実践ビジネス英語 2019/2/20 L22 (1)Unwritten Rules
20 水 Lesson22 Unwritten Rules (1) 暗黙のルール
Nissen wonders who decided that people should walk on one side of escalators and stand on the other, an unwritten rule that everyone seems to obey.
Likewise, Collins wonders whether walking or standing still is preferable. McMillan says every culture has such untaught rules. And Ueda asks about the escalator situation in Britain.
Unwritten rule 暗黙のルール、不文律
Codes of conduct, ah, expected behaviors that aren’t written in official regulations or rules.
We can also say, “unspoken rules.”
Such as, there’s an unspoken rule that we don’t take company supplies for private use.
stand on the right and walk on the left 右側に立って左側を歩く
You’ll also hear sometimes people say “keep to the left” or “keep to the right.”
That means in the direction that you’re moving, keep on to the left side, stay on that side or the right side
keep to the right = keep right 右側を通ってください
puzzling まごつかせる、
quicken はやめる
speed up, accelerate.
He quickened his step to catch the elevator before it closed. Or, economic growth has quickened in the last two quarters.
lighten 軽くする, sweeten 甘くする, strengthen 力をつける
stand still じっと立っている、何もしないでいる、進歩がない
Standing in one place, without moving from it.
We can also use this about a lack of progress or activity. He can’t stand still. He’s always looking for new business opportunities. And “hold still” refers to keeping ourselves motionless. You could tell a friend, “Hold still. There’s a bee on your shoulder.” Or, we often tell children, “Hold still while I zip up your jacket.”
smooth and orderly 円滑で整然とした
When something is orderly, it’s without problems and in an organized well-behaved fashion.
Such as, the building was evacuated in an orderly fashion thanks to our repeated fire drills.
Or the debate was very orderly, no shouting or personal attacks.
values, goals and mission 価値観、目標、使命
McMillan says, “We learn about the official rules of the workplace, along with an explanation of the company’s values, goals and mission.”
Values are the principles we consider important. While goals and mission, those are our objective, our purpose.
Like, his mission is to take the company global. Or, her personal mission is to save abandoned pets.
corporate brochure, valuesというsection / values and goals 企業の持っている基本的な価値観、目標を書いたもの
outsider 部外者
It can be very difficult for outsiders to understand such rules.
insider インサイダー取引
more or less universal ほぼ一般的な
McMillan says that standing on the right and walking on the left on escalators has now become more or less universal. universal 世界共通の、
universal design ユニバーサル・デザイン 年齢・能力・状況などに関わらず、だれでも使えるような設計、デザイン
More or less has two basic meanings. Here it’s “basic, essentially. Such as, we agree more or less in our political beliefs. And it can mean approximately, about.
I own about 200 books more or less.
That is -, 少なくとも。 前言を正確に言い直して
This expression also has two basic meanings. Ueda is using it to correct something he said or clarified. For example, all of us are married, except Peter, that is.
It can also mean “in other words.” For example, 20% of our sales, that is $10 million.
書き言葉では、同じ意味で I.E. 会話の中でも
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Every culture has its unwritten rules どの文化にも暗黙のルールがあります。
McMillan says this around the middle. It’s very common to say, “Every A has its B.”
That means B is present in every example of A. Every office has its troublesome employees.
Or, every vacation has its unpleasant parts.
Everyone has their off days.
何をしてもうまくいかない日 失敗ばかりしてしまうような日、厄日
appear
McMillan says, “The London Underground appears to have been the first place to establish the custom of standing on the right and walking on the left”
This is a good verb when we’re not 100% sure, but this is what it seems like.
Jim appears to have gone to lunch. Or, the economy appears to be recovering.
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the London underground ロンドンの地下鉄 = tube
ニューヨークの地下鉄は、subway
ワシントンDCの地下鉄は、 metro
実践ビジネス英語 2019/2/21 L22 (2) unwritten rules
21 木 Lesson22 Unwritten Rules (2)
暗黙のルール
Ueda recommends following the example of the person in front of you, when confused about walking versus standing on an escalator.
He also describes a campaign launched by railway companies in Japan. It was effective at first but people eventually reverted to their previous behavior. People walking on escalators are advised to hold the handrail, Ueda says.
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get confused 戸惑う、混乱する
Become unsure what to do, not know what’s going on. One example might be “I got confused by the street names. There was Anderson Street, Anderson Court and Anderson Lane.”
as opposed to -, 〜に対して、対象的に
Nissen says, “I don’t think you save that much time, if you walk up – or down – an escalator, as opposed to standing still.” Instead of, in contrast to. Things like, Karen is always punctual as opposed to Mary’s chronic lateness. Or, we’ve decided to get new computers, as opposed to having the old ones fixed.
launch 始める、立ち上げる
So a few years ago, they launched a joint movement called no-walk campaign.
Begin some project or product, introduce it. Company X has launched a new line of cosmetics.
And “launch” can also be a noun. The product launch went off very smoothly.
launch a new product 新しい商品を発表する
leave one side open 片側をあけておく
Keep one side clear so that people can walk up and down it if they want. We also leave or keep parts of our schedule open. Someone might say, “Leave Monday evening open, everybody.
we’re going to have a welcome party for the new staff.” Or, we may have a meeting. So please keep Tuesday morning open.
Did it work? それはうまくいきましたか？
Ueda describes the “no-walk” campaign. And Collins replies, “Interesting. Did it work?”
soon enough
But soon enough commuters fell back into their old habit of keeping one side open.
