Part 12 - Business socialising
This programme was first broadcast in 2001.
This is not an accurate word-for-word transcript of the programme.
In this programme we join Carmela and business English expert David Evans, for the last in theseries of Business Language to Go - the series that brings you the kind of everyday Englishthat you won’t learn from your standard text book.
Carmela: Today we’re looking at business socialising. And as usual I’m joined bybusiness English expert, David Evans. David - how would you describe business socialising?
David: Well I suppose business socialising really means any kind of communication between business people which doesn’t relate specifically to the job that they aredoing at that time. So it could be some colleagues socialising after work, or itcould be people entertaining their customers maybe over a meal or over drinks.
It could be the kind of conversation that happens at a conference（会议） or at somekind of party or social event at which business people are meeting one another.
In fact socialising is often one of the hardest things for business people to do.
Talk about English ? In a meeting or in a presentation there is a clear purpose to the business communication but when you are socialising there are just no rules.
Carmela: But having said there are no rules there are certain expressions that you’ll oftenhear and we’ll be looking at those throughout today’s programme. Let’s joinour first scenario. We’re going to a breakfast meeting of Business NetworkInternational - a group of people from all professions who regularly get together to make business contacts.
CLIPLouise: Oh Hello, you must be Darren Johnston.
Darren: Yeah, hi there. Nice to meet you. You are ...?
Louise: I’m Louise Moore. I think we met last time in Birmingham（伯明翰）.
Daren: Right. Yes of course. Sorry I forgot all about it. That’s right, that was a coupleof years ago wasn’t it.
Louise: Actually Darren, I think there would be somebody that would be really usefulfor you to meet. Let me introduce you to Kevin Hann later. He’s a financialadvisor.
END OF CLIPCarmela: A very typical start to a conversation there. David, can you talk us throughsome of the phrases those two people used.
David: Yes, they used a lot of very good expressions for introducing people or meetingpeople. Right at the beginning we heard her say you must be Darren. She’s using that phrase because she thinks she knows his name, she’s not certain of it but she thinks she does, so she says you must be. Then they remember theprevious time that they met and if you think you’ve met someone before youmight well say I think we met last time in…in Birmingham, in this case. Andthen finally when she wants to introduce the man to somebody else she usesagain a standard phrase - let me introduce you to Kevin, she says.
Carmela: Now let’s hear another conversation. This next one is the kind you might have during a coffee break at a conference.
CLIPCallum: Hi I’m Callum. I don’t think we’ve met before.
John: No, hello I’m John.
C: Pleased to meet youJ: So what line of work are you in?
C: I work in new media … mainly online projects, web design, that kind of thing.
And what about you?
J: Well quite similar to you really. I’m in new media too ... but more on the broadband technology side.
C: Oh broadband, do you know Alison Weaver? She’s also here at theconference. She’s in broadband too.
J: No, I don’t think I’ve met her.
END OF CLIPCarmela: So some similar expressions to the ones we heard earlier. David, can you pickTalk about English ?
David: There was a very good way of introducing yourself to someone you don’t knowthere. The phrase was I don’t think we’ve met before, to which the reply herewas pleased to meet you, a very standard way of greeting someone. I think inthe previous conversation we had the phrase nice to meet you, which again hasexactly the same function. They then move the conversation on when the personasks, What line of work are you in? It’s a very common, a very friendly wayof asking, what’s your job? The other one replied I’m in new media, meaning Iwork in the new media industry. He could have said I’m in sales / I’m ininsurance. And he then returns the question by simply saying What aboutyou….?
Carmela: Now let’s go beyond simple introductions and move on to some phrases that areuseful for asking more detailed questions about people’s jobs.
CLIPMale 1: So…. how long have you been in business?
Male 2: I’ve been in this business for about four or five years now, providing ITsolutions for companies.
Male 1: So what exactly do you do? I mean I know you’ve mentioned IT solutions butwhat exactly do you do?
Male 2: I used to only provide computer training and now I’m also providing databasesolutions and internet solutions by way of web development and setting upnetworks.
END OF CLIPCLIPC: Everyone’s talking about it. Broadband is a very interesting area at themoment. How did you get into it?
J: Well to be honest it happened by accident. I was involved in a project with astrong broadband element and I just sort of fell into it, really. What about you? How long have you been in web design?
C: Well not very long at all, actually. Only about a year. Before that I was ateacher.
END OF CLIPCarmela: Now in both conversations people are going into a lot more detail about their professions and there were lots of questions. Could you isolate some of thequestions we heard there?
David: Well yes, to ask someone to tell you in a little more detail about their job youcan use the question what exactly do you do? This will mean they won’t justsay, I’m a teacher, I’m a web designer or I’m a policeman, they will tell you theway that they spend their working day.
Carmela: And once you’ve actually got a few details about their duties, about the kind ofthings that they do at work, what would be the next logical question to askthem?
Talk about English ? David: Well there we heard the person ask How long have you been in web design?
How long have you….. been in something, again is a good way of moving theconversation on. And the other question that they used to move theconversation on was how did you get into it? In other words how did you startin this particular profession or this particular career?
Carmela: And again we heard someone ask the same question back with that phraseWhat about you? Of course, often the whole point of business socialising is tonetwork and make useful contacts for future possible business. So knowing how to get people’s contact details is extremely important.
CLIPFemale: So what line of work are you in?
Male: I’m actually a VAT consultant （顾问）for a firm of chartered accountants.
Female: Oh really? Do you have a business card I could take?
Male: Yes sure, hold on.
Female: Oh thanks ever so much. Are you on email?
Male: Yes, yeah, I do have email. In fact, I do most of my work via email now. Soit’s actually on the bottom of the card.
Female: Oh sorry. So I’ll be in touch.
Male: OK, that would be great.
Female: Thanks…Male Bye.
END OF CLIP
CLIPJ: Well it was a pleasure to meet you. Your work sounds very interesting. Maybewe could swap some ideas at some point in the future. Can I take yourbusiness card?
C: Yep by all means. There you go.
J: And are you on email?
C: Yes, sorry, that’s, that’s an old one. So the email address is on the back.
J: Well I must go and say hello to a former colleague of mine. Enjoy the restof the conference. I’m sure I’ll see you around, and I’ve got your contactdetails so I’ll be in touch.
END OF CLIPCarmela: Lots of giving out of the all-important business card there and David, therewere lots of useful expressions too. Can you pick out some for us?
David: Yes if you want to maintain contact with somebody I suppose the three keyphrases you need to remember are Can I take your business card?, Are youon email?, and just to show that you are going to maintain the contactremember the phrase I’ll be in touch.
Carmela: Plus we heard an extremely useful expression there that’s a great way of endinga conversation, that phrase I must go and….
David: Yes, that’s a very good way of ending a conversation. You can use all sorts ofdifferent reasons for ending it. I must go and talk to my colleagues, i must go and speak to my boss, I must go and introduce myself to a customer. Any phrase like that will do and it’s a good, polite way of showing that the conversation is over.
Carmela: Many thanks to David Evans for talking us through the expressions used everyday in the workplace. I hope Business Language To Go has equipped you with some quick phrases for those different situations that occur during yourworking day.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑) |