DUT 1 / MTC

BUSINESS ENGLISH
 COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course title: Business English

Course objectives
On completion of this course, students should be able to:

1- define commerce, trade, money and marketing,

2- enumerate the different forms of business organization,

3- identify the key concepts of business organization,

4- describe the importance and the functions of commerce, trade, money, marketing,

advertising, banking and stock exchange.

5- define informatics, telecommunications, internet, etc.

Requirements
Learners are expected to come to sessions prepared to discuss the course contents.

Methodology
 Brainstorming on the concepts

 Plenary participatory lecture

 Presentation and explanation of the handout

Duration: 20 hours

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 OUTLINE
Course description…………… ...............................................................ii
Outline………………………. ................................................................iii
1 Introduction to commerce………………… ..................................... 1
1-1 Meaning of commerce.............................. ............................................. 1
1-2 Scope of commerce................................ ................................................ 1
1-3 Trade.............................................. ........................................................ 2
1-3-1 Diffe rence between trade and comme rce........................................ .......................3
1-3-1-1 Divisions of trade...............................................................................................4
1-3-1-2 Differences between Home Trade and Foreign Trade ..................................4
1-4 Aids to trade.......................................................................................... 4
1-5 Functions of commerce.......................................................................... 6
2-Forms of business organization.......................................... ........... 8
2-1 Sole proprietorship..................................................................................8
2-1-1 Advantages of sole proprietorship................................. .........................................9
2-1-2 Disadvantages of sole proprietorship................................ .....................................9
2-2 Partnerships........................... ............................................................ ...9
2-2-1 Advantages of partne rship................................ ....................................................10
2-2-2 Disadvantages of partnership................................................................................10
2-3 Corporations...................................................................................... 11
2-3-1 Advantages of corporation........................................ ............................................11
2-3-2 Disadvantages of corporation................................................................................11
2-4 Limited Liability Company... .. ..........................................................12
3- Sectors of economy.............. ............................................................. 14
3-1 Primary sector... .............................................................................. ..14
3-2 Secondary sector. ............................................................................. .14
3-3 Tertiary sector....... ............................................................................ 15
3-4 Channels of distribution..... .......................................................... .....15
3-4-1 Definition of a channel of distribution…..............................................................15

4- Money....... .......................................................................................... .17

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 4-1 History...... ......................................................................................... 17
4-2 Functions…. ...................................................................................... 18
4-2-1 Medium of exchange..... .........................................................................................19
4-2-2 Unit of account........................................................................................................19
4-2-3 Store of value…… ..................................................................................................20
4-2-4 Standard of deferred payment....... .......................................................................20
4-3 Types of money…………………………………….……………………20
5- Computer science................. ............................................................ 23
5-1 Definition.....................................................................................................................23

5-2 Importance of computer science..............................................................................23

5-3 Informatics as science...............................................................................................23

5-4 Reading comprehension...........................................................................................23

6- Translation Exercises...............................................................32

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1- INTRODUCTION TO COMMERCE
1-1 Meaning of commerce

Commerce can simply be defined as all the activities involved in the distribution and

exchange of goods and services. In other words, it is a branch of production which is

concerned with the distribution, exchange of goods and services and all the activities which

assist or facilitate trade. Examples of such activities are banking, insurance, transportation,

communication, tourism, etc. In other words, it is the process of buying, selling and

distributing goods and services.

It is important to note that the process of living involves three major activities which

are production, consumption and exchange. The central focus of commerce is exchange. In a

commercial sense, exchange would concentrate on the transfer of goods and services from

their producers to the customers. Commerce is therefore concerned with trade and activities

which assist trade. These include the distribution of raw materials to manufacturers and

finished products from the factory to the consumers. Commerce involves time, place and

utilities. Commerce developed as a result of specialization.

1-2 Scope of commerce

The scope of commerce may be seen as embracing the totality of all the activities

which ensure the distribution and exchange of goods and services for the satisfaction of the

people. Indeed, commerce embraces trade and the ancillaries or aids to trade.

The scope of commerce can easily be illustrated by a diagram below:

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 Commerce

Trade Aids to trade

Home Foreign insur com tour wareh transp ads banking

Ret Wh Exp imp. Entrepot

NB:
- Insur: insurance
- Com: commerce
- Tour: tourism
- Transp transport
- Ads advertising
- Ret retail
- Wh wholesale
- Exp export
- Imp import

It can therefore be said that the different activities that people get engaged in in a commercial
occupation include:

a) Trading
b) Transporting
c) Warehousing
d) Banking
e) Insurance
f) Advertising
g) Communication
h) Tourism

1-3 Trade
Trade is one of the two main divisions of commerce. It is the most important aspect of

commerce. Trade is the act of buying and selling of goods and services.

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1-3-1 Difference between trade and commerce

Trade is simply the buying and selling of goods and services, while commerce is

involved in all those activities in the distribution and exchange of goods and services.

1-3-1-1 Divisions of trade

Trade is divided into two major groups: home trade and foreign trade. Home trade is

a branch of commerce which comprises wholesaling (wholesale trade) and retailing (retail

trade).

Home trade is the act of buying and selling of goods and services within a

geographical area of a nation with the same currency. It is also referred to as domestic trade

or internal trade.

 Wholesaling is the process of buying goods in large quantity or bulk from the

producers and making them available to the retailer in small quantities. The

wholesaler serves as the intermediary or middleman between the producer and

retailer.

 Retailing is concerned mainly with the buying of goods in small quantities

from the wholesalers and making them available in units to the consumers.

