BUSINESS ENGLISH AND ITS IMPORTANCE

BUSINESS ENGLISH AND ITS IMPORTANCE

Different situations demand of us to perform differently (in terms of language). So it is quite obvious that when we talk about the world of business we will find a kind of English that is used for business purposes. Though it is to be mentioned that English as a language is not different from Business English. The difference is only at the rate at which some language features of English in terms of sentence structure, grammar and style that suit the purpose in a business situation are used. This kind of English is known as Business English.

For instance, in a business situation some English words, sentence structures and styles of English
language are more common as they help in getting the desired result. It is to be, however, noted that
Business English as such is not as much distinguishable in oral communication as in written
communication. In oral communication it may be used to build interpersonal relations, to give
presentations, for negotiations, in meetings, etc. In this chapter we will be discussing Business English for effective writing. Good business English is required for writing letters, reports, memos, minutes, etc.

With India emerging as a global player in the world of business and trade and multinational companies investing heavily in India, we find corporate houses emerging in great numbers. Thus, we cannot ignore the skills one requires to be successful in the corporate world, as many of you may find yourself with jobs in corporate houses. Apart from the other skills -soft skills, interpersonal skills, academic qualification, technical skills-from the language point of view, you should definitely be aware of the kind of English used in this sector. Awareness of Business English will make you a better communicator in the sense that you can use the kind of English that the (business) situation demands.

A skillful communicator should be will aware of how to use language for different purposes and achieve the desired goal. For instance, you may know how to write a letter but may not be aware of the principles of a good business letter, as you may not know the kind of vocabulary and sentence structures used in such letters. As a result you may not be able to perform at your peak, with misunderstandings and ambiguity hindering your communication process.