This is another way of saying “before long.” He started exercising and soon enough, he lost 5 pounds. Or, we will be home soon enough.
commuter 通勤者
Ueda means “a person who commutes, who travels to school or work.”
It can also be an adjective. A commuter train, for example. And the verb is “commute.” Most people in Japan commute by train.
fall back into one’s old habit 人の昔の習慣に戻る、元の癖にもどる
End up resuming a previous habit, reverting to previous behavior. And I think we generally use this about habits we don’t like, in other words, we shouldn’t do, given the use of fall in. You know we were trying to change but we couldn’t.
For example, he read the newspaper on the train for a while. But then he fell back into his old habit of playing smartphone games. Or, I’ve fallen back into my old habit of snacking before bed.
find something fascinating 〜を興味深いと思う、魅了を感じる
Down at the bottom, McMillan says, “I find the whole notion of these generally accepted rules concerning polite behavior fascinating.”
polite behavior 礼儀作法
Behavior that is considered polite. Courteous to others and acceptable in society.
In Japan, for example, it’s not polite behavior to eat on a commuter train.
offer a valuable insight into -, 〜についての貴重な見識を与える
stare at someone in public 他の人達の前で人をジロジロと見る。
In public, in the public’s sphere where anyone can see something where it is visible to all.
We also say, “in a public something or on a public something.” Meaning a place, a situation everyone has access to.
For example, why do people put on makeup in public trains?
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etiquette
Up at the top, Ueda says, “No one is totally sure why the etiquette varies between the two cities.”
Etiquette is the conduct or procedure that is considered to be right in a certain situation, a certain society. For example, U.S. etiquette says wedding guests cannot wear white. Only the bride wears white.
English rules of etiquette don’t always hold good in America.
イギリス式の礼儀作法がアメリカでも通用するとは限らない
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point one’s finger at – , 〜を指差す。非礼
point the finger at someone, point a finger at someone
人を指さして公然とせめる、人のせいにする、指弾する
その行為を finger-pointing
実践ビジネス英語 2019/2/22
22 金 Lesson22 Unwritten Rules (3)
暗黙のルール
Collins says her mother told her never to talk with her mouth full and to wait until others are served before eating. Ueda says he’s surprised when people ask about things like age and sexual orientation. Nissen reveals that he’s irritated when he’s in a conversation with non-native English speakers and they use a foreign language as if he’s not there.
Speak with one’s mouth full 口に食べ物をいっぱい入れたままで喋る
Talk while we have food in our mouth. Parents also tell us to chew with your mouth shut and don’t eat with your fingers.
“Walk and chew gum at the same time” is often used to refer to stupid people, to imply that someone is so dumb, they can’t do these things together or that’s all they’re capable of.
Be very careful with this. Do not say this directly to someone’s face. But you might hear something like, “Why did they hire him? He can barely walk and chew gum at the same time.”
mouthful 言いにくい言葉
plain old common sense ごく普通の常識
Nissen says, “most of these rules are plain old common sense.” Just regular common sense. Nothing special. Imagine a coworker who’s in a bad mood, you ask why.
And they say, “I’m sorry. It’s just plain old fatigue. I’m really tired these days.”
simple courtesy 普通の礼儀、作法
text 携帯メールを書く、送信する
texties 若い人たちの書く携帯メールの書き方。その文のこと
ethnic background 民族的背景、人にあまり聞いてはいけない personal stuff 個人的な事の例として、 age, weight, ethnic background, sex orientation
Ethnic background is the ethnic groups that we have family histories. My ethnic background involves Ukraine, Ireland and Italy, primarily. That’s also my ethnic heritage. And my personal ethnicity, to use the noun.
sexual orientation 性的志向
This is the direction, the focus of a person’s sexual interest. Homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual. That kinda thing.
hetero, 他の、異なった【対】homo-
incredibly rude 非常に失礼な、無礼な
nosy 差し出がましい、不躾な、せんさく好きな
Collins says, “Those kinds of questions are nosy and impertinent in almost any culture.”
Questions like that pry into other people’s business. They ask about it in an unwelcome way. You might say, “She’s so nosy, always asking where I’m going.” We also say, “stick one’s nose into someone’s business.” And that’s interfering, inquiring nosily about their affairs.
impertinent 厚かましい、失礼な
irritating 気に障る、イライラさせる
native language 母語
The languages or languages we speak from birth
that we’re completely fluent in. My mother’s native language is Spanish actually.
And such a speaker is a native speaker. Carlis a native speaker of German, for example.
Oops. おっと、しまった。
Ueda, down at the bottom, says, “Oops, my bad.” We say this when we’ve made a mistake of some kind. If I bumped into someone’s chair, I might say, “Oops, I’m sorry.” Or if I dropped some papers, oops, I’d better pick those up.
confess to - 〜したことを認める。告白する
from time to time 時々、折にふれて
Every so often, sometimes, not very frequently but sometimes. I like to get a foot massage from time to time to relieve stress. Or it’s a good idea to delete old emails from time to time.
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whatever you do, whatever else you do 間違っても〜してはいけない
In the middle, McMillan says, “whatever you do, don’t talk about religion, politics and sex.”
No matter what, this must be done. Or this must be avoided. It depends on the situation.
Basically you follow it with something that must or must not be.
McMillan could also say, “whatever else you do.” Things like, whatever you do, don’t be late.
The boss hates it when people are late. Or, whatever else you do, keep a firm grip on your passport.
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My bad.
私が悪かった。私のせいだ。間違ってました。私のミスだ
It’s/That’s my bad.
Sorry, my bad. 俗っぽい。ネイティブのみ
It was my fault. 私の責任です。