Foreign trade is the buying and selling of goods and services beyond the

geographical boundaries of a country or between one country and the other. Foreign trade,

also referred to as international trade, can be bilateral or multilateral involving the use of

different currencies. It must be noted that international trade includes export, import and

entrepot.

 Export is the sale of goods (raw materials and finished goods) to other

countries in foreign currencies.

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  Import is the act of buying goods and services from other countries. Goods are

imported either in response to direct orders or on consignment.

 Entrepot is the process of importing goods and services for re-exporting to

other countries. It is also called re-export trade.

1-3-1-2 Differences between Home Trade and Foreign Trade

Home Trade Foreign Trade

Goods are moved within the same Goods are moved beyond geographical
country boundaries
One currency is used Different currencies are used
No language barrier Language barrier
Less documentation is required More complex documentation is
required
Same weight and measures are in use Different weight and measures are in
use
Same social standard, rules and Different social standard, rules and
regulations are in use regulations are in use
Lower transport cost Higher transport cost
Goods move freely Goods are subject to restrictions

1-4 Aids to commerce

Aids to trade are the ancillaries to trade. They are commercial activities which

facilitate trade; i.e., they make trade possible. They are so fundamental to trade that trading

activities cannot progress without them. Aids to trade are banking, insurance, transport,

advertising, warehousing, communication and tourism.

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  Banking: this makes trading possible by making funds available. Banks are

financial institutions which make funds available to assist people in their daily

purchases and capital for embarking on industrial activities. They make funds

available in the form of loans and overdrafts. They also accept savings from

the people. Examples of banks are commercial, merchant, mortgage banks, etc.

 Transportation: it provides the means of carrying raw materials, finished

goods and people from one place to another either by road, sea, rail, pipe or air.

 Advertising: it is the process of creating awareness in the minds of the public

about the existence of a product. It may be used to stimulate demand so as to

increase sales. It ensures that customers are aware of the existence and

availability of a particular product and they persuaded to buy it.

 Warehousing: it is the process which ensures that goods produced are stored

until they are needed. It is an important aspect of commerce aimed at seeing

that there is a regular and steady supply of goods.

 Communication: it is the means of sending and receiving information from

one place to another. Suppliers and customers can be easily linked together

through communication services, e.g.: telephone, telex, internet/e- mail, etc.

 Insurance: it is a security made against loss. It is the protection against loss or

liabilities suffered in the day-to-day business operation. In return for

premiums, individuals and corporate organizations are compensated for losses

arising from fire, flood, accident, etc.

 Tourism: it provides tourists trading opportunities at tourist centres. Many

people from different countries can converge in a country because of its tourist

attraction.

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1-5 Functions of commerce

The functions of commerce consist in:

- facilitating mass production (people all over the world can enjoy goods and services

produced both within and outside their countries),

- facilitating the raising of capital for individual needs and investment through the

services of bank,

- offering employment opportunities to large number of people such as traders, bankers,

insurance brokers etc.,

- assisting in moving people (through transport),

- facilitating the storage of goods until they are needed (through warehousing) and

- fostering unity among nations (which become interdependent) etc.

Practice N°1: vocabulary

Complete the sentences below with the suitable concepts: foreign trade, advertising,
commerce, entrepot, trade, insurance, export, home trade, warehousing, wholesaling.

1- ..........................................the process of buying goods in a large quantity or bulk from

the producers and making them available to the retailer in small quantities.
2- .........................................a branch of production which is concerned with the
distribution, exchange of goods and services and all activities which assist or facilitate
trade.
3- ...........................................the act of buying and selling of goods and services within a
geographical area of a nation with the same currency.
4- The act of buying and selling of goods and services is called .........................................
5- The buying and selling of goods and services beyond the geographical boundaries of a
country or between one country and the other is known as.............................................

6- The process of importing goods and services for re-exporting to other countries is

called...................................................................................

7- The process of creating awareness in the minds of the public about the existence of a
product is referred to as...........................................................
8- The process which ensures that goods produced are stored until they are needed
is........................................................

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 9- The protection against loss or liabilities suffered in the day-to-day business operation
is known as..................................................
10- The sale of goods (raw materials and finished goods) to other countries in foreign
currencies is called....................................................

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2- FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
A business can be organized in one of several ways, and the form its owners choose

will affect the company's and owners' legal liability and income tax treatment. Since all

businesses must adopt some legal configuration that defines the rights and liabilities of the

participants in the business‟ ownership, control, personal liability, life span, and financial

structure, it is quite important to consult with an accountant and attorney to help one select the

form of ownership that is right. It is thus important to take into account the following:

- One‟s vision regarding the size and nature of your business.

- The level of control one wishes to have.

- The level of “structure” one is willing to deal with.

- The business‟ vulnerability to lawsuits.

- Tax implications of the different organizational structures.

- Expected profit (or loss) of the business.

- Whether or not one needs to re-invest earnings into the business.

- One needs for access to cash out of the business for oneself.

Below is given an overview of the four basic legal forms of organization: Sole

Proprietorship; Partnerships; Corporations and Limited Liability Company.

2-1 Sole Proprietorship

The vast majority of small businesses start out as sole proprietorships. These firms are

owned by one person, usually the individual who has the day-to-day responsibility of running

the business. Sole proprietors own all the assets of the business and the profits generated by

it. They also assume complete responsibility for any of its liabilities or debts. Before the law

and the public, the sole proprietor is one and his/her business are one.

