What is business English?
Business English is everything. So how do you define something that is everything? You can't. Business English, or business language, is something different for everyone. For some people business English is the vocabulary and manners of expression found in different worlds of business such as finance, commerce, business administration, corporate communication, marketing, management, advertising, event management, and customer relations. As well, business English is vocabulary and manners of expression found in business media such as magazines, newspapers, business news broadcasts, and online publications. For some people, business English is the language that is specific to a particular profession.
Business English is the communication of professions and workplaces. This communication includes meetings, presentations, interpersonal communication - internal and external communication - negotiations, written communication, small talk, and socializing. Business English means something different to everyone.
Before continuing, let's point out three misconceptions about "business English" or "business language".
- Business English is always formal. False We adapt our language to suit each situation. This has to do with register.
- Business English follows prescriptive grammar rules. False One only has to listen to businesspeople speak in order to find out that certain prescriptive notions of correct English, such as using "whom" and always using "may" for requests, are not requirements for the makings of business English or "good business language".
- Business English is only for people who "do business". False Business English, or business language, is for everyone. Business English is the language people use for professional purposes at work.
"I'll shoot you an email". That's one example of business English or business language because people in business say it, but, of course, it hardly begins to define business English or business language. Business language is the language that we use for business. That's good, but which business? Of course, business English is the language of our businesses, not just the language of business. Business English means something different to everyone.
Teaching Business English
It's important to know about the language people use for their professions, businesses, and work. This information allows us to teach business English. Because we need this information in order to teach business English, it means that there is no such thing as a "good" business English course book or method book in the business of teaching business English. Authors of such books and the language schools that use them seem to think that it's possible to capsulize the idea of "business English". This is like trying to pour an ocean into a container the size of a pond - impossible. They think there's a way to inform the teaching of business English by prescribing what teachers should teach, how they should teach, and what course participants should learn. These books are not "business English". They promote a kind of "one-size-fits-all" thinking that is entirely impractical and way off the mark when it comes to what is practical in English language learning and English language teaching. They may be okay for some people, but they're certainly not okay for all people.
Business English is the communication of professions and workplaces. Business English means something different to everyone.
- Meetings - participating and leading
- Speaking to workplace colleagues and professional associates
- Presentations
- Internal communication
- External communication
- Telephone Communication
- Negotiations
- Speaking to clients and customers
- Speaking with managers and supervisors
- Speaking to vendors and customer service
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Writing - Email, Reports, Business Letters
♦ What does business English mean to you?
♦ What are your thoughts on business English?
♦ Tell us what you think.
$ In the context of your business, what does business English mean to you? Tell us about it! We want to know!