Business Language to go

Talk about English
Business Language To Go
Part 12 - Business socialising
This programme was first broadcast in 2001.
This is not an accurate 1 (精确的)word-for-word transcript 2 of the programme.
In this programme we join Carmela and business English expert David Evans, for the last in the
series of Business Language to Go - the series that brings you the kind of everyday English
that you won’t learn from your standard text book.
Carmela: Today we’re looking at business socialising. And as usual I’m joined by
business 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（涉及） specifically 3 to the job that they are
doing at that time. So it could be some colleagues socialising after work, or it
could be people entertaining（娱乐） their customers maybe over a meal or over drinks.
It could be the kind of conversation that happens at a conference or at some
kind 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.

In a meeting or in a presentation（简报）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 often
hear and we’ll be looking at those throughout today’s programme. Let’s join
our first scenario 4. We’re going to a breakfast meeting of Business Network
International - a group of people from all professions who regularly get together
to make business contacts.
CLIP
Louise: 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.
Daren: Right. Yes of course. Sorry I forgot all about it. That’s right, that was a couple
of years ago wasn’t it.
Louise: Actually Darren, I think there would be somebody that would be really useful
for you to meet. Let me introduce you to Kevin Hann later. He’s a financial
advisor.
END OF CLIP
Carmela: A very typical start to a conversation there. David, can you talk us through
some of the phrases those two people used.
David: Yes, they used a lot of very good expressions for introducing people or meeting
people. 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 the
previous time that they met and if you think you’ve met someone before you
might well say I think we met last time in…in Birmingham, in this case. And
then finally when she wants to introduce the man to somebody else she uses
again 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.
CLIP
Callum: Hi I’m Callum. I don’t think we’ve met before.
John: No, hello I’m John.
C: Pleased to meet you
J: 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 5? She’s also here at the
conference. She’s in broadband too.
J: No, I don’t think I’ve met her.
END OF CLIP
Carmela: So some similar expressions to the ones we heard earlier. David, can you pick

some of them out?
David: There was a very good way of introducing yourself to someone you don’t know
there. The phrase was I don’t think we’ve met before, to which the reply here
was pleased to meet you, a very standard way of greeting someone. I think in
the previous conversation we had the phrase nice to meet you, which again has
exactly the same function. They then move the conversation on when the person
asks, What line of work are you in? It’s a very common, a very friendly way
of asking, what’s your job? The other one replied I’m in new media, meaning I
work in the new media industry. He could have said I’m in sales / I’m in
insurance. And he then returns the question by simply saying What about
you….?
Carmela: Now let’s go beyond simple introductions and move on to some phrases that are
useful for asking more detailed 6 questions about people’s jobs.
CLIP
Male 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 IT
solutions for companies.
Male 1: So what exactly do you do? I mean I know you’ve mentioned IT solutions but
what exactly do you do?

Male 2: I used to only provide computer training and now I’m also providing database
solutions and internet solutions by way of web development and setting 7 up
networks.
END OF CLIP
CLIP
C: Everyone’s talking about it. Broadband is a very interesting area at the
moment. How did you get into it?
J: Well to be honest it happened by accident. I was involved in a project with a
strong 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 a
teacher.
END OF CLIP
Carmela: Now in both conversations people are going into a lot more detail about their
professions and there were lots of questions. Could you isolate 8 some of the
questions we heard there?
David: Well yes, to ask someone to tell you in a little more detail about their job you
can use the question what exactly do you do? This will mean they won’t just
say, I’m a teacher, I’m a web designer or I’m a policeman, they will tell you the
way that they spend their working day.
Carmela: And once you’ve actually got a few details about their duties, about the kind of
things that they do at work, what would be the next logical 9 question to ask
them?

bbclearningenglish.com
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 the
conversation on. And the other question that they used to move the
conversation on was how did you get into it? In other words how did you start
in this particular profession or this particular career?
Carmela: And again we heard someone ask the same question back with that phrase
What about you? Of course, often the whole point of business socialising is to
network and make useful contacts for future possible business. So knowing
how to get people’s contact details is extremely important.
CLIP
Female 10: So what line of work are you in?
Male: I’m actually a VAT 11 consultant 12 for a firm of chartered 13 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. So
it’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
CLIP
J: Well it was a pleasure to meet you. Your work sounds very interesting. Maybe
we could swap 14 some ideas at some point in the future. Can I take your
business 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 rest
of the conference. I’m sure I’ll see you around, and I’ve got your contact
details so I’ll be in touch.
END OF CLIP
Carmela: Lots of giving out of the all-important business card there and David, there
were lots of useful expressions too. Can you pick out some for us?
David: Yes if you want to maintain 15 contact with somebody I suppose the three key
phrases you need to remember are Can I take your business card?, Are you
on email?, and just to show that you are going to maintain the contact
remember the phrase I’ll be in touch.
Carmela: Plus we heard an extremely useful expression there that’s a great way of ending
a conversation, that phrase I must go and….
David: Yes, that’s a very good way of ending a conversation. You can use all sorts of
different reasons for ending it. I must go and talk to my colleagues, i must
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 every
day in the workplace. I hope Business Language To Go has equipped you
with some quick phrases for those different situations that occur during your
working day.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

点击收听单词发音  






1
accurate

  
 


adj.正确无误的；准确的，精确的


参考例句：





He has made an accurate measurement of my garden.他准确地丈量了我的花园。
He is always accurate in what he says and does.他说的和做的总是正确无误。












2
transcript

  
 


n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书


参考例句：





A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。












3
specifically

  
 


adv.明确地，具体地；特别地，特意


参考例句：





The book was written specifically for children.这本书是特地为儿童编写的。
I told you specifically not to do that.我明确地告诉你不要那样做。












4
scenario

  
 


n.剧本，脚本；概要


参考例句：





But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。












5
weaver

  
 


n.织布工；编织者


参考例句：





She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。












6
detailed

  
 


adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的


参考例句：





He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。












7
setting

  
 


n.背景


参考例句：





The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。












8
isolate

  
 


vt.使孤立，隔离


参考例句：





Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。












9
logical

  
 


adj.逻辑(上)的，符合逻辑的；合乎常理的


参考例句：





It is logical that the book is expensive.书贵是很自然的事。
This is undoubtedly logical.这显然是顺理成章的。












10
female

  
 


adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子


参考例句：





We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。












11
vat

  
 


n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶


参考例句：





The office is asking for the vat papers.办事处要有关增值税的文件。
His father emptied sacks of stale rye bread into the vat.他父亲把一袋袋发霉的黑面包倒进大桶里。












12
consultant

  
 


n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生


参考例句：





He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。












13
chartered

  
 


a.特许的，持有特许证的


参考例句：





the Institute of Chartered Accountants （英国皇家）特许会计师协会
The government chartered the new airline. 政府给这家新航空公司颁发了许可证。












14
swap

  
 


n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易


参考例句：





I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。












15
maintain

  
 


vt.支撑；赡养，抚养；维持，保有


参考例句：





He has to maintain a large family on a small salary.他不得不依靠很少的工资养活一家人。
We must do our best to maintain sales at their usual rate.我们要尽力使销售额保持在平日的水平上。