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2-1-1 Advantages of a Sole Proprietorship

- Easiest and least expensive form of ownership to organize.

- Sole proprietors are in complete control, and within the parameters of the law, may

make decisions as they deem fit.

- Profits from the business flow through directly to the owner‟s personal tax return.

- The business is easy to dissolve, if desired.

2-1-2 Disadvantages of a Sole Proprietorship

- Sole proprietors have unlimited liability and are legally responsible for all the debts

against the business. Their business and personal assets are at risk.

- They may be at a disadvantage in raising funds and are often limited to using funds

from personal savings or consumer loans.

- They may have a hard time attracting high-caliber employees, or those that are

motivated by the opportunity to own a part of the business.

- Some employee benefits such as owner‟s medical insurance premiums are not directly

deducible from business income (only partially as an adjustment to income).

2-2 Partnerships

In a Partnership, two or more people share ownership of a single business. Like sole

proprietorships, the law does not distinguish between the business and its owners. The

Partners should have a legal agreement that sets forth how decisions will be made, profits will

be shared, disputes will be resolved, how future partners will be admitted to the partnership,

how partners can be bought out, or what steps will be taken to dissolve the partnership when

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needed. It is hard to think about a “break-up” when the business is just getting started, but

many partnerships split up at crisis times and unless there is a defined process, there will be

even greater problems. They must also decide beforehand how much time and capital each

partner will contribute, etc.

2-2-1 Advantages of a Partnership

- Partnerships are relatively easy to establish; however time should be invested in

developing the partnership agreement.

- With more than one owner, the ability to raise funds may be increased.

- The profits from the business flow directly through to the partners‟ personal tax return.

- Prospective employees may be attracted to the business if given the incentive to

become a partner.

- The business usually benefits from partners who have complementary skills.

2-2-2 Disadvantages of a Partnership

- Partners are jointly and individually liable for the actions of the other partners.

- Profits must be shared with others.

- Since decisions are shared, disagreements can occur.

- Some employee benefits are not deducible from business income on tax returns.

- The partnership may have a limited life; it may end upon the withdrawal or death of a

partner.

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2-3 Corporations

A Corporation, chartered by the state in which it is headquartered, is considered by

law to be a unique entity, separate and apart from those who own it. A Corporation can be

taxed; it can be sued; it can enter into contractual agreements. The owners of a corporation are

its shareholders. The shareholders elect a board of directors to oversee the major policies and

decisions. The corporation has a lifespan of its own and does not dissolve when the ownership

changes.

2-3-1 Advantages of a Corporation

- Shareholders have limited liability for the corporation‟s debts or judgments against the

corporation.

- Generally, shareholders can only be held accountable for their investment in the

creation of the company. (Note that officers can be held personally liable for their

actions, such as the failure to withhold and pay employment taxes).

- Corporations can raise additional funds through the sale of stocks.

- A Corporation may deduct from the benefits it provides to officers and employees.

2-3-2 Disadvantages of a Corporation

- The process of incorporation requires more time and money than other forms of

organization.

- Corporations are monitored by federal, state and some local agencies and, as a result,

may have more paperwork to do in order to comply with regulations.

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 - Incorporating may result in higher overall taxes. Dividends paid to shareholders are

not deducible from business income; thus this income can be taxed twice.

2-4 Limited Liability Company (LLC)

This business structure protects the owner's personal assets from financial liability and

provides some protection against personal liability. There are situations where an LLC owner

can still be held personally responsible, such as if s/he intentionally does something

fraudulent, reckless or illegal, or if s/he fails to adequately separate the activities of the LLC

from his/her personal affairs.

This structure is established under state law, so the rules governing LLCs vary

depending on where your business is located. According to the IRS, most states do not allow

banks, insurance companies or non-profit organizations to be LLCs.

Because an LLC is a state structure, there are no special federal tax forms for LLCs.

An LLC must elect to be taxed as an individual, partnership or corporation. One will need to

file paperwork with the state if one wants to adopt this business structure, and one will need to

pay fees that usually range from $100 to $800. In some states, there is an additional annual fee

for being an LLC.

Practice N°2: Grammar

Task One: Supply the right tense of each bracketed verb

1- Partnerships often (to end) upon the withdrawal or death of a partner

2- It is the first time the government (to attempt) to dissolve a corporation in this country

3- Watch out! That one-man-business (to destroy) (passive form)

4- How many villagers (to constitute) a partnership in this village thus far?

5- A Moov Store (to set) in my village recently (passive form)

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 6- Ten dishonest employees (to fire) from this corporation last week (passive form)

7- The management (to hire) ten employees soon

8- It is high time employers (to stop) misbehaving

Task Two: Translate the following sentences into French

1- I operate a sole proprietorship by using a personal account and I need to receive an original
cheque back with my statement.
2- By contrast, if the Claimant had chosen to run a sole proprietorship there would be more
income but also more expenses.
3- The most common legal form is the sole proprietorship; only about 10 % take the form of
an incorporated or limited company.
4- A private limited liability company is managed by one or more managers (individuals or
companies, residents or non-residents, who may or may not be shareholders).
5- Do you need to work in partnership with another, better-known organisation?

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3- SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY
According to Matt Rosenberg, a nation‟s economy can be divided into various sectors

to define the proportion of the population engaged in the activity sector. This categorization is

seen as a continuum of distance from the natural environment. The continuum starts with the

primary sector, which concerns itself with the utilization of raw materials from the earth such

as agriculture and mining. From there, the distance from the raw materials of the earth

increases.

