fantastic as ever.

　　BB: Thank you Neil and how can I help you?

　　Neil: We need some tips on avoiding misunderstandings.

　　BB: Certainly. If language is the source of misunderstandings, the best way to avoid misunderstandings at work is to check what people mean when they’re talking to you. There are several ways to do this. You can simply say "What do you mean by that?"

　　Neil: What do you mean by that?

　　BB: That’s right. Or you can tell the person what you think they mean, in your own words. Say "Do you mean…?"

　　Neil: Do you mean…?

　　BB: Or "So, are you saying…?"

　　Neil: So, are you saying…?

　　BB: Or "Correct me if I’m wrong, but do you mean…?"

　　Neil: Correct me if I’m wrong, but do you mean…?

　　BB: Good Neil. You can say "Sorry, I’m not sure if I got that. Are you saying…?"

　　Neil: Sorry, I’m not sure if I got that. Are you saying…?

　　BB: Or you can ask the other person to explain what they mean. Say something like "Sorry, what exactly do you mean by that?"

　　Neil: Sorry, what exactly do you mean by that?

　　BB: Or say "Sorry, could you go over that again?"

　　Neil: Sorry, could you go over that again?

　　BB: "Could you expand on that?"

　　Neil: Could you expand on that?

　　BB: And finally, another way to avoid misunderstandings is to check that the person you’re talking to has understood you. Just ask them! Say something like "Is that clear?"

　　Feifei: Is that clear?

　　BB: Or, after an explanation, say "Does that make everything clear?"

　　Feifei: Does that make everything clear?

　　BB: And never forget the golden⁷ rule of avoiding misunderstandings - if in doubt, ask! It’s better to ask now than make a mistake later.

　　Neil: Thanks Betty.

　　BB: You’re welcome. Bye!

　　Neil/FF: Bye!

　　(Door closes)

　　Neil: She’s so good… don’t you think so, Conrado and Stephani? Don’t you think she’s brilliant - Business Betty?

　　C & S: Oh yes!

　　Feifei: Well that’s very good because we’re about to put it to the test!

　　Neil: Yes Conrado and Stephani. Let’s imagine that you’re back there now in your offices you’re having this conversation that got you into so much trouble. But this time use some of Betty’s tips and see if you can get it right.

　　Feifei: Does that make sense? Have another go at the hang on / hang up conversation, but this time do what Betty suggested. OK? Are you ready?

　　C & S: Yes, we are ready.

　　Role-play

　　Conrado: Ring ring!

　　Stephani: Hello, Stephani speaking.

　　Conrado: Hello Stephani, it’s Conrado. I just wanted to ask if the reports are ready.

　　Stephani: The reports… do you mean the monthly⁸ reports or the yearly⁹ reports?

　　Conrado: Oh sorry, yes, the monthly reports.

　　Stephani: The monthly reports. OK, just hang on.

　　Conrado: Sorry, I’m not sure if I got that. Are you saying "Wait a minute"?

　　Stephani: Yes, just hang on a couple of minutes please.

　　Conrado: OK.

　　Stephani: (A couple of minutes' later) Hello Conrado, sorry to keep you waiting. The monthly reports are nearly ready - the accountant¹⁰ is finishing them this afternoon.

　　Conrado: Correct me if I’m wrong, but do you mean they’ll be ready by the end of today?

　　Stephani: Yes, they’ll be ready by 5 o’clock today. Does that make everything clear?

　　Conrado: Oh yes, thanks, that’s great. Thank you very much!

　　Stephani: You’re welcome.

　　Feifei: And that’s the end of today’s role-play!

　　Neil: How was it for you two?

　　Conrado: It was great, much much better.

　　Stephani: Yes, I wish we’d done it that way in the first place.

　　Neil: That’s good and that’s it.

　　Feifei: Are you saying that we’ve reached the end of today's programme?

　　Neil: Yes we have, so thanks for helping¹¹ us out today Conrado and Stephani. It’s goodbye from all of us. Join us again for another 6 Minute English!

　　All: Bye!

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 source   

n.来源，水源；原始资料

参考例句：

• They mentioned you as a good source of information.他们说你消息灵通。
• All works of art have life as their source.一切文艺创作都来源于生活。

3 studio   

n.摄影棚（场）；演播室；画室；工作室

参考例句：

• They are building a modern studio.他们正在修建一座现代化的摄影室。
• He had to spend long hours in the recording studio.他不得不花很长的时间在录音室里。

4 colleagues   

n.同事，同僚( colleague的名词复数 )；同人

参考例句：

• He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision. 他想与他的同事先商议一下再作出决定。
• She is held in high esteem by her colleagues. 她深受同事的敬重。

5 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

6 confused   

adj.困惑的，烦恼的

参考例句：

• They asked so many questions that they confused me.他们问了许多问题，都把我弄糊涂了。
• A wise man is never confused.智者不惑。

7 golden   

adj.金的，含金的，可贵的，金色的，贵重的，繁盛的

参考例句：

• My teacher is an Englishman with golden hair.我的老师是一个金黄色头发的英国人。
• It's a balmy evening,the golden time for lovers.这是一个暖和的夜晚，是恋人们的黄金时光。

8 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

9 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。

10 accountant   

n.会计员，会计师

参考例句：

• I'm an accountant at a foreign bank.我在一家外资银行做会计。
• He was satisfied with his earnings as an accountant.他对自己会计师的收入很满意。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。