Anh Ngữ sinh động bài 230
Ðây là Chương Trình Anh Ngữ Sinh động New Dynamic English bài 230. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả. Trong phần đầu bài học, ta nghe lý do tại sao bà Graham bác đề nghị mua người máy rô-bô của hãng International Robotics. Ms. Graham rejected the proposal to buy robots from International Robotics. She has two reasons.=bà cho biết hai lý do. One reason is that she does not like to build new warehouses for spare parts.=bà không muốn xây thêm xưởng chứa đồ phụ tùng. I can’t make any guarantees that the proposal will get through.= tôi không thể bảo đảm rằng đề nghị sẽ được chấp thuận. Guarantee vừa là danh từ vừa là động từ. Riêng guarantee, nếu là danh từ, còn có một chữ tương đương là warranty. I guarantee (promise) that the fight will be on time=tôi cam đoan là máy bay sẽ cất cánh đúng giờ. All parts are guaranteed against failure for a year.=bảo đảm các bộ phận chạy tốt trong 1 năm. These home loans are guaranteed by the government=những món nợ mua nhà này được chính phủ bảo đảm. This vacuum cleaner comes with a 3-year guarantee (=warranty).=cái máy hút bụi này được bảo đảm (có bảo hành) ba năm. Let me see if I understand you correctly on this=xin cho tôi hỏi lại để hiểu rõ ý ông/bà. I can certainly understand you concerns=tôi hiểu rõ mối lo ngại của bà. Maybe we can come up with a solution to the problem.=có thể chúng ta sẽ tìm ra cách giải quyết vấn đề khó khăn.
Cut 1
Review. Discussion: Elizabeth and Gary
Eliz: Now let’s listen to our next conversation
This conversation takes places at the end of the business lunch.
Mr. Epstein, Ms. Graham, and Mr. Blake have just finished their meal.
Gary: The main language functions we’ll hear in this conversation are OFFERS, CLARIFICATIONS, and PROMISES.
The conversation begins with Mr. Epstein offering coffee to Ms. Graham and Mr. Blake.
Eliz: OK. Let’s listen.
Dialog: FIB Dialog, Business Lunch
Larry: Dialog
Epstein: Well, that was a pretty good meal.
Graham: Mmm, it was delicious.
Epstein: Would anyone like some more coffee? Shirley?
Graham: Not for me. No, thank you.
Blake: Yes. I’d like a little bit more please.
Epstein: Okay. There’s the waiter.
Waiter, could we get another cup of coffee over here, please?
Thank you.
Blake: Okay. Ms. Graham, let me see if I understand you correctly on this.
Now, your basic problem is that we at International Robotics cannot provide adequate maintenance or spare parts quickly enough. (không thể cung ứng bảo trì đầy đủ hay gửi phụ tùng thay thế nhanh chóng kịp khi cần.)
Graham: Yes. That’s right.
That’s my main concern.
Blake: Okay.
Now you’ve rejected the proposal that we use your warehouse for storage space for spare parts.
Graham: Well, not entirely, Mr. Blake.
Let me clarify that a little.
Space is limited, and it would depend very much on the quantity of parts, the size, etc. (chỗ chứa có giới hạn và còn tùy nhiều vào số lượng phụ tùng và cỡ lớn của phụ tùng thay thế)
I would need a lot more detail on that.
Blake: I can certainly understand your concerns.
I’m going to put this information in a report after I fax Beijing.
Graham: Okay.
Blake: And I’ll have the report ready for you tomorrow.
And maybe we can come up with a solution to the problem.
Graham: Okay. Well, that sounds fine.
Even then, Mr. Blake, I can’t make any guarantees.
You know, we’ve never done business with a Chinese company before, so it’s quite an undertaking. [it’s an important business project, một công việc kinh doanh quan trọng)]
Blake: Oh, I can certainly understand.
Graham: So I hope you will understand.
Blake: Sure.