3-1 Primary Sector

The primary sector of the economy extracts or harvests products from the earth. The

primary sector includes the production of raw materials and basic foods. Activities associated

with the primary sector include agriculture (both subsistence and commercial), mining,

forestry, farming, grazing, hunting and gathering, fishing, and quarrying. The packaging and

processing of the raw material associated with this sector is also considered to be part of this

sector.

In developed and developing countries, a decreasing proportion of workers are

involved in the primary sector. About 3% of the U.S. labour force is engaged in the primary

sector activity today, while more than two-thirds of the labour force was primary sector

workers in the mid-nineteenth century.

3-2 Secondary Sector

The secondary sector of the economy manufactures finished goods. All of the

manufacturing, processing, and construction activities fall within the secondary sector.

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Activities associated with the secondary sector include metal working and smelting,

automobile production, textile production, chemical and engineering industries, aerospace

manufacturing, energy utilities, engineering, breweries and bottlers, construction, and

shipbuilding.

3-3 Tertiary Sector

The tertiary sector of the economy is the service industry. This sector renders services

to the general population and to businesses. Activities associated with this sector include retail

and wholesale sales, transportation and distribution, entertainment (movies, television, radio,

music, theatre, etc.), restaurants, clerical services, media, tourism, insurance, banking,

healthcare, and law.

In most developed and developing countries, a growing proportion of workers are

devoted to the tertiary sector. In the U.S., more than 80% of the labour force is tertiary

workers.

3-4 Channels of distribution

3-4-1 Definition of a Channel of Distribution

A channel of distribution can be defined as the collection of organizational units,

institutions, or agencies within or external to the manufacturer, which perform the functions

that support product marketing. The marketing functions are pervasive: they include buying,

selling, transporting, storing, grading, financing, bearing market risk, and providing marketing

information. Any organizational unit, institution, or agency that performs one or more of the

marketing functions is a member of a channel of distribution.

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 The structure of a distribution channel is determined by the marketing functions that

specific organizations perform. Some channel members perform single function-carriers,

transport products, and public warehouses store them. Others such as third party logistics

providers and wholesalers perform multiple functions. Channel structure affects (1) control

over the performance of functions, (2) the speed of delivery and communication, and (3) the

cost of operations.

While a direct manufacturer-to-user channel usually gives management greater control

over the performance of marketing functions, distribution costs normally are higher, making it

necessary for the firm to have substantial sales volume or market concentration. With indirect

channels, the external institutions or agencies (e.g. carriers, warehousers, wholesalers, and

retailers) assume much of the cost burden and risk, so the manufacturer receives less revenue

per unit.

Most distribution channels are loosely structured networks of vertically aligned firms.

The specific structure depends to a large extent on the nature of the product and the firm's

target market. There is no "best" channel structure, for all firms producing similar products.

Management must determine channel structure within the framework of the firm's corporate

and marketing objectives, its operating philosophy, its strengths and weaknesses, and its

infrastructure of manufacturing facilities and warehouses. If the firm has targeted multiple

market segments, management may have to develop multiple channels to service these

markets efficiently.

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4- MONEY
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and

services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main

functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account, a store of

value; and, occasionally in the past, a standard of deferred payment. Any kind of object or

secure verifiable record that fulfils these functions can serve as money.

4-1 History
The use of barter-like methods may date back to at least 100,000 years ago, though

there is no evidence of a society or economy that relied primarily on barter. Instead, non-

monetary societies operated largely along the principles of gift economics. When barter did

occur, it was usually between either complete strangers or potential enemies.

Many cultures around the world eventually developed the use of commodity money.

The shekel was originally a unit of weight, and referred to a specific weight of barley, which

was used as currency. The first usage of the term came from Mesopotamia circa 3000 BC.

Societies in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia used shell money – often, the shells of

the money cowry (Cypraea moneta L. or C. annulus L.). According to Herodotus, the Lydians

were the first people to introduce the use of gold and silver coins. It is thought by modern

scholars that these first stamped coins were minted around 650–600 BC.

The system of commodity money eventually evolved into a system of representative

money. This occurred because gold and silver merchants or banks would issue receipts to

their depositors– redeemable for the commodity money deposited. Eventually, these receipts

became generally accepted as a means of payment and were used as money. Paper money or

banknotes were first used in China during the Song Dynasty. These banknotes, known as

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“jiaozi”, evolved from promissory notes that had been used since the 7th century. However,

they did not displace commodity money, and were used alongside coins. Banknotes were first

issued in Europe by Stockholms Banco in 1661, and were again also used alongside coins.

The gold standard, a monetary system where the medium of exchange is paper notes that are

convertible into pre-set, fixed quantities of gold, replaced the use of gold coins as currency in

the 17th-19th centuries in Europe. These gold standard notes were made legal tender, and

redemption into gold coins was discouraged. By the beginning of the 20th century almost all

countries had adopted the gold standard, backing their legal tender notes with fixed amounts

of gold.

After World War II, at the Bretton Woods Conference, most countries adopted fiat

currencies that were fixed to the US dollar. The US dollar was in turn fixed to gold. In 1971

the US government suspended the convertibility of the US dollar to gold. After this many

countries de-pegged their currencies from the US dollar, and most of the world's currencies

became unbacked by anything except the governments' fiat of legal tender and the ability to

convert the money into goods via payment.

