Module 1: Lesson 3 - Business English Language

Question 1

Name the 3 types of BE.

Answer 1

General English: There are multiple contexts in which business people use General English, such as for travel arrangements, making small talk, a business meeting over lunch, etc.

General Business English: specifically related to the world of business, however, most proficient users can understand it. It is used across a wide range of industries and is not limited to specialist vocabulary.

English for Specific Purposes (ESP): involves highly specialized language that typically corresponds to one narrow field. People from outside that speciality, including native English speakers, would have difficulty understanding these interactions.

Question 2

What are language functions?

Answer 2

• Language functions describe the purpose for which language is used, which is generally practical and applied to real-life situations.
• It refers to what the language means in a specific context. A language function refers to what the language as a whole does, rather than the grammatical aspects which make it up.
• For a Business English student, language functions might include examples such as negotiations, making predictions, giving a presentation, and so on.
• Functional language allows students to communicate effectively in the context in which they need to interact.

Question 3

What are some common functions learned when studying BE?

Answer 3

• Giving a presentation
• Predicting trends
• Negotiating

Question 4

Name 3 elements that provide business / communication competence.

Answer 4

Linguistic competence: refers to our innate ability to understand and use our native language in order to express ourselves (grammar, vocabulary, and phonology).

Discourse competence: deals with language in use. It focuses on how we organize language structures to form coherent and cohesive written or spoken communication (appropriate register or degree of formality).

Intercultural competence: refers to our ability to communicate effectively with people of multiple cultural backgrounds, both in our home country and abroad (degree of formality, use of direct or indirect language, acceptability of open criticism).