Ðây là Chương Trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Ðộng New Dynamic English bài 222. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả. Trong bài hôm nay, ta học về những chức năng của ngôn ngữ, language functions, tức là ta xem những công dụng của ngôn ngữ. Mở đầu, trong phần đàm thoại sắp tới, quí vị nghe hai chức năng của ngôn ngữ là: đề nghị và xác nhận—suggestions and confirmations. Flight=chuyến bay. How was your flight? chuyến bay của ông ra sao? It was a nice flight, and it was on time=chuyến bay của tôi dễ chịu và đúng giờ. Trong bài hôm nay, quí vị cũng học nghĩa của câu “I’ll tell you what” (tôi nói bạn nghe này) và chữ “say” dùng ở đầu câu (này bạn à); và giữa câu (thí dụ như). Cũng học động từ to finalize (hoàn tất). Ta sẽ học kỹ hơn cách dùng những từ này ở trong bài học.
Cut 1
Story Review: Elizabeth and Gary
Larry: Review
Eliz: Now let’s listen to our next conversation.
When Mr. Blake got to his room, he called Mr. Epstein to make an appointment to meet with him.
You will hear examples of suggestions and confirmations.
Gary: Yes. These language functions are very important in using English in business situations.
And notice that they begin their conversation with small talk, when Mr. Epstein asks Mr. Blake about his flight.
Eliz: OK. Let’s listen.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, ta nghe mẩu điện đàm khi ông Blake gọi vào hãng Advanced Technologies để xin nói chuyện với ông Mike Epstein. Just a minute and I’ll put you though…Just a minute and I’ll connect you.=Xin chờ một chút để tôi nối đường giây điện thoại cho ông nói chuyện…Make an appointment=xin hẹn gặp. I just arrived a few moments ago=tôi vừa mới tới được một lúc. Ah, I’ll tell you what=(informal, thân mật)= À, để tôi nói cho bạn nghe này. How’s that sound?=How does that sound? Như vậy có được không? Có thuận tiện không? That sounds fine with me=với tôi như vậy được. Keep your schedule free around lunch time on Wednesday, and then I’ll finalize that appointment with her. Bạn hãy để trống thời biểu (=đừng có hẹn làm gì) vào khoảng trưa hôm thứ Tư rồi tôi sẽ lo hoàn tất giờ hẹn với bà ấy (Shirley Graham).
To finalize=hoàn tất. The deal is expected to be finalized this week.=tuần này thì dịch vụ được dự trù sẽ hoàn tất. [Nhớ lại: tĩnh từ final=cuối cùng; final exams=kỳ thi cuối cùng. A finalist=người vào chung kết một cuộc tranh giải hay thi. To finalize=to complete, to put in final form, to conclude: The merger was finalized when both companies signed the agreement.=việc nhập hai công ty làm một được hoàn tất khi hai bên kỳ giấy thỏa thuận. Ðể ý đến cách phát âm chữ Finale=[fờ-ná-lì; fờ-né-lì] phần cuối bản nhạc hay vở kịch hay buổi trình diễn.
Cut 2
Dialog: FIB Dialog, Making an Appointment
Larry: Dialog
Receptionist: Advanced Technologies. May I help you?
Blake: Yes, this is Charles Blake from International Robotics.
I’d like to speak with Mike Epstein, please.
Receptionist: Just a minute and I’ll put you through...
Epstein: Epstein...
Receptionist: Mr. Epstein, I have a Mr. Blake from International Robotics on the line. [on the line=đang chờ ở máy điện thoại]
Epstein: Okay, thanks... Mr. Blake!
Blake: Hello Mr. Epstein. How are you?
Epstein: I’m fine, thanks. How are you?
Blake: Great.
Epstein: How was your trip?
Blake: I had a nice flight, and it was on time.
Epstein: When did you get in to San Francisco?
Blake: I just arrived a few moments ago.