4-2 Functions

In the past, money was generally considered to have the following four main

functions, which are summed up in a rhyme found in older economics textbooks: “Money is a

matter of functions four, a medium, a measure, a standard, a store” That is, money functions

as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a standard of deferred payment, and a store of

value. However, modern textbooks now list only three functions, that of medium of exchange,

unit of account, and store of value, not considering a standard of deferred payment as a

distinguished function, but rather subsuming it in the others.

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 There have been many historical disputes regarding the combination of money‟s

functions, some arguing that they need more separation and that a single unit is insufficient to

deal with them all. One of these arguments is that the role of money as a medium of exchange

is in conflict with its role as a store of value: its role as a store of value requires holding it

without spending, whereas its role as a medium of exchange requires it to circulate. Others

argue that storing of value is just deferral of the exchange, but does not diminish the fact that

money is a medium of exchange that can be transported both across space and time. The term

'financial capital' is a more general and inclusive term for all liquid instruments, whether or

not they are a uniformly recognized tender.

4-2-1 Medium of exchange

When money is used to intermediate the exchange of goods and services, it is

performing a function as a medium of exchange. This facilitates the means of exchange. It

came into use as a result of inadequacies of the barter system. Money is therefore widely

acceptable as payment of debts.

4-2-2 Unit of account

A unit of account is a standard numerical unit of measurement of the market value of

goods, services, and other transactions. Also known as a „measure‟ or „standard‟ of relative

worth and deferred payment, a unit of account is a necessary prerequisite for the formulation

of commercial agreements that involve debt. To function as a „unit of account‟, whatever is

being used as money must be:

 Divisible into smaller units without loss of value; precious metals can be

coined from bars, or melted down into bars again.

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  Fungible: that is, one unit or piece must be perceived as equivalent to any

other, which is why diamonds, works of art or real estate are not suitable as

money.

 A specific weight, or measure, or size to be verifiably countable. For instance,

coins are often milled with a red edge, so that any removal of material from the

coin (lowering its commodity value) will be easy to detect.

4-2-3 Store of value

To act as a store of value, money must be able to be reliably saved, stored, and

retrieved– and be predictably usable as a medium of exchange when it is retrieved. The value

of the money must also remain stable over time. When there is no inflation, money stored or

saved retains its value for many years.

4-2-4 Standard of deferred payment

Since money can be stored, it can be accumulated to pay debts that are fixed in terms

of money. Money can serve as a medium by which business transactions on credit can be

settled in the future. The use of money makes it possible for payments to be deferred from the

present to some future date.

4-3 Types of money

Currently, most modern monetary systems are based on fiat money. However, for

most of history, almost all money was commodity money, such as gold and silver coins. As

economies developed, commodity money was eventually replaced by representative money,

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such as the gold standard, as traders found the physical transportation of gold and silver

burdensome. Fiat currencies gradually took over in the last hundred years, especially since the

breakup of the Bretton Woods system in the early 1970s.

 Commodity money: this is the type of money which has value as money and

also as commodity. Commodity money is valuable for its own sake since it can

be put to some other use. They can be used as a medium of exchange, e.g.:

gold, diamond, cattle, etc.

 Representative money: in 1875, economist William Stanley Jevons described

what he called „representative money‟ as money that consists of token coins, or

other physical tokens such as certificates, that can be reliably exchanged for a

fixed quantity of a commodity such as gold or silver. The value of

representative money stands in direct and fixed relation to the commodity that

backs it, while not itself.

 Currency refers to physical objects generally accepted as a medium of

exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular

government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation‟s money supply.

The other part of a nation‟s money supply consists of bank deposits

(sometimes called deposit money), ownership of which can be transferred by

means of cheques, debit cards, or other forms of money transfer. Deposit

money and currency are money in the sense that both are acceptable as a means

of payment. Money in the form of currency has predominated throughout most

of history. Usually (gold or silver) coins of intrinsic value (commodity money)

have been the norm. However, nearly all contemporary money systems are

based on fiat money– any money the government declares the fiat currency

(typically notes and coins issued by the central bank) to be legal tender but is

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 not backed by reserved. Paper money is fiat money since it can no longer be

redeemed for gold and its intrinsic worth is almost nil.

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5- COMPUTER SCIENCE
5-1 Definition
Informatics, data processing or computer science can be defined as both technology
and science. Considered as a technology, informatics concerns the conception and the upkeep
of software and material infrastructure. Considered as a science, it covers a number of
theories, formal work tools and methods which assure the basis and the development of the
technology and renew our field of knowledge.

5-2 Importance of computer science

Informatics is a key discipline which participates directly in the development and
functioning of all techniques, sciences and human society. The number of persons involved in
the production, treatment and distribution of information is always on the increase. The
demand for people qualified in informatics may be subject to certain variations in the
economic climate, but its global increase has been evident for some time and this tendency
will without doubt be confirmed in the coming years.

5-3 Informatics as science

Informatics is a recent and dynamic discipline that is developing with the rapid
evolution of technology and the theoretical advances in the science of computing. This
progress has a huge impact on all scientific disciplines that use or interact with it. Various
interdisciplinary fields originate from informatics, e.g.: medical informatics, systems of
geographical information, business informatics, legal informatics, bio-informatics, lingual
informatics.