Graham: Okay.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, quí vị nghe và lập lại. Trong phần này, quí vị sẽ nghe thí dụ về chức năng: Request (yêu cầu): Waiter, could we get another cup of coffee over here, please? Offer (mời): Would anyone like some more coffee? Confirming understanding (hỏi lại cho chắc): Let me see if I understand you correctly. You don’t have a warehouse here to store spare parts, is that correct? Promise (hứa): I’m going to put this information in a report after I fax Beijing.=tôi sẽ viết chi tiết này trong bản tường trình sau khi tôi gửi điện thư về Bắc Kinh (hãng International Robotics là một hãng Trung quốc). You’ll have my answer by the end of the week=bà sẽ có câu trả lời của tôi trước cuối tuần này.
Cut 2
Language Focus: Listen and Repeat: Functions
Larry: Listen carefully.
Eliz: Would anyone like some more coffee? Shirley?
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Not for me. No, thank you.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Yes. I’d like a little bit more please.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Waiter, could we get another cup of coffee over here, please?
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Okay. Ms. Graham, let me see if I understand you correctly on this.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Let me clarify that a little.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I can certainly understand your concerns.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’m going to put this information in a report after I fax Beijing.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Even then, Mr. Blake, I can’t make any guarantees.
(pause for repeat)
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, ta nghe cuộc thảo luận giữa Elizabeth và Gary về đoạn nói chuyện giữa ông Blake và bà Graham. The question centers around maintenance and spare parts.=vấn đề xoay quanh chuyện bảo trì và phụ tùng thay thế.
Provide with. Ms. Graham asked Mr. Blake to provide her with more details =bà Graham yêu cầu ông Blake cho bà biết thêm chi tiết.To take risk=liều lĩnh, có ý mạo hiểm. A risk-taker=người chấp nhận rủi ro. Ms. Graham is not a risk-taker=bà Graham là người thận trọng. Enter this forest at your own risk=ai vào rừng này nếu có nguy hiểm thì ráng chịu.
Impressed by: có cảm tưởng tốt về ai, cảm kích, cảm phục. Mr. Epstein is impressed by the quality of their engineering.= ông Epstein rất cảm kích về phẩm chất chế tạo (máy rô-bô) của họ. You passed the bar at first try? I’m quite impressed! Bạn thi lần đầu mà đỗ ngay kỳ thi hành nghề luật sư ư? Tôi phục lắm! The headmaster was impressed with the students’ knowledge.= Ông hiệu trưởng rất thán phục sự hiểu biết của học sinh.
Cut 3
Discussion: Elizabeth and Gary
Eliz: Mr. Blake begins by summarizing the basic problem, as he sees it.
Gary: That’s right. The problem centers around maintenance and spare parts.
Gary: Ms. Graham clarifies her position about storing spare parts and she asks Mr. Blake to provide her with more details.
Eliz: Yes.
Gary: And Mr. Blake confirms his understanding of each point and then promises to prepare a report for her.
Eliz: Do you think that Mr. Blake will sell his robots to Ms. Graham?
Gary: It’s hard to say.
Ms. Graham has never done business with a Chinese company.
And she doesn’t seem to be the kind of person who likes to take risks.
Eliz: Mr. Epstein wants to do business with Mr. Blake’s company.
Gary: Definitely. He is very impressed by the quality of their engineering.
And he believes Mr. Blake will be able to provide a satisfactory plan for aftersales service.
Eliz: Well, in future programs, we’ll see what happens in these negotiations.
Gary: I’ll be looking forward to that.
