(MUSIC)
Welcome to this video class in English for Professional Purposes.
Today we're talking about Economic and Telegraphic Language.
This is covered in Units 2 and 3 in the course.
You may not know what Economic and Telegraphic languages are
but by the end of this presentation
you'll have a clearer idea of what it is and how to use it.
This is the table of contents.
We'll define Economic and Telegraphic Language
then we'll see some examples: adverts, announcements
meeting agendas, the minutes of a meeting
which is the record of what took place in a meeting
and finally, how to prepare a good PowerPoint presentation.
Let's see the definition.
Economic and Telegraphic Language is a type of language
that's used in writing, where space and economy are important.
The characteristics are the following
long and superfluous words are omitted
we concentrate on the key words necessary to understand the message
functions are sometimes omitted.
What are functions? Articles, indefinite determiners
auxiliary verbs, etc.
Some examples of Economic and Telegraphic Language.
Adverts in newspapers, for example, announcements
notes in a course or in a conference
PowerPoint presentations, meeting agendas
our professional diary and records of finished meetings.
Let's look at them in detail.
Adverts.
Classified adverts in a newspaper or online
normally have these sections
the name of the employing company
the title of the post that is vacant
and all the required details about the position
location and duration
if it's short-term or long-term
requirements to be satisfied by any successful applicant
and also the job conditions
how much money you earn, the salary
perspectives to get promoted, etc.
Also, it's essential to know the contact procedure.
In the next slide, there's one example.
This is taken from the internet. A very recent advert.
In the title, “Career Opportunities” appears highlighted.
Then we have the name of the company: "Backpackers Club".
And the title: they need a manager.
Then come other sections with the details of the position
and also the requirements
the qualifications and the age they're looking for.
The experience, because any candidate needs at least three years
and finally, the salary package.
They say it's negotiable, so it depends on your qualifications
then you will get a better pay or a worse pay.
At the bottom, the ways to contact them.
In this case, a mobile phone number.
Let's see more examples, an announcement this time.
This is an announcement from the internet
from a website of a university
announcing their voting system.
It's very clearly stated: what, when and where.
What they are announcing: the registration of new voters
and other details.
When that's going to take place: the dates and the times
and where it's going to take place.
At the bottom: “for more information please call…”
and there's phone numbers.
You can see these are very short and simple
so we understand the information easily.
The agenda for the meeting.
I've highlighted the different points or stages in the agenda.
Number one is the “Call to order”.
Number two is the main point
“Chairman: Selection of chairman for committee".
“Name change”, choosing a new name for the committee
and then they move on to projects.
They follow what's happening already. Current projects.
“Big Sandy Park North”.
Then they suggest projects for other areas.
“Olive's Garden” or “Community Centre Grounds”.
Once all that's covered, they finish the meeting.
Number five: “Adjourn”.
Once the meeting takes place
it's good practice to keep a record of the meeting.
This is a template of what the minutes look like.
At the top of the page: date and location.
Attendees: people present in that meeting
any partners or guests
their name, title, the organisation they belong to
and then they write down very shortly
what the agenda items were and any decisions made.
Notes, additional discussion points and decisions.
That's at the bottom. It's all very brief.
Let's see one important example
of Economic and Telegraphic Language
these PowerPoint presentations.
Surely, you've used them already
at one point or another in your career.
It's good practice to use PowerPoint to help you visually.
There's normally a time limit: they go from 20 minutes
the usual ones are very short, 20 to 30 minutes
and may last up to an hour.
You have a limited space and cannot keep writing forever.
It's about maximum information in the minimum words.
The structure of your presentation is something to be considered.
A title page with the name of the company
and the name of the speaker.
How to contact that person, with the email address
and the company logo.
In the following slide: the introduction.
Now, the introduction
usually includes a table of contents.
In my presentation there are some bullet points
which show you the contents of this video class.
It's also done with a brief summary of the contents of the presentation.
Then comes the main core content
and we finish with the conclusions.
Let's look at it in detail.
Some tips.
It's good to include numerical information
accompanied by graphs, pie charts, etc.
It's widespread practice to use bullet points
and mine has them in different colours
to show the different levels in the presentation.
Main features of telegraphic language in PowerPoint presentations.
We use simple sentences
we reduce function words and words with little meaning
the verb “to be"
and we use symbols like arrows, the equal sign or the ampersand.
We also use lots of acronyms and abbreviations
esp. for “especially”, inc. for “including”
vs. for “versus”.
Here are some examples of this. Let's look at them.
Here's a chart
an example of numerical information accompanied by a visual aid.
We can only say that this is a project
and we see the participants' age, there's an age range
from under 25 to over 55.
You could write that, but it's clearer
if we divide them into categories like this
with under 25, over 55
then 25-35, 36-45 and 46-55.
And the pie chart with the percentages.
There's small banner saying that participants were mainly female.
61%.
A lot of information condensed in one image.
An example of simple sentences taken from our video classes.
The video class where we explain the aims of Unit 1.
If you look at the sentences, they're very short and simple.
What are the aims of Unit 1?
“Be able to ask for personal and professional information”.
“Be able to make small talk with strangers".
“Be able to talk about jobs”.
“Be able to talk about tourism and travelling”.
The sentences are not only short: we've highlighted the key words.
To add importance. So that they catch your eye.
Reduction of words. Also taken from our presentation.
You can see the bullet points and there are no verbs
if you notice it.
The first bullet point would read
“The global village is becoming increasingly mobile”.
All the key words there are: “Global village increasingly mobile”.
Or: “The mobile technology is continuously evolving”.
There's no need to use “to be” so that's understood.
So we have to shorten it, as much as possible.
Another example: the use of symbols.
Taken from another presentation.
We discussed course books and language learning.
They're important as they promote learning autonomy
and self-regulation, with a symbol.
And then, when we talk about
the sequencing in textbooks for language learning
where units tend to be structured
starting with listening, speaking, then reading and writing.
That's signalled only with arrows. A much simpler way to show it.
Then, the use of acronyms and abbreviations.
Another PowerPoint presentation.
This unit was called “ESL vs. CLIL".
"Latest trends in English language teaching”.
What's ESL? “English as a Second Language”
versus "Content and Language Integrated Learning".
It's about learning the language, or following bilingual education.
That's shortened into “ESL vs. CLIL”.
OK. This is the end of the video class.
I hope you have a clearer idea
of what Economic and Telegraphic Language is
and why it's useful in English.
Thank you.
Subtitles: Tomás Costal.