5-4 Reading Comprehension

Text 1:

Communication is the way of expressing our thoughts. In other words, communication

means sending or receiving message from one end to other. We can express our feelings to

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other by speaking, writing or silent indications. All living beings communicate to each other
in different ways.
In ancient age pigeons were used for sending letters. This was the slow and unreliable
means of communication. Horsemen were also used for sending royal messages in early ages.
Letters are most common means of communication. Postcards, inland letters, envelops,
postage stamps, etc., are used for writing letters. Money order can be used to send money and
speed-post services can be used to send urgent messages by post. For quick and very urgent
messages telegram can be sent through the telegraph office.
In Modern age, Telephones and mobiles are most commonly used means of
communication. They are not only very fast but also link far distant location within no time.
They link not only the major cities but also villages of the whole world. Telephones are static
whereas Mobile phones can be carried anywhere, so, are very popular now a days. They help
anyone to talk to others anytime and from anywhere. When we want to give a message to a
very large number of people at different locations we can use any one of newspapers,
magazines, cinema, radio and television, etc. This is called Mass Communication.
Internet is very cheap and reliable means of not only for communication but also
useful for employment and education. Internet has brought the whole world to a very small
workplace. We can surf for any information on internet. E-mail can be used to send small or
bulk of information to any part of the world. Radio and Television News and entertainment
programmes are broadcasted on radio and television. Radio can be used only for broadcasting
the audio, whereas television can broadcast both audio and video for communication.
Other means of communication include radars and artificial Satellites Radars are
mostly used by armed forces for receiving enemy information. They can be used to get the
position of enemy's aircrafts in air. They are very useful for air-traffic control in airports.
Artificial Satellites are used to communicate with very distant locations. They are used to
live-telecast matches and other programmes to all over the world.

Skimming

Tas k One : Are the s e s tate me nts Right or Wrong?

1- Only men and women have the ability communicate their thoughts with their peers.
2- Horsemen were used to send urgent message.
3- Telephones can be carried anywhere.

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 4- Television can broadcast both audio and video for communication.
5- Air-traffic control in airports relies on radars.
Scanning

Task Two: Answer these questions on the text

1- Find a suitable title for the text above.

2- Give two examples of traditional means of communication which are not mentioned in
the text.
3- What are the plants required in telecommunication?
4- What enables us to talk to other people at anytime we want?
5- How can we give a message to a very large number of people at different locations?

Task Three: Match words in Column A with their meanings in Column B

Column A Column B
1- Telegram a) To send out programmes on television or radio.
2- Newspaper b) Costing little money or less money than expected.
3- Cheap c) A system that uses radio waves to locate the position and
movement of objects.
4- Broadcast d) A message sent by telegraph and then printed and given
to somebody.
5- Radar e) A set of large printed sheets of paper containing articles,
advertisements, news, etc.

Task Four: Supply the correct tense for the bracketed verbs

1- Alfred (to send) e-mails to his friends recently?

2- If Anita (to have) money, she will buy a Personal Computer.
3- It is high time UPI-ONM‟s students in telecommunication engineering (to design) new
devices.
4- Afi (to communicate) with her boyfriend regularly?
5- The best students (to be rewarded) by the chancellor next month.

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Tas k Five : Trans late the las t paragraph of the te xt into Fre nch.

From „Other means……………..‟ down to „…………………all over the world‟

Spe aking

Tas k Six: Dis cus s ion

Discuss the difference between traditional means of communication and the modern ones.

Text 2:
Telecommunications engineering, or telecom engineering, is an engineering discipline
that brings together electrical engineering with computer science to enhance
telecommunication systems. The work ranges from basic circuit design to strategic mass
developments. A telecommunications engineer is responsible for designing and overseeing the
installation of telecommunications equipment and facilities, such as complex electronic
switching systems, copper wire telephone facilities, and fiber optics. Telecommunications
engineering also overlaps heavily with broadcast engineering.
Telecommunication is a diverse field of engineering which is connected to electronics,
civil, structural, and electrical engineering. Ultimately, telecom engineers are responsible for
providing the method for customers to have telephone and high-speed data services. It helps
people who are closely working in political and social fields, as well as accounting and
project management.
Telecom engineers use a variety of equipment and transport media available from a
multitude of manufacturers to design the telecom network infrastructure. The most common
media, often referred to as plant in the telecom industry, used by telecommunications
companies today are copper, coaxial cable, fiber, and radio.
Telecom engineers are often expected, as most engineers are, to provide the best
solution possible for the lowest cost to the company. This often leads to creative solutions to
problems that often would have been designed differently without the budget constraints
dictated by modern society. In the earlier days of the telecom industry, massive amounts of
cable were placed (that were never used) or have been replaced by modern technology such as
fiber optic cable and digital multiplexing techniques.

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 Telecom engineers are also responsible for overseeing the companies' records of
equipment and facility assets. Their work directly impacts assigning appropriate accounting
codes for taxes and maintenance purposes, budgeting and overseeing projects.

Skimming

Tas k One : Are the s e s tate me nts Right or Wrong?

1- Telecommunications engineering enables the improvement of telecommunication

systems.
2- There is no link between telecommunications engineering and broadcast
engineering.
3- Accountants and project managers can find telecommunications useful.
4- Telecom network infrastructure is hardly designed by telecom engineers.
5- Finding creative solutions to problems at the highest cost is quite welcome in the
field of telecommunications engineering

Scanning

Task Two: Answer these questions on the text

1- Find a suitable title for the text above.

