Business Spotlight 08.2019

LANGUAGE 55

Fotos: iStockphoto/iStock.com; privat

6/2019 Business Spotlight

Answers

Here are the answers to the

questions we asked:

1. IM communication tends

to mirror spoken communi-

cation in style. There are im-

provements that Tony could

make in each case:

Example A: Tony’s style in

the first example is too formal

and doesn’t mirror Marina’s

informal style. He could write,

“What do you need it for?” in-

stead of “For what purpose do

you need it?” and “No problem”

instead of “I don’t have any ob-

jections”.

Example B: In this case, To-

ny’s message is too long and

contains too much informa-

tion. Also, his sentences are

very long. He should have

written more sentences and

shortened them.

Example C: Tony doesn’t give

Sara time to answer his ques-

tions. Firing multiple ques-

tions in quick succession is

not helpful or effective.

2. In Example C, there is a risk
   that Sara won’t answer one or
   more of Tony’s questions or
   that she won’t send him the
   budget forecast.

KEY TIPS!

Use instant messaging (IM) for short

messages. If you’ve got something longer to

say, consider sending an email instead.

• Write like you speak. Don’t be too formal.


• 
  

  As with spoken dialogue, give the other person
  time to respond.

  
  


• 
  

  IM can be very useful for group
  communication, as replies from people will be
  seen by all, in chronological order. This is not
  always the case with email.

  
  

Useful phrases for

short written

communication

A. Asking for something

⋅ Do you have...?

⋅ Could/Can you send me...?

⋅ Could/Can you tell me about...?

⋅ Are you free to meet later?

⋅ Have you got/seen...?

⋅ Hi, team. Does anyone know

where/how...?

B. Providing information

⋅ I’m attaching...

⋅ Can I send it to you later?

⋅ You should ask... I think s/he’ll

know.

⋅ You’ll find the info in the...

⋅ Sorry, I don’t know.

C. Using short forms

⋅ RU there? = Are you there?

⋅ AFAIK = as far as I know

⋅ IMO = in my opinion = I think

⋅ BTW = by the way

⋅ Thx = thanks

⋅ CU later = see you later

⋅ TTYL/ttyl = talk to you later

D. Ending your messages

⋅ I’ll send you an email.

⋅ Hold on, I’ll call you.

⋅ OK. See you at 11.

⋅ I’m back on Friday. I’ll talk to you

then.

⋅ Cheers!

⋅ See you!

Instant message:

keep it short

attach sth. [əˈtætʃ]

, etw. anhängen

by the way

[)baI DE (weI]

, übrigens

cheers

[tʃɪəz] UK ifml.

, tschüss;

hier etwa: Gruß

fire multiple questions

(at sb.)

[)faɪə )mʌltIp&l

ˈkwestʃənz (Ät)]

, (jmdn.) mit vielen

Fragen bombardieren

hold on

[)həʊld (ɒn]

, warte(n Sie) einen

Moment

instant messaging

[)ɪnstənt ˈmesɪdʒɪŋ]

, Nachrichtensofort-

versand

mirror sth. [ˈmɪrə]

, etw. widerspiegeln

succession

[səkˈseʃ&n]

, (Ab-)Folge

Grammar

Direct and indirect

requests/suggestions

You can make requests and

suggestions in various ways.

Being indirect is often seen

as more polite, though there

might be a risk of misunder-

standing if you are too indirect.

Direct requests/suggestions

are clearer and more efficient

but might be seen as too direct

or even as impolite. Look at

these two indirect examples

from the messages and their

more direct alternatives:

Indirect requests

⋅ Can you / Do you think

you can send me the

budget forecast today?

⋅ Could we meet next week

for you to...?

Direct requests

⋅ Send me the budget

forecast today, please.

⋅ Let’s meet next week for

you to...