The emergence of international business English is not only the inevitable result of social development, but also the inevitable trend of the development of English linguistics. 2/kloc-at the beginning of the knowledge-based economy in the 20th century, international business English, as one of the important functional variants of English, is increasingly showing great vitality: its application and popularization are obvious. This is an indisputable fact and a gratifying phenomenon.
By introducing the connotation of business English, this paper discusses the important role of business English in the trade field and the necessity of learning business English well. Finally, it puts forward the new prospects and new tasks of business English under the new trade situation in the future.
Keywords: business English; Connotation; Necessity; Function; challenge
Generally speaking, business English refers to the English people use in business activities, which is usually called business English in western countries. In 1980s, Business English was mainly used in foreign trade in China, so it was also called Foreign Trade English. Now, with the globalization of economic development, China will be integrated into the international economic life in a wider field and at a deeper level, and our foreign exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and education are becoming more and more frequent. Modern business English has given it a new concept. It should not only refer to China's foreign trade business English, but also cover the English application made by Chinese people in foreign exchange activities in various fields and at all levels. The connotation and extension of modern business English have been expanded.
As a functional variant of English, International Business English has its social and historical origins. In the middle of the 20th century, human society began to enter an unprecedented era of rapid development of science and technology and economy. The rapid development of science and technology and economy has promoted the development of the whole human society. This new situation of social development naturally needs a language that can be used internationally to reflect and communicate the scientific, technological and economic development of people all over the world.
As far as the development needs of business English are concerned, more than 300 colleges and universities in China have set up courses or disciplines of international business English. Several major economic and trade colleges and foreign language colleges have recruited not only junior college students and undergraduates majoring in business English, but also graduate students with international business English as their research direction. Therefore, "International Business English" has become a familiar term in universities in China. In recent years, the feedback from the talent market shows that with the continuous development of China's reform and opening up, the gradual improvement of the market economic system and the acceleration of the application for joining the WTO, the demand for high-quality foreign trade talents in the whole society has increased sharply, among which international business English graduates from universities are welcomed by foreign trade enterprises. This information has not only inspired foreign economic and trade colleges that have set up international business English majors to step up their efforts in running schools, but also prompted many foreign language colleges to step up their efforts in English teaching reform. While continuing to run the original English language and literature major well, we will set up international business English major at different levels to meet the social demand for compound English talents.
Business English majors are very knowledgeable, mostly in the fields of economy, trade, finance, public relations, management and marketing. Its essence is the comprehensive application of business background, professional knowledge and language. Business English is specially used for international business activities. It is based on the basic English grammar and vocabulary, and has unique language features and unique language phenomena. Business English is mostly used in international trade, and it is an indispensable communication language for both parties. With the rapid development of international economy, people pay more and more attention to business English, especially the common language of professional business English. Business English is characterized by specialization, colloquialism and strong pertinence. In the final analysis, practicality is the biggest feature of business English. Improve not only the ability to speak and language, but also the ability to live and survive. Therefore, business English course should not only improve English level and ability, but also teach students a western business management concept, work psychology, and even how to deal with foreigners, how to cooperate with them, work methods and their living habits. Business English is contained in cultural concepts to some extent.
With the increasing number of foreign-funded enterprises, more and more China people are starting to work in foreign companies. Although the nature of work and workplace are different, they will all encounter the same problem, that is, how to engage in foreign-related economic and trade activities and how to occupy a place in foreign-funded enterprises. Language differences are undoubtedly the biggest obstacle these people encounter. Besides life English and academic English, business English is the most important communication tool for modern foreign-funded enterprises.
Objectively speaking, business English is straightforward, precise and meaningless. However, working language and work are complementary, and everyone needs to work or face work, so it has become a language for survival and development, which is indispensable for everyone. Foreign countries regard standardized business English as the standard for selecting employees from non-English-speaking countries, which has become a thoroughfare to enter international enterprises. It can be seen that to solve this problem, we must implement the "specialization" of business English.
Language is a special kind of human capital, and it is a necessary upfront investment for people to acquire other skills. Learning business English is an economic investment. People decide to learn a second language, mainly because of economic factors. In western developed countries and multinational companies, people engaged in international trade activities generally have high cultural literacy, and many of them graduated from well-known business schools. Among them, to carry out public relations activities in a timely manner is to strengthen foreign contacts and exchanges through language. For example, Wu Yi, deputy prime minister of the State Council, China, was originally the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and her English level increased her popularity. At the same time, the staff in the foreign trade industry should carefully consider the distortion of using trade terms to avoid losses caused by improper use of trade terms. So a certain knowledge of business English can get twice the result with half the effort. The pattern of global integration in the future will bring us closer and closer.
In the process of import and export of goods, the application of business English is very important in the process of transaction negotiation and signing. Transaction negotiation is a business negotiation between buyers and sellers by letter or orally, which is the key stage of the whole business. When using business English in all aspects of transaction negotiation, the content should be clear and complete, and the text should be concise and clear. When drafting a written contract, we should use standard business English, follow a relatively fixed clause pattern, adopt idioms as much as possible, and strive to be accurate, rigorous and concise, leaving no loopholes and avoiding differences in interpretation. In this process, the correct understanding and application of import and export commodity terms will directly affect the economic benefits and even the success or failure of commodity trading.
The application of business English is an important part of business activities, such as business letters and telegrams. It is a business conversation by mail or other telecommunication facilities (telephone, telegraph, telex, Internet, etc.). ), often used as evidence of business practices or contracts. Business letters are usually for specific purposes, such as selling goods, pricing, consulting information, claims, business greetings, etc. Therefore, to sum up, business English is promising.