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They say there's one rule of conversation that you should always follow in business.
Don't talk about politics, sex or religion.
Actually however, it seems like 90 of casual conversations are about just those things politics, sex and religion.
So, in this episode, we'll be focusing on one of these topics, politics.
We'll be learning some language that will help you cope with this difficult topic.
There's a trick to talking about politics in business.
In international business culture, it's usually better not to have a strong opinion.
The focus is generally on the exchange of information rather than on debate, because the main goal is to maintain harmonious relations.
Often, we state our opinions noncommittally.
That means we don't commit ourselves to an opinion.
In other words, we don't voice a strong view one way or the other.
Instead, we prefer to be vague or ambiguous.
This strategy helps avoid conflict.
So in this episode, in addition to covering some general phrases and vocabulary for discussing politics, we'll be studying how to soften your questions and be noncommittal when necessary.
We'll be listening to Ricardo and Lars, old colleagues who have met each other again at an international conference.
They're talking about the political situations in their home countries, Brazil and Denmark.
As you listen, try to answer the following questions.
The answers will be posted in a few days at www.businessenglishpod.com.
First, Lars mentions that Brazil has won its bid to host the World Cup.
Ricardo says that Brazil has a lot of work to do in which areas.
And finally, Lars talks about a certain kind of problem that has cropped up, that is appeared or occurred during Brazilian President Lula's presidency.
What is it?
I'm a bit out of touch.
But if you don't mind me asking, what's the political situation like now in Denmark?
How do you mean?
Well, I've heard your government's pretty far right, isn't it?
Oh, for Denmark, anyway.
But at least they're trying to reduce taxes.
Hmm, reduce taxes.
That sounds like a good thing.
Yeah, well, of course it depends on your point of view.
Anyway, it's pretty popular with business.
I bet.
So how about Brazil?
I just heard your bid for the 2014 World Cup was successful.
Yes, we're really excited about that.
But we have a lot to do on infrastructure and security.
It's been a long time since you hosted one, hasn't it?
Yep, 64 years.
Can you believe that?
Wow, so long.
So what do you think about Lula's performance overall?
What about the corruption scandals that seem to be cropping up?
Well, the World Cup is a distraction from that.
And you know, his social policies are very popular with the majority.
Uh-huh.
But with all the conflicting interests in our country, he's got a lot to juggle.
Don't we all?
Yeah.
Tell me about it.
Lars and Ricardo are not the only ones to break the rule never to talk about politics.
Actually, it's quite a common topic of conversation.
And, if you handle it well, this kind of discussion can be a great way to build relationships, while making small talk and socializing.
Both Lars and Ricardo are skillful in their approach to maintaining harmony in the discussion.
For example...
They are careful not to ask direct questions or voice strong opinions.
Let's go through the dialogue to study what they do in detail.
How does it begin?
I'm a bit out of touch.
But if you don't mind me asking, what's the political situation like now in Denmark?
Ricardo starts by asking a general question.
I'm a bit out of touch. is an idiom that means you're not familiar with the current situation.
Notice, Ricardo is careful to soften the question, make it less direct, by using a buffer.
If you don't mind me asking... Next, Lars clarifies.
How do you mean?
Well, I've heard your government's pretty far right, isn't it?
What are some other ways to ask about politics, including softening phrases?
I normally don't talk about politics, but I've been reading a lot in the newspapers about your new president.
If you don't mind me asking, what's the political situation in your country?
If it's okay to ask, What are your feelings about the monetary policy in your country?
In the last example phrase, monetary policy just means money policy.
So Ricardo has just asked Lars if the Danish government is pretty far right that is politically conservative.
How does Lars respond?
Oh, for Denmark, anyway.
But at least they're trying to reduce taxes.
It is for Denmark means it is right for Denmark, or because Denmark is overall very far left or liberal, this government seems very far right or conservative.
There are many possible ways to respond to questions about politics.
Let's listen to a few.
To be honest, there's quite a range of feelings on that issue.
These days, people are more worried about the economy than politics.
We have a liberal government at the moment.
They are trying to push through more social programs.
We have a conservative government.
They are trying to cut red tape.
Red tape is a good phrase to know.
It means bureaucracy.
In 17th and 18th century Britain and other places, official government documents were wrapped in red tape.
To cut the red tape means to reduce bureaucracy.
That is, to get rid of unnecessary official procedures.
How does Ricardo respond to Lars' statement that the Danish government is cutting taxes?
Hmm, reduce taxes.
That sounds like a good thing.
Here Ricardo is using an excellent strategy for maintaining interest in the conversation, one that we studied before in BEP 45 keeping the conversation going.
First, he acknowledges what Lars said.
Hmm.
Then he echoes it back.
Reduce taxes.
And finally, adds a personal comment.
That sounds like a good thing.
Listen to some more examples of some personal comments that we can make to sustain interest in a conversation.
Uh-huh.
I see.
That's really interesting.
Hmm.
Fascinating.
Hmm.
I'm not surprised.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
I know what you mean.
No.
