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ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
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ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao (csrv8@yahoo.co.in)
Professor in English, SITECH, Hyderabad
Abstract
The Business and management is an inevitable part and parcel of the society for which English is 1
the primary source of language. English is the ideal and preferred language in the business
community. Business English is essential for a successful dealing with superiors, colleagues,
subordinates and representatives of other companies from abroad. Business English associated
with the skills that most people need to be able to do their jobs well. Business etiquette makes
communication and negotiation easier.
Key Words: Business English, English for Specific Purposes, Business Communication Skills,
Business Etiquette.
Introduction
The present paper aims at the students of business and management focusing on the importance
of English language needs. The Business and management is an inevitable part and parcel of the
society which may be local, national, international or corporate using English as the primary
source of language.
In the globalised aspect, English is largely used among the people of international business or
world trade. English is globally considered ‘the lingua franca or the language of business,
politics, international relations, culture, and entertainment for so many countries worldwide.
English has become the predominant language of business since the second half of the Twentieth
Century. Business English is therefore considered as being essential for all people who wish to
work in any area of business. English for business is a part or subcategory of the larger field of
English for Specific Purposes (ESP).
The term, English for Business is wider and it represents every linguistic aspect used in the
business areas: accounting, commerce, e-commerce, economics, finance, HR, insurance, IT, law,
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
manufacturing, marketing, production, property, the stock exchange, (international) trade,
transport and the business communication activities: presentations, negotiations, meetings,
correspondence or report writing.
Objectives
• Identifying English language needs and enabling the students to focus on the importance
of English language proficiency in business situations 2
• Helping business-students improve their productive proficiency in English spoken and
written
• Enriching business English vocabulary with self-confidence to communicate effectively
in professional contexts and business environment
• Improving professional etiquette in business negotiations, telephone conversations,
written reports and emails, and professional presentations
Rationale
Globalization has made English a compulsory ingredient of a successful personality as it is an
important tool widely used in international communications all over the world. In the business
world, English is extensively used as the major medium of communication from small business
to corporate entities. English is the ideal and preferred language in the business community. It is
also well known that the students who are good at English language skills can avail themselves
of many employment opportunities in the corporate world.
Business people should be able to communicate in English with a diverse range of customers,
buyers, sellers, suppliers and other business partners because English is the official language of
business no matter where companies are headquartered. Business English is essential for a
successful dealing with superiors, colleagues, subordinates and representatives of other
companies from abroad. In the modern business world there is a great demand for employees
who are able to communicate effectively in English. Therefore, it is to understand that everyone
from university graduates to senior officials have to learn and use English for the smooth running
of work.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
Literature Review
English for Business is considered to be a part of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) because of
its specific character. Dudley-Evans and St. John (1998) provide a more comprehensive
characterization of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) as language teaching designed to meet the
specific needs of the learners through employing effective teaching methodologies and teaching
activities.
3
Definition of ESP (Dudley-Evans, 1997):
Absolute Characteristics
• ESP is defined to meet specific needs of the learners.
• ESP makes use of underlying methodology and activities of the discipline it serves.
• ESP is centered on the language appropriate to these activities in terms of grammar, lexis,
register, study skills, discourse and genre.
Variable Characteristics
• ESP may be related to or designed for specific disciplines.
• ESP may use, in specific teaching situations, a different methodology from that of
General English.
• ESP is likely to be designed for adult learners, either at a tertiary level institution or in a
professional work situation. It could, however, be for learners at secondary school level.
• ESP is generally designed for intermediate or advanced students.
• Most ESP courses assume some basic knowledge of the language systems.
English for business is a part or subcategory of the larger field of English for Specific Purposes
(ESP) with which it shares some basic characteristics with the larger field of ESP. It emphasizes
the purposeful and utilitarian learning of English.
Professional Education and English
Professional education is a course or program, designed for some career, which improves the
knowledge, skills, attitudes, or behaviors of the learners. English is a language of study at the
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
higher level of education used as a medium of instruction in order to acquire the knowledge of
professional or technical subjects more result oriented.
