Annals of the University of Oradea: Economic Science (Jul 2019)
TENSES SPECIFIC TO BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Abstract
A question of simplicity versus correctness seems to emerge quite often when discussing proper use of tenses in business communication. Several commentators argue that Business English texts are by their intrinsic nature rather direct and focused on rendering clearly and straightforwardly specific information, tending to employ the simplest of ways when doing so. Nevertheless, researchers can find voices that advocate for accuracy with respect to grammar rules implying, among others, the use of tenses, as this grammaticalness is, after all, in itself a minimal sign of the professionalism so much valued in the business fields. If simple tenses, basic forms, are seen more often than perfective aspects, this obviously makes sense from the specificity of the text analysed, from meeting's minutes or financial reports to business plans or contracts, for instance. However, tense consistency and mixed tenses are not a debatable issue when they appear to be resorted to, as their usage is surely implied for comprehensibility reasons, i.e. to facilitate correct transmission of the meaning intended. This article assumes to put forward examples of authentic texts in English from various fields of Economics and Business, showing what verbal tenses are most often used in these texts, bringing the arguments of the specialists involved and presenting own views on the matters discussed. Expectedly, it shall be seen that simple present and simple past are the tenses with the highest circulation in the specific texts presented, but the occurrence of other tenses and aspects will be analysed and justified. Though the article is just a mere overview, showing only a few examples from the very vast panel of texts in Business communication that make use of the grammar aspect of tenses, the discussions brought about will not only be of use for teachers of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), in general, and of Business English Communication, in particular, but they can also prove of relevance for students in economics, for economists and others in the business fields.