Epstein: Say, when shall we get together?
Blake: Well, I was hoping that we could perhaps arrange a meeting for tomorrow sometime.
Epstein: Ah, I’ll tell you what. I’m free after eleven o’clock. How’s that sound?
Blake: That sounds fine with me.
Epstein: Okay, uh, where are you staying?
Blake: I’m staying at the Embassy Suites. It’s about twenty minutes south of the airport.
Epstein: Ah, that’s real close to my office here.
Epstein: I’ll tell you what, I’ll meet you tomorrow around 11:15.
Then we can go to lunch, and then I’ll show you around San Francisco.
Blake: That sounds very nice.
Epstein: Great, just one other thing...
I would like to introduce you to one of our vice-presidents, Ms. Shirley Graham.
She’s the manager of the project that I’m working on, and I was wondering if we could get together again, say Wednesday.
Blake: Ah, I have no plans on Wednesday, and I would like to meet her.
Epstein: Okay, ah, if you could keep your schedule free around lunch time on Wednesday, and then I’ll finalize that appointment with her.
Blake: Okay, very good.
Epstein: All right, I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning.
Blake: Okay, that’s tomorrow, 11:15, at the hotel.
Epstein: Yes, okay.
Blake: I’m looking forward to seeing you too.
Epstein: Okay, see you then. Bye-bye.
Vietnamese Explanation
Xin nghe và lập lại. Nhớ lại câu thân mật: I’ll tell you what…Tôi nói bạn nghe này….Ðể ý đến nghĩa chữ ‘say” trong câu: Say, when shall we get together? =Này bạn à, chừng nào mình gặp nhau nữa? Say (đứng ở đầu câu ở trường hợp trên là tiếng tán thán, interjection, để gợi chú ý của người nghe)=này bạn à… Phân biệt với “Say” hay “let’s say,” thường đứng ở giữa câu: đề nghị một điều làm thí dụ, như: Can you come to dinner, say, 7:00? Mời bạn lại dùng cơm, 7 giờ được chứ? I was wondering if we could get together again, say Wednesday.=tôi muốn đề nghị là chúng mình gặp nhau lần nữa, vào hôm thứ tư, được không nhỉ? Nhóm câu I was wondering hay theo sau bởi if là một cách nói lịch sự. Dùng wonder khi ướm hỏi người khác xem họ có bằng lòng làm một chuyện gì. I was wondering if you would like come with us.=Bạn có muốn đi cùng với chúng tôi không? Khi ta không chắc một chuyện có đúng không, ta cũng dủng wonder: I wonder if this is the right one.=tôi không biết có phải cái này là đúng không. I wonder if it will rain.=không biết trời có mưa không.
Cut 3
Language Focus: Listen and Repeat: Functions
Larry: Listen carefully.
Eliz: Yes, this is Charles Blake from International Robotics.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’d like to speak with Mike Epstein, please.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Say, when shall we get together? [Này bạn, chừng nào mình lại gặp nhau]
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’m free after eleven o’clock. How’s that sound?
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: That sounds fine with me.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’ll tell you what, I’ll meet you tomorrow around 11:15. [Này, tôi nói bạn nghe, tôi sẽ gặp bạn ngày mai khoảng 11 giờ 15.]
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I was wondering if we could get together again, say Wednesday.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Okay, that’s tomorrow, 11:15, at the hotel.
(pause for repeat)
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong đoạn tới, ta nghe Gary nói hai ông Blake và Epstein có vẻ thân mật (hợp) với nhau. There seems to be a nice friendly feeling between Mr. Blake and Mr. Epstein. Small talk=hỏi chuyện qua loa. Thí dụ: How was your trip? Cuộc du hành của ông ra sao? When did you get to San Francisco? Ông tới San Franscisco lúc nào?
Cut 4
Discussion: Elizabeth and Gary
Eliz: There seems to be a nice friendly feeling between Mr. Blake and Mr. Epstein.
