我们讲的英语第176期:Corporate speak 企业用语

Finn: Hi Li. I didn't see you in the canteen today. I brought you a sandwich.
芬恩：嗨，莉。我今天在食堂没看到你。我给你带了个三明治。

Li: That's very kind of you, Finn. I had to go and buy these...
莉：你真是太好了，芬恩。我必须要去买这些东西……

Finn: An envelope and a nice picture of a sunny beach?
芬恩：一个信封还有一张阳光明媚的海滩的照片？

Li: It's the sky, Finn. My boss told me that we need blue-sky thinking and we need to push the envelope if we want to succeed in the current market.
莉：芬恩，那是天空。我老板告诉我，我们需要蓝色天空的想象力，所以如果想在现有的市场取得成功我们就要推进信封。

Finn: Oh, right. And what are you going to do with this envelope, and this picture, Li?
芬恩：哦，好的。可是莉，你要这个信封和这张照片做什么？

Li: Well, the beach has a blue-sky... so maybe I need to push it into the envelope... and send it to... the clients? I'm not sure.
莉：嗯，海滩就是蓝色的天空……所以可能我需要把这个放进信封里……然后把它寄给客户吧？我也不太确定。

Finn: Li, I think what he wants has nothing to do with the sky or envelopes. These are two expressions people use in business nowadays. It's corporate language - or as we say, corporate speak.
芬恩：莉，我想你老板的意思和天空或是信封都无关。这是现代人在工作中使用的两个表达方式。这是企业语言，或者我们可以说是企业用语。

Li: What do they mean?
莉：那这两个词是什么意思？

Finn: Well, in English, 'blue-sky thinking' means having ideas which are very original, even if they're not practical or realistic. Your boss wants you to be creative.
芬恩：嗯，在英语中，blue-sky thinking就是非常新颖的想法，这些想法可能不实用也不实际。你的老板希望你要有创造力。

Li: And what do I do with this envelope?
莉：那我要用这个信封做什么？

Finn: Well, the expression 'to push the envelope' means to go even further than others and do things that might be new or risky or even dangerous! That's: push the envelope.
芬恩：嗯，to push the envelope这个表达的意思是比其他人走得更远，做一些可能是创新或是冒险或是甚至有些危险的事情！这就是：突破原有底线。

Li: But why didn't he just say: be creative?
莉：可是他为什么不直接说“有创造力”？

Finn: Well, the world of business has its own special terms. Let's hear some examples of how to use these two expressions in today's The English We Speak.
芬恩：嗯，企业界有它自己的专业术语。这就是今天的地道英语要学的两个表达方式，我们来听一些例句，看看它们如何使用。

It's all about blue-sky thinking right now; mobile phones are no longer just for calls!
这就是天马行空的想象力；手机不再只用来打电话了！

We're not just a normal airline. We're going to push the envelope and offer balloon flights.
我们不仅仅是普通的航空公司。我们要突破原有的底线，我们要提供热气球活动。

Li: Oh, so all my boss wants is for me to have ideas which are new and brave. What about your boss, Finn?
莉：哦，所以我老板是希望我要有新颖而大胆的主意。芬恩，那你的老板呢？

Finn: Well, my line manager told me this morning: "I expect you to think out of the box. If you don't step up to the plate by end of play you'll have to face the music."
芬恩：嗯，我的直接主管今天上午告诉我：“我希望你打破思维定式。如果你在最后都不采取行动，那你必须要承担后果。”

Li: What on earth does he mean, Finn?!
莉：芬恩，他到底什么意思？！

Finn: I really have no idea. I think we'd need another four programmes to explain those examples of corporate speak. Another time. I'm tired just thinking about it. Bye.
芬恩：我也不知道。我想我们要再用四期节目来解释这些企业用语的含义。下次再解释。一思考我就很觉得很累。再见。

Li: Bye.
莉：再见。