經理人英文力

管理階層的英文能力跟其他人有什麼不同？我們直接看實例

下方是部門經理寫給直屬長官的電話會議交辦事項確認函

經理午安

對於稍早您在電話會議中的指示做以下整理:

現階段進行中的案子裡, 客戶Ａ列為優先處理名單, 為第一排序.

關於年終的部門提案 您這邊已經有初步想法. 待七月會安排相關會議 ,請各位同仁先行專注在手邊的執行計畫.

確認無誤後請您回簽, 將於明日告知部門同仁

Julie

英譯一：

Afternoon Dr Antonio

I just want to make sure I understand what you mean in the conversation which we had earlier.

You said client A’s project is our first priority and it has to be taken before anything else.

About the end year proposal, you already have something in mind therefore, we can focus on the experiments we have on hand. We can talk about it after July.

Can you please confirm these two points so I can inform the rest who did not make the meeting and make sure I don’t get you wrong.

In appreciate

Julie Chen

英譯二：

Afternoon Dr. Antonio

This letter is to confirm our conversation made earlier today over the phone.

You instructed that Client A is labeled of the essence prior to others projects on hand.

Regarding the year-end proposal, we shall not spare a lot of our time on it as you have a draft in mind. An ideal timing for it would be sometime after July.

If there is any mistake, please let me know before tomorrow so I can announce that.

Julie

第二篇文章 是由Julie的秘書潤稿過的 文字和句型很得體 充分顯現Julie錢沒白花 秘書英文造詣很好 Julie描述主管看到信件後並沒有回覆 後續又問了是不是哪個部份需要再做修改 主管沒同意 也沒說那邊不好

我刪掉幾個字 請他在寄一次

Afternoon Dr. Antonio

This letter summerises is to confirm our conversation made earlier today over the phone.

You instructed that Client A is labeled of the essence prior to others projects on hand.

Regarding the year-end proposal, we shall not spare a lot of our time on it as you have a draft in mind. An ideal timing for it would be sometime after July.

If there is any mistake, please let me know before tomorrow so I can announce that.

After reviewing this letter, you may call me for any necessary changes.

Julie

說真的,都一路到一級主管了, 英文應該不會是績效的絆腳石. 簡報有人代筆, 書信可以有人代寫, 會議可以請人翻譯, 需要自理的可能是打球, 品酒 ,投資, 這些社交話題. 「坦白說請個金秘書CP值比較高, 自己學勞心勞神加上自信心受挫... 」

但是這不代表可以置身事外,讓金秘書全權處理! 第二篇英譯, 以翻譯的角度來看. 文章用字句型口氣皆得體. 代表Julie錢沒白花 ,秘書英文能力很好, 但是為什麼主管置之不理呢? 育智提供的版本只刪除幾個字, 其實整體來看明確度削弱了,稍顯不足, 不如第二篇來的明確細緻. 所以大多數語言使用者來說, 不是首選.

可是這幾字是其實是讓 Mr. Antonio 混身不舒服的關鍵！

這封書信的字裡行間充滿的一個訊息“你的裁示” “遵照您的意思” 字面上看起來誠惶誠恐, 但是安東尼先生也許心裡想的是“用字這麼精準明確 .如果客戶端之後有什麼閃失？ 年終提案出狀況？ 那我不就是該死的那一個!!"

管理人員的語言訓練, 不再只是強調用字優美,架構完整度. 這個金秘書做得到. 更多是在考量對方的立場, 猜測對方的動向. 例如最後一句 if there is any mistake, please let me know是大多數善用英文的人都覺得貼切的結尾. 對於安東尼來說, 既不能要求發信者刪掉敏感字眼? 可也不想就這樣簽核? 他也不知道該怎麼辦啊...

倒不如省事一些, after reviewing this email, please contact me for any necessary changes 如果沒有來信或電話, 就是默認了. 一封常規的確認信函, 實在不值得花費過多時間燒腦. 是吧！