Today is the first in a two-part Business English Podcast lesson on using vague language. “Vague” means not clearly defined. For example, if you ask someone what time it is and they say “About 7 or so,” they are being vague. There are lots of reasons to be vague. Sometimes you need to be vague because you don’t know some information or because the information is not important. And sometimes vague language is just more polite.
今天是有關(guān)使用“含糊的語(yǔ)言”的2節(jié)英語(yǔ)商務(wù)播客中的第1節(jié)。“含糊的”意思是不清楚地表達(dá)。比如:如果你問(wèn)別人時(shí)間,他們說(shuō)“大概7點(diǎn)左右”,這就是含糊的表達(dá)。有很多理由來(lái)含糊地表達(dá)。有時(shí)候你需要含糊表達(dá),因?yàn)槟悴恢狼闆r,或那些情況不重要。有時(shí)候含糊的表達(dá)更禮貌。
In these two episodes, we’ll be looking at how to speak in a vague way, but different situations require different styles. You’ll have to use your knowledge of the culture, the people and the situation that you are dealing with to decide which style is most appropriate. Our goal is to give you the communication tools you need to succeed in different environments. In future episodes, we’ll also be looking at other styles of speaking.
在這兩節(jié)中,我們將要學(xué)習(xí)如何含糊地表達(dá),不同的情況需要不同的方法。你必須使用文化知識(shí),你正處理的人和情況來(lái)決定那種方式更合適。我們的目標(biāo)是教給你在不同情形中你需要用到的交流工具。在以后得課節(jié)中,我們也會(huì)學(xué)習(xí)其他的說(shuō)話(huà)技巧。
You’ll be listening to Jen and Mike, two employees at Nexus communications. Jen is inviting Mike to a party.
你會(huì)聽(tīng)到Jen和Mike,兩個(gè)在Nexus工作的雇員。Jen正邀請(qǐng)Mike去參加晚會(huì)。
Listening Questions:
1) What do you think Jen means by “ulterior motive?”
2) Is Mike a computer expert?