What Is The Difference Between Business English And Literary English

By Adriana Noton

People use language differently, depending on what they are trying to communicate, and with whom they are communicating. Simple conversation between a small group of people is very different from language aimed at a wider audience that is formal. Even if we look at formal language, there are many different categories. This is the case with all languages, so if we consider English we should look at what is the difference between business English and literary English.

We can differentiate between the two kinds of English in the following way. When English is used for business, there is a practical purpose that follows: to make money. Here we are dealing with commercial concerns. The English that is of a more literary nature is almost the exact opposite of this. It is not interested in money but in aesthetic or idealistic concerns.

When people talk business, the vocabulary that they use will be appropriate for finance. Their terminology will be borrowed from the fields of accounting and economics, and will not be used as much by the average person. In contrast, literary English will rarely use such words. At the same time, the diction that it uses will be much broader since it is being used to discuss a wider range of matters than just business.

There will also be some key differences in style. English in its literary form will be more elevated, with long, flowing sentences. The presentation of what is said is as important as what is being said. Business English, on the other hand, uses sentences that are concise and simple.

Most speakers of a literary version of English will be native speakers of the language, or at the very least they will have an advanced knowledge of it, acquired through many years of diligent study in it. This is not necessarily the case with business English, where the speaker may have only learned the rudiments of it in order to discuss basic business ideas.

English used for business purposes is usually used in the service of rigid analysis, and will often utilize numbers and statistics to come to a conclusion. Literary English rarely uses numbers, but is more subjective and emotional.

Because English is such a popular language, both kinds of English have flourished over the past century. We live in a global world today, whereby businesses from opposite corners of the world frequently interact with each other. If people in countries that do not speak English wish to do business with people in a country that does speak English, they will usually learn the language. Similarly, literary versions of English has grown because it is prominent in western movies and television, which are in vogue around the world.

English has always been a global language, used to express ideas across the world. Because our world is more closely connected today than ever before, people need to be able to communicate effectively. The English language accommodates this need. As long as people carry on cultural and economic exchanges, literary and business English will both be widely used.