In the field of Business and Management Education, English is essential for understanding the
business background, satisfying the customers, maintaining Public relations, continuing business
correspondences, signing contracts and agreements, conducting and attending meeting
conferences, preparing and analyzing reports, for negotiations and interviews, telephoning skills,
4
for marketing and sales, for finance and banking. So, the students of business are advised to learn
the language to get success in the career.
Business English and General English
Both Business English and General English require the development of fundamental skills of
LSRW- listening, speaking, reading and writing. A good basis of General English enables the
students to communicate effectively. In addition, Business English needs specific vocabulary,
topics and skills used in the workplace in order to communicate accurately. English for Business
focuses on the English language skills necessary to communicate in an increasingly global
business environment.
In general Business English associated with the skills that most people need to be able to do their
jobs well: writing e-mails and reports, making presentations, doing negotiations, using the
telephone, attending and participating actively in meetings or telephone conferences, receiving
visitors, etc. The difference, therefore, is that Business English focuses on the delegate’s job
whereas the aim of General English is to improve all the four skills, regardless of the language
content. However, the business English may not be demarcated from the general English.
Improving Business Communication Skills
In the present scenario the business people try to acquire relevant vocabulary to make an
effective communication that determines the success or growth of the business. They have to
learn the terminology of business and economics. It is to understand that economics is an
interrelated part of business studies. Business units or companies are constantly in need of
employees with strong communication skills. Business communication covers a wide range of
verbal and written communication and it comes into two main categories:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
• Vocabulary- the study of words or terminology of business management and economics
• Functional Language-the study and practice of the language and language skills needed
to conduct various business functions
Study the Following: Some Specific Vocabulary of Business and Economics
Nouns:
5
Nouns (general)
acquisition goods merchandise restructure
agenda growth merger risk
brand incentive niche segment
commodity industry output services
correction inventory projection stock
deadline logistics prospectus strategy
expansion manufacturing report target
Nouns (related to people)
agent competitor franchisee representative
associate creditor labor force retailer
board member director manager shareholder
board of directors employee partner speculator
chairperson employer president staff
chief executive entrepreneur principal vendor
officer
client executive proprietor wholesaler
Nouns (related to money)
Generally more neutral usage
account interest outlay salary
balance investment payroll securities
borrowing invoice purchase speculation
budget margin quotation takeover
capital market receipt transaction
float offer refund valuation
Often used in a positive way
asset commission liquidity sales
bonus dividend profit turnover
capital equity revenue yield
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
Often used in a negative way
bailout debt expense liquidation
bankruptcy deficit insolvency loss
crash depreciation liability overhead
Nouns (related to places or organisations)
agency conglomerate franchise office
branch corporation headquarters outlet 6
cartel division multinational point of sale
company firm network shop front
Verbs:
In the business contextual situations or conversations precise or particular verbs should be used,
instead of using general verbs such as be, do or ‘have, for more specific, dynamic and credible.
Study the following two sentences:
They should have good communication skills. (General)
They should communicate effectively. (More specific)
Here is a list of some more particular verbs:
advertise develop invest recruit
allocate distribute invoice refund
authorise diversify maintain report
calculate employ manage respond
compete establish negotiate run
control estimate produce streamline
delegate fund promote supply
deliver improve purchase target
Adjectives and adverbs:
Using Adjectives and adverbs is also helpful in giving more detail.
