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MBA 507 Business Communication: Jeta Majumder Assistant Professor Department of Marketing University of Dhaka
MBA 507 Business Communication: Jeta Majumder Assistant Professor Department of Marketing University of Dhaka
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Jeta Majumder
Assistant Professor
Department of Marketing
University of Dhaka
Adapting Your
Words to Your
Readers
LEARNING OUTCOMES
⦿Explaining the role of adaptation in selecting words
that communicate (LO-1)
⦿Simplifying writing by selecting familiar and short
words (LO-2)
⦿Using slang and popular clichés with caution (LO-3)
⦿Using technical words and acronyms appropriately
(LO-4)
⦿Using concrete, specific words with the right
shades of meaning (LO-5)
⦿Avoiding misusing similar words and use idioms
correctly (LO-6)
⦿Using active verbs (LO-7)
⦿Using words that do not discriminate (LO-8)
ADAPT ACCORDING TO YOUR READERS
⦿ Visualize your readers/listeners. Consider
– how they think.
– what they know.
– their education level.
• Then compose for them.
• Simpler sentence structures for those who understand
less.
• More complex structures for those who understand
more.
⦿Tailoring the message according to the readers is not
only strategically necessary; it is also a sign of
consideration for their time and energy.
⦿Everyone benefits when messages are clear and
appropriate to the correspondents’ situation .
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADAPTATION
Example
⦿The following paragraphs from two company annual
reports illustrate the basic principle of adaptation.
⦿Last year your company’s total sales were
$11,74,00,000, which was slightly higher than the
$10,98,00,000 total for the year before. After
deducting for all expenses, we had $45,93,000 left
over for profits, compared with $28,30,000 for 2011.
Because of these increased profits, we were able to
increase your annual dividend payments per share
from the 50 cents paid over the last 10 years.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADAPTATION
⦿The corporation’s investments and advances in three
unconsolidated subsidiaries (all in the development
stages) and in 50 percent-owned companies was
$4,22,00,000 on December 31, 2012, and the excess
of the investments in certain companies over net
asset value at dates of acquisition was $17,60,000.
the corporation’s equity in the net assets as of
December 31, 2012, was $4,18,00,000 and in the
results of operations for the years ended December
31, 2011 and 2012, was $13,50,000 and $8,87,500,
respectively. Dividend income was $750,000 and
$3,88,000 for the years 2011 and 2012, respectively.
⦿ Which writer was right?
Incorrect Correct
The company needs to The company needs to
improve it’s website improve its website
Discriminatory Non-Discriminatory
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