Corporate speak
| Finn: | Hi Li. I didn't see you in the canteen today. I brought you a sandwich. |
| Li: | That's very kind of you, Finn. I had to go and buy these ... |
| Finn: | An envelope and a nice picture of a sunny beach? |
| Li: | It's the sky, Finn. My boss told me that we need blue-sky thinking and we need to push the envelope if we want to succeed in the current market. |
| Finn: | Oh, right. And what are you going to do with this envelope, and this picture, Li? |
| Li: | Well, the beach has a blue-sky ... so maybe I need to push it into the envelope ... and send it to ... the clients? I'm not sure. |
| Finn: | Li, I think what he wants has nothing to do with the sky or envelopes. These are two expressions people use in business nowadays. It's corporate language—or as we say, corporate speak. |
| Li: | What do they mean? |
| Finn: | Well, in English, 'blue-sky thinking' means having ideas which are very original, even if they're not practical or realistic. Your boss wants you to be creative. |
| Li: | And what do I do with this envelope?! |
| Finn: | Well, the expression 'to push the envelope' means to go even further than others and do things that might be new or risky or even dangerous! That's: push the envelope. |
| Li: | But why didn't he just say: be creative? |
| Finn: | Well, the world of business has its own special terms. Let's hear some examples of how to use these two expressions in today's The English We Speak. |
| It's all aboutblue-sky thinking right now; mobile phones are no longer just for calls! | |
| We're not just a normal airline. We're going to push the envelope and offer balloon flights. | |
| Li: | Oh, so all my boss wants is for me to have ideas which are new and brave. What about your boss, Finn? |
| Finn: | Well, my line manager told me this morning: "I expect you to think out of the box. If you don't step up to the plate by end of play you'll have to face the music." |
| Li: | What on earth does he mean, Finn?! |
| Finn: | I really have no idea. I think we'd need another four programmes to explain those examples of corporate speak. Another time. I'm tired just thinking about it. Bye. |
| Li: | Bye. |