You must be joking.
That's incredible.
Wow.
I had no idea.
I had no idea means that's very surprising.
How does Lars react to Ricardo's personal comment that reducing taxes sounds like a good thing?
He's rather noncommittal.
Yeah, well, of course it depends on your point of view.
Anyway, it's pretty popular with business.
It depends on your point of view is a typical useful noncommittal or vague statement.
In this case, Lars appears to be avoiding expressing a strong opinion.
Avoiding the expression of a strong opinion is one reason to use noncommittal language.
We can also use noncommittal statements to express polite disagreement.
What are some other useful noncommittal phrases?
Honestly, there are many ways to look at it.
We have a lot of people in both camps.
The important thing is that we can talk it all out.
So Lars has just said that reducing taxes is pretty popular with business.
How does Ricardo respond?
He says, I bet, which is an informal way of expressing agreement.
It means, I bet that's true.
Let's listen to some more great advanced phrases for expressing agreement idiomatically.
I bet.
That's what I would imagine.
You can say that again.
I hear you.
Tell me about it.
Now it's Lars' turn to ask Ricardo a question.
So how about Brazil?
I just heard your bid for the 2014 World Cup was successful.
Yes, we're really excited about that.
But we have a lot to do on infrastructure and security.
There is a lot of useful vocabulary here.
Lars says Brazil's bid or proposal to host the World Cup was successful.
Host is the opposite of guest.
In this case used as a verb to host.
It means to provide the facilities and resources for an event the World Cup.
Infrastructure refers to roads, facilities, electricity, and so on.
All the basic structures that make modern life possible.
We often talk about developing or building up infrastructure.
Next, when Lars mentions that it's been a long time since Brazil has hosted a World Cup, Ricardo responds by using another good strategy for maintaining interest.
It's been a long time since you hosted one, hasn't it?
Yep, 64 years.
Can you believe that?
Can you believe that is a kind of tag question.
Isn't that amazing?
Do you know what I mean?
Fantastic, isn't it?
Hard to believe, isn't it?
In the next part of the dialogue, Lars uses a personal comment to express surprise that it's been 64 years since Brazil hosted a World Cup.
He says, wow, that long?
Then he indicates a change of topic with, so.
Wow, so long.
So what do you think about Lula's performance overall?
What about the corruption scandals that seem to be cropping up?
Problems have been cropping up that is appearing or occurring in Brazilian President Lula's presidency.
These problems are corruption scandals.
Corruption is when bad officials or employees take money illegally to provide favors.
A scandal is a bad event that attracts a lot of attention.
How does Ricardo respond to Lars' question about corruption scandals?
Well, the World Cup is a distraction from that.
And you know, his social policies are very popular with the majority.
But with all the conflicting interests in our country, he's got a lot to juggle.
Ricardo says Lula's social policies welfare, health care and so on are popular with the majority, that is, with most people.
What does Ricardo mean by conflicting interests?
In this case, he's talking about economic or political interests.
For example, rich and poor people, conservatives and liberals often have very different, conflicting interests.
Because of these conflicting interests, the president has a lot to juggle.
Juggling means keeping three or more balls or objects continuously in the air by throwing them up and catching them.
It's difficult not to drop any of the balls.
So to have a lot to juggle means to have a lot of different conflicting priorities or tasks that one has to balance.
What does Laura say about Ricardo's comment that Lula has a lot to juggle?
Don't we all?
Yeah, tell me about it.
Here, don't we all means we all have a lot of problems to juggle, don't we?
Ricardo uses another idiomatic phrase for agreeing.
Yeah, tell me about it.
Now it's your turn to practice.
Pat, whom you have met at an international conference, will ask you about the political situation in your country.
Respond by talking about your country.
Use real situations and real examples.
Then, you'll hear a follow-up question.
This time, respond by being noncommittal.
For example, by saying, It's hard to say.
Or, Honestly, there are many ways to look at it.
I'm a bit out of touch.
So, what's the political situation like in your country right now?
Hmm.
That sounds like a good thing.
I'm a bit out of touch.
So, what's the political situation like in your country right now?
Well, we have a fairly liberal government in power at the moment.
They're trying to reform health care policy.
Hmm.
That sounds like a good thing.
Well, obviously, it depends on your point of view.
Now it's your turn to ask a question.
After the beep, ask Pat about the political situation in Pat's country, France.
Remember to soften your question by using such phrases as if you don't mind my asking or if it's okay to ask.
Then after Pat responds, follow up by acknowledging, echoing, and responding.
Well, of course, with Sarkozy in charge, the government has made a big move to the right.
Now, listen to an example answer.
So if you don't mind me asking, how about France?
I'm a bit out of touch.
What is the political situation like these days?
Well, of course, with Sarkozy in charge, the government has made a big move to the right.
Hmm, to the right.
That's interesting.
It's good to go back and try the practices again.
Try substituting different language to build up fluency.
And we learned some useful vocabulary and language.
For this and the other episodes, including full transcripts, vocabulary and language review exercises.
Thanks for listening.
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