VOA慢速英语2011--Business English Speakers Can Still Be Divided by a Common Language

Economics 1 Report - Business English Speakers Can Still Be Divided by a Common Language

经济报道 - 英语技能对商业人士尤为重要

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。



Business is the most popular subject for international students in the United States. At last count, twenty-one percent of foreign students at American colleges and universities were studying business and management.

商科是美国国际学生最热门的专业领域。在最近的一次统计中，美国院校21%的国际学生就读的是商业管理专业。



The Institute of International Education in New York says engineering is the second most popular field, in case you were wondering.

位于纽约的国际教育协会表示，工程是第2大热门专业领域，如果你想知道的话。



Thomas Cossé is a professor of marketing 2 and business at the University of Richmond in Virginia. He says international students who want to study business need to have good English skills -- and not just to study at his school.

Thomas Cossé是弗吉尼亚州里士满大学营销与商务专业教授。他表示，想读商科的国际学生必须有良好的英语技能--不仅仅是他所在的学校这么要求。



THOMAS COSSÉ: "At least among business schools, more and more worldwide are requiring that their students take English, and they are teaching more in English."

THOMAS COSSé：“至少在商学院中，全球越来越多的商学院要求其学生学习英语，这些学校也越来越多的使用英语教学。”



But the world has more non-native speakers of English than native speakers. As a result, Americans working with foreign companies may need to learn some new English skills themselves.

但全球母语非英语者多于英语母语者。因此，在外企工作的美国人本身可能也需要学习一些新的英语技能。

English is a common language for business, but communication is not just about language

At the University of Richmond, teams of graduate students work with companies seeking to enter the American market. The students learn about writing market entry studies. The reports are written in English. But Professor Cossé tells his students to consider who will read them.

在里士满大学，一些研究生就职于一些寻求进入美国市场的公司。这些学生在学习用英语撰写市场准入研究报告。但Cossé教授提醒学生们要考虑到谁会阅读这些报告。



THOMAS COSSÉ: "My students have to write the report in such a way that it can be understood by someone who is an English speaker but not a native English speaker."

Thomas Cossé：“我的学生撰写报告时必须使用一种能让讲英语的母语非英语人士看得懂的方式。”



For example, he tells his students to avoid jargon 3 and other specialized 4 terms that people might not know in their own language. This can be good advice even when writing for other native speakers.

例如，他告诉学生们避免使用母语非英语人士无法理解的术语和专业词汇。即使是给英语母语者写报告，这也是个好建议。



But effective communication involves more than just words. Kay Westerfield is director of the international business communication program at the University of Oregon.

但有效沟通涉及的不仅仅是词汇。Kay Westerfield是俄勒冈大学国际商务交流项目主任。



KAY WESTERFIELD: "If you just have the language awareness 5 or the skills without culture, you can easily be a fluent fool."

Kay Westerfield：“如果你只有语言意识或技能，却缺乏文化背景，你很容易成为一个语言流利的傻瓜。”



Cultural intelligence means the need to consider local behaviors in everything from simple handshakes to speaking to large groups.

具有文化背景的智慧意味着考虑到当地的一切行为举止，从简单的握手，到向一大群人发言等方方面面。



Still, Kay Westerfield says the ability of local workers to speak English is becoming more important to companies looking to move operations to other countries. Or, as she puts it, to "off-source."

然而，Kay Westerfield表示，对于希望将业务迁入其它国家的公司来说，本土雇员的英语能力越来越重要。或者用她的原话来说就是，本土雇员的英语能力对资源转移越来越重要。



KAY WESTERFIELD: "While cost remains 6 a major factor in decisions about where to off-source, the quality of the labor 7 pool is gaining importance, and this includes English language skills."

Kay Westerfield：“当成本仍是决定资源转移方向的一个重要因素时，劳动力素质的重要性就会不断增强，其中就包括英语语言能力。”



Also, she says English skills often provide a competitive 8 edge for business students when they seek jobs.

此外，她表示，英语技能通常能为商科学生求职提供一种竞争优势。



KAY WESTERFIELD: "As one business student in West Africa put it, 'English is a lifeline.'"

Kay Westerfield：“正如西非一名商科学生所说，英语就是命脉。”



And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. You can read and listen to our programs and find activities for English learners at voanews.cn. We're also on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at VOA Learning English. I’m Steve Ember.