職場で使える英語表現を毎週ご紹介するシリーズ
Weekly Workplace Word Wisdom(W.W.W.W.)
第25回・第26回の2回にわたって
可能性の程度を表す英語の単語やフレーズを
Curtis講師が詳しくご説明いたします。
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All languages need a way of talking about the likelihood of a specific event occurring. The origins of these words can be traced back to farming and combat. Farmers want to know how likely it is that there will be rain or an early frost; fighters want to know the same thing, as well as the possibility that an enemy will attack at some point. Collectively, these words and phrases describe “degrees of probability” - how probable (likely), or improbable (unlikely), an event is. English has specific words for this purpose, as well as certain idioms. Of course there are many lines that can be drawn between agriculture, combat and the business world. You grow crops and grow profits. You capture territory and capture market share. So it should come as no surprise that we use these expressions in all facets of life. I personally would love to know the probability that a certain stock will increase or decrease in value. Wouldn’t we all? Inside information sounds great but it’s highly likely that you will get caught.
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Words indicating probability:
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Guaranteed - 100% chance of occurrence.
Must - Close to 100% chance of occurrence.
Highly likely - More than a 90% chance of occurrence
Likely - More than a 50% chance
Unlikely - Less than a 50% chance
May - More than a 10% chance.
Highly unlikely - Less than a 10% chance
Could - More than a 0% chance
Can’t - 0% chance.
Zilch - 0% chance (casual)
Nada - same as “zilch” (casual)
“Their flight landed 2 hours ago. They must be in the hotel by now.”
“The forecaster says that it may rain tomorrow.”
“It could rain tomorrow.”
“We can’t receive the new manuals from the printers by tomorrow.”
“Did the boss say anything about our odds of getting raises this year?” “Yeah, it’s nada. In fact, we’re guaranteed to see wage cuts across the board. It’s highly unlikely that next year will be any better.”
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<本日の単語>
likelihood 【名】ありそうな状態、可能性
frost 【名】霜、寒気
collectively 【副】集合的に、集団で、共同で
agriculture 【名】農業、農学、農耕
facet 【名】面、様相
<本日のイディオム>
odds of ~の確率、~の見込み、~の可能性
across the board 全体にわたって、全社的に、一律に
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第一回の今回は、単語のご紹介でした。
第22回のWWWWでは、
同意や否定の英語表現のニュアンスの違いをご紹介しましたが
http://ameblo.jp/pegl/entry-10272796677.html
同じように
probabilityを表す言葉を使って
例えば100%相手の意見を否定することの無い言い方などで
表現を和らげたりすることもできます。
違いを知って、ビジネスマンとして
相手に丁寧で失礼のない対応が
できるようになりたいですね。
来週のWWWW第26回では、
可能性を表現できる英語フレーズを
ご紹介いたします。
お楽しみに!
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