Eliz: Thank you, Gary.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Bây giờ quí vị nghe một câu rồi nhận ra đó thuộc chức năng nào: offer, confirming understanding hay promise. Và học thêm một chức năng là qualifying: Even then, Mr. Blake, I can’t make any guarantees=ngay nếu ông có cung cấp phụ tùng thay thế và huấn luyện cách dùng máy rô-bô đi nữa, tôi cũng không thể cam đoan là sẽ mua của hãng ông. To qualify=nói dè dặt, nói rõ thêm để giới hạn điều mình đã nói. The diplomat qualified his statement by saying that “the peace process will take some time.” Nhà ngoại giao sửa đổi lời đã tuyên bố và dè dặt thêm rằng “tiến trình hòa bình phải cần một thời gian.” The mechanic said: “Your car will be fixed by noon today, that is, if we don’t find any more problems.”=người thợ máy sửa xe hơi nói rõ thêm: “Xe của bà đến trưa sẽ xong; nghĩa là nếu chúng tôi không thấy còn chỗ nào trục trặc nữa.” (The mechanic is qualifying his promise). Xin nghe rồi nhận ra loại chức năng ngôn ngữ nào.
Cut 4
Focus on Functions: Name that Function!
Larry: Name that Function.
Gary: Now let’s focus on Language Functions.
We’re going to review some important language functions.
These expressions are very important for conducting business in English.
Elizabeth, you’ll try to name the language function.
Eliz: OK. I’ll do my best.
Gary: OK, let’s begin.
These expressions all come from the discussion at the end of the business lunch.
Let’s listen first to Mr. Epstein.
Gary: Is he requesting something or is he offering something to someone?
Gary: Let’s listen.
Epstein: Would anyone like some more coffee? Shirley?
Gary: Let’s listen again.
Epstein: Would anyone like some more coffee? Shirley?
Eliz: Well, he says “Would anyone…”
Would anyone like more coffee…?
That’s an offer.
Gary: That’s right. Mr. Epstein is offering coffee to Ms. Graham.
Now let’s listen to Mr. Blake.
He’s speaking to Ms. Graham.
Is he agreeing with her… or is confirming his understanding?
Blake: Okay. Ms. Graham, let me see if I understand you correctly on this.
(pause)
Gary: Let’s listen again.
Blake: Okay. Ms. Graham, let me see if I understand you correctly on this.
Eliz: He says “Let me see… if I understand you correctly.”
I think he’s confirming his understanding.
Gary: Good. He’s checking to be sure that he has understood correctly.
OK. Here’s Mr. Blake again.
Is he making a promise–saying that he will do something–or is he making a suggestion?
Blake: I’m going to put this information in a report after I fax Beijing.
Eliz: Can I listen again?
Gary: Sure. Here it is again.
Blake: I’m going to put this information in a report after I fax Beijing.
Eliz: OK. He says “I’m going to…”
He’s making a promise.
He’s promising to make a report for Ms. Graham.
Gary: That’s right.
Would you like to try one more?
Eliz: OK.
Gary: This is Ms. Graham.
Is she promising–saying that she will do something–or is she qualifying–saying that she may not be able to do something.
Graham: Even then, Mr. Blake, I can’t make any guarantees.
Eliz: Could I hear it one more time?
Gary: OK.
Graham: Even then, Mr. Blake, I can’t make any guarantees.
Eliz: Hmmm. Let’s see.
She says that she can’t make any guarantees.
She may not be able to come to an agreement with Mr. Blake.
I think she’s qualifying.
Gary: Yes. She can’t promise that they will come to agreement.
She is qualifying her position. (bà ấy sửa đổi lập trường cho rõ nghĩa thêm)
(short pause)
These language functions are very important in doing business in English.
These expressions will help you make a good impression.
Eliz: They’ll also help you express yourself more clearly.
Gary: Yes. Clear communication is extremely important in business. [Diễn tả ý tưởng minh bạch là điều vô cùng quan trọng trong thương trường.]
That’s why you should confirm and clarify information as much as possible.
Eliz: Gary, thank you so much for your helpful comments about business language and culture.
Gary: Thank you, Elizabeth. I always enjoy being on this show.
MUSIC
FIB Closing
Eliz: Well, our time is up. Tune in again next time for Functioning in Business. See you then!
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Quí vị vừa học xong bài 230 trong Chương Trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Ðộng New Dynamic English. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả và xin hẹn gặp lại trong bài học kế tiếp