Gary: I agree. They seem to really like each other.
Eliz: What do you think about this conversation?
Gary: Well, they begin with small talk.
Mr. Epstein asks Mr. Blake about his flight. [flight=chuyến bay]
Eliz: Right.
Gary: Then they decide on their meeting time.
Mr. Epstein also makes arrangements for Mr. Blake to meet Ms. Graham.
Eliz: And at the end of the conversation, they confirm the time and the place of their meeting.
Gary: That’s right. They make sure that they have understood correctly.
Eliz: Thank you, Gary.
Let’s take a short break.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Bây giờ quí vị nghe và nhận ra loại chức năng ngôn ngữ language function nào. Ôn lại 5 chức năng: Introduction (giới thiệu, mở đầu câu chuyện); request (yêu cầu); confirmation (xác nhận cho đúng); suggestion (đề nghị); refusal (từ chối). To conduct business=to do business=lo công việc kinh doanh. These expressions are very important for conducting business in English.=những câu nói này rất quan trọng trong khi ta bàn công việc (kinh doanh) bằng tiếng Anh. Business=việc kinh doanh, vấn đề, công việc. Mind your own business! Hãy lo chuyện của mình, đừng xía vô chuyện người khác!
Cut 5
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, like requests, suggestions, and so on.
These expressions are very important for conducting business in English.
We’re going to listen to some expressions from the conversations.
Elizabeth, you’ll try to name the language function.
Eliz: OK. I’ll try.
Gary: OK.
Let’s start with an easy one.
Mr. Blake is talking on the telephone:
Is this a request or an introduction?
Eliz: A request or an introduction?
Gary: Yes. Is he requesting--asking someone to do something for him--or is he introducing someone?
Eliz: OK. I understand.
Gary: Let’s listen.
Blake: Yes, this is Charles Blake from International Robotics.
Gary: Let’s listen again.
Blake: Yes, this is Charles Blake from International Robotics.
Eliz: Well, he says “This is”....
Then he says his name....
That’s an introduction!
Gary: That’s right. Mr. Blake is introducing himself over the telephone.
OK. Here’s the next one.
Mr. Blake is checking into his hotel.
Is this a suggestion--Is he giving someone a good idea--or it is a request?
Blake: Can I use my credit card for that?
(pause)
Gary: Let’s listen again.
Blake: Can I use my credit card for that?
Eliz: Well, he said “Can I”...
He wants to use his credit card...
That’s a request. He’s making a request.
Gary: That’s right.
Here’s one more.
Mr. Blake is talking on the telephone to Mr. Epstein.
Is he confirming--checking his understanding of the information--or is he making a suggestion?
Blake: Okay, that’s tomorrow, 11:15, at the hotel.
Eliz: Can I listen again?
Gary: Sure. Here it is again.
Blake: Okay, that’s tomorrow, 11:15, at the hotel.
Eliz: OK. He checks the time and the place...
He’s confirming. He’s confirming the information.
Gary: That’s right. He is confirming the time and the place for their meeting tomorrow.
Would you like to try one more?
Eliz: Yes.
Gary: This is Mr. Epstein. He’s talking to Mr. Blake.
Is this a refusal--Does he say No to something-- or is it a suggestion?
Epstein: I was wondering if we could get together again, say Wednesday.
Eliz: Could I hear it one more time?
Gary: OK.
Epstein: I was wondering if we could get together again, say Wednesday.
Eliz: Well, he wants to get together again with Mr. Blake...
And he says, “I was wondering if we could get together...”
That’s a very polite expression.
I think it’s a suggestion.
He’s suggesting that they meet on Wednesday.
Gary: Yes. He’s making a suggestion.
You really know your language functions!
Eliz: Well, I’ve been listening to Gary’s Tips for a long time.
Thank you, Gary. We’ll talk again on our next show.
MUSIC
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 222 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 sắp tới.