2- Give two relevant examples of what a telecommunications engineer is in charge of.
3- What are the plants required in telecommunications?
Tas k Thre e : Find in the te xt words me aning the s ame as :

1- Informatics (paragraph 1)
2- Improve (paragraph 1)
3- Finally (paragraph 2)
4- In charge of (paragraphs 1/2/5)
5- Large quantity (paragraph 4)
Task Four: Supply the right tense of each bracketed verb
1- These villagers barely (to communicate) through internet.
2- If Ibrahim had had professional qualification in telecommunication engineering,
Benin Telecom (to recruit) him.

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 3- Watch out! These electronic engineering students (to design) new devices.
4- By this time next June, UPI-ONM‟s students in year one (to complete) their
training.
5- No sooner had Anita set her business than the thieves (to rob) all her facilities.

Tas k Five : Trans late into Fre nch the following s e nte nce s .

1- Telecommunications engineering, or telecom engineering, is an engineering

discipline that brings together electrical engineering with computer science to
enhance telecommunication systems.
2- Telecom engineers are often expected, as most engineers are, to provide the best
solution possible for the lowest cost to the company.
3- Telecommunications engineering also overlaps heavily with broadcast
engineering.
4- Ultimately, telecom engineers are responsible for providing the method for
customers to have telephone and high-speed data services.
5- Telecom engineers are also responsible for overseeing the companies' records of
equipment and facility assets.
Spe aking

Tas k Six: Dis cus s ion

Do you think that telecom engineers can contribute to the development of a country?
Why or why not?

Text 3: The Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the
standard Internet Protocol Suite to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of
networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government
networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and
optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a vast range of information resources
and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW)
and the infrastructure to support electronic mail.
Most traditional communications media including telephone, music, film, and
television are reshaped or redefined by the Internet, giving birth to new services such as Voice
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over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and IPTV. Newspaper, book and other print publishing are
adapting to Web site technology, or are reshaped into blogging and web feeds. The Internet
has enabled or accelerated new forms of human interactions through instant messaging,
Internet forums, and social networking. Online shopping has boomed both for major retail
outlets and small artisans and traders. Business-to-business and financial services on the
Internet affect supply chains across entire industries.
The origins of the Internet reach back to research of the 1960s, commissioned by the
United States government in collaboration with private commercial interests to build robust,
fault-tolerant, and distributed computer networks. The funding of a new U.S. backbone by the
National Science Foundation in the 1980s, as well as private funding for other commercial
backbones, led to worldwide participation in the development of new networking
technologies, and the merger of many networks. The commercialization of what was by the
1990s an international network resulted in its popularization and incorporation into virtually
every aspect of modern human life. As of 2009, an estimated quarter of Earth's population
used the services of the Internet.
The Internet has no centralized governance in either technological implementation or
policies for access and usage; each constituent network sets its own standards. Only the
overreaching definitions of the two principal name spaces in the Internet, the Internet Protocol
address space and the Domain Name System, are directed by a maintainer organization, the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The technical underpinning
and standardization of the core protocols is an activity of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF), a non-profit organization of loosely affiliated international participants that anyone
may associate with by contributing technical expertise.

Skimming

Tas k One : Are the s e s tate me nts Right or Wrong?

1- Internet network consists of academic and business networks only.

2- Internet has helped give a new shape to traditional communications media.
3- Internet has been coined in USA.
4- 25% of world population uses the services of the Internet.
5- Access to and usages of internet are free from regulations.
Scanning

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Task Two: Answer these questions on the text

1- What are the functions of internet?

2- State the impacts of internet on human beings.
3- What do VoIP and IPTV stand for?
4- What does IETF stand for?
Tas k Thre e : Find in the te xt the oppos ite of the s e words :

1- Narrow (paragraph 1)
2- Prevented (paragraph 2)
3- Decelerate (paragraph 2)
4- Death (paragraph 3)
5- Tightly (paragraph 4)

Task Four: Turn the bracketed words into verbs ending in ‘ify’ or ‘ise’

1- Do you think our authorities should...............................all the administrative

structures? (computer).
2- I think so. This will enable our authorities to ...............................not only financial
resources but also time (economy).
3- Such measures will even ...............................task for workers (simple).
4- I don‟t think so. Some workers are still unable to...............................the different parts
of a computer (identification).
5- Let us ask our lecturer to...............................this situation for us (clarity).

Task Five: Write the correct tense or form of the bracketed verbs.

1- Do you think that by the end of this year every Beninese student (to have) his/her own
computer?
2- As soon as a student gets the financial means, s/he (to buy) a PC.
3- In Afiavi‟s village, teachers seldom (to use) a computer.
4- Watch out! That small boy (to surf).
5- In UPI-ONM, how many students (to work) on a computer so far?

Tas k Six: Trans late the s e s e nte nce s into Englis h

1- Paul utilise son ordinateur portatif pour faire des recherches.

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 2- A quoi sert le clavier d‟un ordinateur?
3- La technologie évolue! Je n‟ai jamais vu un si petit ordinateur.
4- Je dois apprendre à saisir un texte.
5- En 2011, certains politiciens ont promis un ordinateur pour chaque étudiant.

Spe aking

Tas k Se ve n: Dis cus s ion

Discuss how internet can be misused.