Understand the following:
Adjective (opinion) + adjective (fact) + noun
demonstrative adjective adjective noun
These innovative marketing strategies
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
Verb + adverb (opinion)
noun (specific) Verb adverb
The President lead inclusively
Adverb (opinion) + adjective (opinion)
noun ‘be’ verb adverb adjective
Fordism was increasingly influential
7
The list below has some useful adjectives. Note that many of these can also be commonly used
as adverbs or turned into adverbs (*).
affordable* efficient* offshore regional*
annual* financial* operating regulatory
commercial* fiscal primary* retail
competitive* fixed productive* secondary
core holistic* profitable* solvent
depreciable* international* prosperous* strategic*
domestic* logistical* publicly* underperforming
economic* niche quarterly* volatile
Word families
Using different word forms of a particular ‘root’ word can also give your expression more
variety:
Noun Verb Adjective Adverb
product, production produce productive productively
competitor, compete (+ competitive competitively
competition preposition)
profit profit (+ profitable profitably
preposition)
Phrases frequently used In Business Meetings
The following phrases may be used:
• to get someone's attention
Excuse me. May I have your attention, please?
May I have a word with you? Excuse me for interrupting.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
• to give opinions and to ask for opinions
I feel that ... In my opinion...
I strongly believe that… I’m certain that…
How do you feel about...? What do you think of ...?
Do you have something you would like to add?
8
What do you think about this?
• to agree or disagree
I totally agree with you. I totally agree.
Exactly right. / Exactly! Absolutely right!/ Absolutely!
I feel exactly the same way. I have to agree with ...
Unfortunately, I see it differently. I really don’t agree.
I have to disagree. I'm afraid, I can't agree
• to make suggestions or advice
I would suggest … I would recommend ….
It’s my suggestion … It’s my advice …
The best solution Let’s...
• to make or ask for clarifications
Let me spell it out... Is it true that …?
Have I made that clear? Let me put it another way.
I'd just like to repeat that.... Do you mean that …?
What exactly do you mean? Could you explain how it….?
• to make a request for information
I'd like you to... ` Would you mind...
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
I wonder if you could tell me … Could you lend me a hand with…?
Could I please get the details? May I please get the details?
Professional Etiquette in Business Negotiations
A business person needs professional etiquette at the time of his/her business dealings. Business
etiquette makes communication and negotiation easier. Etiquette means protocol, manners or
guidelines that control an individual to behave in the society or people around us. Based on 9
custom and morality, business people have to follow some social guidelines and manners in
business situations. It is to note that proper manners and business etiquette are essential to the
success of the business negotiations.
Study the following etiquette
• Be punctual: you should be punctual that your counterpart might expect. So, you are
regarded as a responsible and reliable person.
• Greetings/salutations: you should know how people greet one another and remember
about polite and appropriate greeting.
• Degree of Formality: With due respect, you have to behave as your counterparts expect,
getting and giving each other business cards and gifts.
• Eye Contact: you have to get direct eye contact politely with your counterpart.
• Style and proper language: you should be conscious about the style and proper language
with polite forms.
• Emotions and Body Language: you have to express your emotions that are polite,
amicable and intelligible, with proper and polite gestures presented body language.
Conclusion
English is globally considered ‘the lingua franca or the language of business, politics,
international relations, culture, and entertainment for so many countries worldwide.
English is essential for understanding the business background, maintaining Public relations,
continuing business correspondences, conducting and attending meeting conferences, preparing
and analyzing reports, for negotiations and interviews, telephoning skills, for marketing and
sales, for finance and banking.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
ISSN: 2456-8104 http://www.jrspelt.com Issue 2, Vol. 1, 2017
Thus, the students of business and management are advised to learn the language to get success
in the career. They have to enrich business English vocabulary with self-confidence to
communicate effectively and to improve professional etiquette in business negotiations,
telephone conversations, written reports and emails, and professional presentations.
10
References
http://library.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1924153/Vocabulary.pdf
http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/teaching-business-english
Maia KUTATELADZE, Historical Review of Business English as a Part of English for Specific Purposes ( Journal
in Humanities; ISSN 2298-0245; Volume 3, Issue 1, 2014)
C. S. Rao, English for Science and Technology: A Learner Centered Approach (http://www.esp-
world.info/Articles_42/Documents/Rao.pdf)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
English for Business and Management
Prof. V. Chandra Sekhar Rao
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