首先,職場口語比通用英語在遣詞造句上更有講究,這毫無疑問是正確的。你可以試想,在中文的語言環(huán)境中,職場話術也不同于日常用語:這其中利益的牽扯,專業(yè)性的展現(xiàn),與對方的親疏關系都會影響你的措辭。英語同樣如此??傮w而言,在詞匯方面,職場口語會比日??谡Z高一個檔次,也就是會適當多用一些“大詞”。例如: (GE: General English BE: Business English)
-I got your email last night. (GE)
-I received your email last night. (BE)
-There are a few things on the agenda that I would like to talk about with you. (GE)
-There are a few items on the agenda that I would like to discuss with you. (BE)
-Mary has given me my travel plans. (GE)
-Mary has provided me with my itinerary. (BE)
這些“大詞”平時要怎么積累呢?其實在學習通用英語時,已經(jīng)有一定基礎了,上面出現(xiàn)的receive, item, discuss, provide, itinerary你發(fā)現(xiàn)自己也已經(jīng)全部掌握,只是可能沒有意識到它們是get, things, talk about, give, travel plan的升級版。
當然,還有更多更專業(yè)的商務詞匯,這就取決于How much you’re exposed to these words了。如果你有閱讀商務英語系列讀物,或英文財經(jīng)類新聞的習慣,那這些詞匯的積累也不會構成很大的學習負擔。
除去這種 “大詞”外,職場口語中大量保留了日常口語中的“小詞”,它們的含義與用法并沒有本質改變,只不過將使用背景從生活場景切換到商務場合。例如:
Our job is to make sure that your shipment can get to you without delay. (to arrive)
Could you just stop it! The noise really gets to me. (to affect/ influence adversely)
Richard, shall we go through all the details one more time? (to examine)
I wish I had thought this through. I’m sorry. (to consider thoroughly)
Emma will be back at once, hang on for a second. (to wait)
…So fellows, it’s been a tough year and it’s a great achievement to hang on to what we already have. (to keep)
這些“小詞”,看的可就是通用英語積累的功力啦。不過,我們每個人都有相對固定的工作場合,人際環(huán)境。久而久之,也會形成相對固定的語言體系,不用糾結“積累到什么時候才是個頭?”。
“大詞”“小詞”僅僅是相對而言,“大詞”可以小用,“小詞”也可以有大用途。職場中影響詞匯使用的因素有很多:自己的專業(yè)身份,商務場合,對方伙伴的個性,之間的關系,談論的話題,商務目的等等。為了避免用錯詞,除了基本的商務社交禮儀知識外,我們也需要更全面地學習詞匯,包括:發(fā)音,詞性,常見搭配,場景(聯(lián)想使用背景),變體,同義詞。 你學對了嗎?