What a load of Gobbledygook – this is not camping!
Business English Word of the Week:
Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:
“to sign on their behalf”means (also on someone’s behalf) done for another person’s benefit or support, or because you are representing the interests of that person: as a representative of someone or US in behalf ofsomeone or in someone’s behalf: for the benefit of someone: in support of someone.
Sample Sentence:
“I’d like to say on behalf of the whole group that we wish you well in your new career.“
“He spoke on behalf of the other candidates.“
“The science teacher accepted the award on behalf of the whole class.“
What is signed for and on behalf of?
According to UpCounsel, “on behalf of” means the legal permission for an individual to sign official documents for a separate legal entity. Therefore, an individual can sign documents for the company, i.e. “on behalf of”. Of course, not just anyone can sign “on behalf of” the company.
Law English word of the Week:
Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:
What does PP in front of a signature mean?
1. pp is written before a person’s name at the bottom of a formal or business letter in order to indicate that they have signed the letter on behalf of the person whose name appears before theirs. [business].
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or the Managing Director (MD) or the manager; the Company Secretary; the Whole-time director; and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and so they have the legal right within the Law to put their signature to any contract, bank credit etc.
Sample Sentence:
“The Deputy Manager has been nominated with the legal right to P.P. (countersign) any document on behalf of the MD, whilst he is out of the office.“
Vocabulary for Contracts:
Wortschatz für Verträge:
A loopholein a contract: What is a loophole in a contract?
Contract loopholes are omissions or ambiguities found in contracts that are included to create ways for parties to avoid following requirements in the contract. They may not be noticeable until the damage has been done, so it’s essential that no loopholesexist in contracts.
Sample Sentence:
“Did you know that there is a man that found a loophole within the claim of the USA to own the Moon? The loophole that he found meant that he had the legal right to sell plots of land on the Moon. You can Google this and find his website.“
Vocabulary for Negotiations :
Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:
To quibble over the price (argue) to quibbleto argue over stupid facts/information/dates.
Sample Sentence:
“Let’s not quibble over price as I have plenty of money for this art treasure. What I am most interested in is to find out if this is the genuine article!”
The word “Gobbledygook” means language that is meaningless or is made unintelligible by excessive use of technical terms such as computer speak, financial, law terms and so on. Definition of gobbledygook: wordy and generally unintelligible jargon.
What exactly is “gobbledygook“, and where does the word come from? Texas Congressman Maury Maverick coined the word in 1944 to describe the frustrating jargon used by policymakers in Washington. It reminded him of the sound of turkeys gobbling. This is funny to me because there was a BBC series (1990s) called, “Black Adder” where some of the characters used the word, “Gobbledygook“, the problem was that in the 4th series entitled, “Black Adder Goes Fourth” which is set in the First World War – 1914 – 1918 the word “Gobbledygook” had not even been invented, so that is a bad mark for the BBC and its writers of this comedy show.
Sample Sentence:
“… reams of financial gobbledygook“
“When I listen to a foreign language it all sounds like gobbledygook to me!“
Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:
“You’ll have to lash out” means to spend a large amount of money in a way that is unnecessary or that wastes it.
Sample Sentence:
“They lashed out £15,000 on their daughter’s wedding.” My own lovely daughter, Sophia got married this August and yes, I had to lash out a significant amount of cash for her wedding. Any contributions to my bank account are welcome 😀
I wish this picture I found had a pound sign or even a Euro, but not a dollar…….
Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:
“barking up the wrong tree“– having the wrong impression of a person or situation.
Sample Sentence:
“If you think that the Mayor of London is going to vote for that, then you are barking up the wrong tree!“
“Can Mr Poohtin come to the Reception to pick up his troops?” B.E.
“Can a Miss Truuss come to the Front Desk as there is a Mr T. Rump to meet her?” A. E.
Special Grammar tip of the week:
Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:
General rules for the use of SOME & ANY:
Use ANY together with countable and uncountable nouns in a NEGATIVE sentence.
Sample Sentences: “I don’t have any more bullets!” “I don’t have any more beer!“
Use ANY together with countable and uncountable nouns in a QUESTION sentence.
Sample Sentences:
“Do you have any more bullets?” “Do youhave any more beer?“
*************
Use SOME together with countable and uncountable nouns in a POSITIVE sentence.
Use SOME together with countable and uncountable nouns in a sentence which has an OFFER –
Sample Sentence: “Would you like another beer, Mark?“
NOTE: The “Would you like…?” phrase is the important thing to remember here; as this is an OFFER and yes it is a question, but you still use SOME and NOT ANY!
Use SOME together with countable and uncountable nouns in a sentence which has the person asking for a FAVOUR (ein Gefallen) – for example –
Sample Sentences:
“Can I have some more beer, please?“
“Can you lend me some more money as I’ve already run out?“
NOTE: The “Can I have some…” and the “Can you do this or this for me?” style of sentences are a QUESTION – yes, this is true, BUT – as you are asking someone to do you a FAVOUR, then we use SOME and NOT ANY!
Pronunciation tip: Aussprachetipp:
“Willy’s real rear wheel wobbled.“
Try and say this sentence ten times quickly without a mistake.
Versuchen Sie, diesen Satz zehnmal schnell und fehlerfrei zu sagen.
False Friends Tip of the Week:
Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:
GermanTranslationFalse Friend (F.F.)Meaning of F.F.
Box (loud) speaker box Schachtel
(Lautsprecher)
Wit, Wit, Wit Business examples:
Witz, Witz, Witz Geschäftsbeispiele:
“Oxford does not need any new buildings, nor does it need a business school, which is bound to attract undesirables.” Quote by Auberon Waugh.
Slang word of the day:
Slangwort des Tages:
Bloke. A man—could be compared to the American term ‘dude‘.
Sample Sentence:
“Listen, I was talking to this bloke from the north side and he told me I was wrong with my thinking ’bout Aliens.“
Colloquial / Colloquialisms:
Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:
“I get it ” – this means that I understand.
Sample Sentence:
“I get itnow! Thank you for explaining that.”
Cockney rhyming slang: Cockney Reimender Slang:
“Aunt Joanna” = piano (often shortened to just ‘Joanna‘).
Sample Sentence:
“Come on Jack, get on that old Joanna and give us a happy tune!”
Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:
“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” W. C. Fields.
“All this computer speak is Gobbledygook to me!“
Fortgeschrittene, Anfänger, Geschäftsenglisch, Firmenkurse, Gruppenunterricht, In-house Englisch, Sprachschule Englisch, Telefonkonferenz Englischpersönlich oder per Videokonferenz; in Dresden, Chemnitz, Freiberg, Halsbrücke, Lichtenberg, Brand-Erbisdorf, Meißen,Döbeln, Riesa und überall in Sachsenseit über 20 Jahren!
Delivering professional Business English teachingin person or via video conferencing in Dresden, Chemnitz, Meißen, Lichtenberg, Freiberg, Döbeln, Riesa, Halsbrücke, Brand-Erbisdorf and all over the state of Sachsen for over 20 years!
Recent Comments