ELIZABETH SMITHENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOW

English for Professional Purposes:

A Linguistic Analysis of Professional Communications in English

Warm Up:Professional English Bingo

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Quick Write

What are some of the main differences you have noticed in the styles of writing in English and Spanish?

What are some of the conventional differences between the two languages? (mechanics usage)

What are some of the challenges that face Spanish speakers who need to write in English?

Linguistic Analysis: Focus on Writing

Spanish English

• more “flowery” and descriptive language

•Provides backstory and explanation

•Command forms can be interpreted as “demanding”

•More “Formal” usages

•More concise and direct

•Reveals only necessary information and promptly asks request

•Commands are usually requested with formalities of politeness and conditional verb forms

•Difference between “Formal” and “Professional”

The Line of English Thought

What would English and Spanish thought patterns look like if put into a physical dimension?

Linguistic Lines of Thought: Organization and Language

Kaplan, R. B.  "Cultural Thought Patterns in Inter-Cultural Education." Language Learning 16 (1966):  1-20.

Organization Patterns in Spanish:

Spanish writers:Begin with a brief introduction Then present one side of an issue Then present another side often with much adornmentFinally arrive at the main point in the conclusion

*An English speaking reader may respond: "But I don't understand his/her main point; it's never really stated, and it's not clear."

*The Spanish writer might respond, "But I would like you to understand all the possibilities and the context so you can get involved in what I have to say."

Organizational Patterns in English:

Straight line of development which includes introductions, main ideas, topic sentences, supporting details, conclusions, etc.

This pattern can be simply summarized as:

"Tell your audience what you are going to tell them; then tell them; then tell them what you told them."

Tips for Professional English Writing

1. Determine Your Desired Outcome

2. Quickly Answers, “What’s the Point?”

3. State Benefits Clearly

4. Remember to KISS

5. Save the Whole Story – Stick to the Facts.

6. Pretend Face-to-face Intro

7. Avoid Excessive Compliments

8. Be Personal and Personable

9. Make it Easy to Be Found

10. Use Simple English

11. Font Matters

12. Formatting Matters

13. Minimize Questions

14. Trimming of Words

E-mails in English: Take Home Points

Proper greetings “Hello Elizabeth,” or “Hi Elizabeth,” “Sincerely, Elizabeth” or “Cheers, Elizabeth”

No rambling stories or long introsGet to the point quicklyNext action clearly statedPresent benefits and/or request needsFonts and formatting matterReview for conciseness, simplicity and clarityOne question per email

Case Study: How Should We Correct It?

Case Study: This morning, you received this message in your inbox (bolded):

Subject: We Are Looking For Offers For Our Database

Task: Revise Non-Professional E-mail

What changes would you make to the e-mail sample in order to incorporate all the tips we have studied?

Work with a group (2-3 people) to re-write the e-mail

What tips did you include?

Case Study Continued: Possible Correction

Subject: Opportunity for Free Traffic

Hi Tina,

I’m writing on behalf of <…com>. We make it easy for bloggers to network with one another. Our site gets x# monthly page views. Just having your website listed in our network will expose it to many new readers.

Here are some websites currently in our community: <list of related and well known websites>.

Joining takes less than 5 minutes and you’ll love the results: <web-url>

Let me know if you have any questions.

<name><company name><site url>

Sources:

Kaplan, R. B.  "Cultural Thought Patterns in Inter-Cultural Education." Language Learning 16 (1966):  1-20.

http://www.eslbee.com/advanced_composition.htm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/651/01/

http://thinksimplenow.com/productivity/15-tips-for-writing-effective-email/

Questions?

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Thank You!

Contact: Elizabeth Smith English Language Fellow

Centro Cultural Nicaragüense-Norteamericanoelfsmith@ccnn.org.ni

English Language Fellow Nicaragua