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 6- TRANSLATION EXERCISES
Anglais
1- These transactions are minute in the
grand scheme of global commerce, but they
make a substantial difference in the lives of
the people who trade in small quantities of
products such as maize meal, sugar, beans,
and beverages.
2- However, the difference between
production, trade and consumption also
plays a major role.
3- Safeguarding the social function of the
market is what makes the difference
between free trade, pure and simple, and a
system for improving people's quality of life.
4- However, it is important to note the
difference between e-business and
electronic trade.
5- The Principles were developed in
consultation with industry and the general
public to facilitate trade and commerce
between the United States and European
Union.
6- Those with a special interest in how the f) Ceux ayant un intérêt particulier dans la façon
organisation functions - the Chamber of dont l'organisation fonctionne - la Chambre de
Commerce or economic development
organisations.
7- Transnational corporations and other
business enterprises shall act in
accordance with fair business,
marketing and advertising practices
UPI-ONM
Français
a) Ces transactions représentent une goutte d'eau
dans l'océan du commerce mondial, mais elles ont
une influence considérable sur le quotidien des
personnes qui vendent des produits en petites
quantités, par exemple de la farine de maïs, du sucre,
des légumes secs et des boissons.
b) Il n'en demeure pas moins que la différence entre
production, commerce et consommation joue
également un rôle majeur.
c) La sauvegarde de la fonction sociale du marché fait
toute la différence entre un libéralisme pur et dur et
un système visant à l'amélioration de la qualité de la
vie des citoyens.
d) Néanmoins, il est important de noter la différence
entre la cyberactivité (e-business) et le commerce
électronique (etrade).
e) Les principes ont été élaborés en concertation avec
les entreprises et le grand public dans le but de
faciliter le commerce et les relations d'affaires entre
les États-Unis et l'Union européenne
Commerce ou des organismes de développement
économique.
g) Les sociétés transnationales et autres
entreprises adoptent des pratiques loyales en
matière d'opérations commerciales, de
commercialisation et de publicité et prennent
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 Anglais
and shall take all necessary steps to
ensure the safety and quality
8- Specializations available in the
following areas: Certified General
Accountant (CGA), Chartered Accountant
(CA) and Certified Management
Accountant (CMA), Cost Accountant,
Income Tax Expert and Chief
Accountant.

Français
toutes les dispositions nécessaires
h) Une formation spécialisée est disponible dans
les domaines suivants: comptable général licencié,
(CGA), comptable agréé (CA) et comptable en
management accrédité (CMA), comptable de coûts
de revient, expert d'impôt sur le revenu et chef
comptable.

9- Transnational corporations, [and] "other

i) Les sociétés transnationales [et], « autres
[business] enterprises" and their suppliers,
entreprises » [commerciales] et leurs fournisseurs,
subcontractors and licensees shall act in
sous-traitants et preneurs de licences [ont
accordance with fair business, l'obligation de suivre] doivent observer des
marketing, and advertising practices pratiques loyales en matière d'opérations
and shall take all necessary steps to ensure
commerciales, de commercialisation et de
the safety and quality of the goods. publicité et prendre toutes dispositions
nécessaires.
j) La nouvelle loi interdira la publicité, le
10- The new law will ban unfair marketing et les autres pratiques commerciales
advertising, marketing and other déloyales auxquelles les entreprises ont recours
commercial practices used by businesses dans leurs relations avec les consommateurs.
in their dealings with consumers.

11- Further, this Directive does not affect

k) La présente directive n'affecte pas non plus les
accepted advertising and marketing
pratiques publicitaires et commerciales admises,
practices, such as legitimate product
comme le placement légitime de produits, la
placement, brand differentiation or the
différenciation des marques
offering

12- Our advertisers are going to rethink

l) Nos annonceurs vont repenser leur
their marketing and advertising
commercialisation, leur communication et
strategy, but first and foremost, how they
d'abord leur création.
are created.

13- It's also important to plan external m) Il est également important de planifier des
marketing and advertising strategies to stratégies de marketing et de publicité externes
reach Non-Referred Consumers who know pour atteindre les clients non référés qui ne
nothing about your practice. connaissent pas votre pratique.

14- Internet marketing can be more
efficient than print marketing materials
and advertising strategies which can be
expensive to produce and traditionally
have a short shelf life.
n) Le marketing sur Internet peut s'avérer plus
efficace que les imprimés de marketing ou les
stratégies publicitaires qui coûtent cher à
concevoir et qui ne sont efficaces qu'à court terme.

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15- The firm offers marketing strategies
and marketing controlling focussing on
the e-commerce, social media, online
advertising, multi channel and brand
management areas.
o) La société est spécialisée en conseil et pilotage
marketing dans les domaines de l'e-commerce,
des médias sociaux, de la publicité en ligne, du
marketing multicanal et du branding.

16- In fact, articles bursting with advice on p) En effet, on peut y lire des articles débordant de
marketing, advertising, legal matters, conseils portant sur le marketing, la publicité, le
quality of customer service and sales droit, la qualité du service à la clientèle et les
strategies can be found there. stratégies de vente.

17- Psychologists only use advertising or

q) Les psychologues se servent uniquement de
marketing strategies, and only make
stratégies de marketing, de publicité et
public statements, that are consistent with
d’énoncés publics compatibles au bien-être des
the welfare of the client, other
clients, des autres psychologues et de la profession
psychologists, and the profession of
de la psychologie.
psychology.

18- He has also served as Governor of the

r) Il a également été gouverneur de la Bourse de
Montreal Stock Exchange.
Montréal.

19- It is the same as a stock exchange,

s) C'est l'équivalent d'une bourse, avec des
with shares and exchanges.
actions et des échanges.
20- All the Community producers are part
of large corporate groups listed on the
t) Tous les producteurs communautaires
stock exchange, which allows them to
appartiennent à de grands groupes cotés en bourse,
raise capital within the group.
ce qui leur permet de mobiliser des capitaux au
sein même du groupe.
21- A stock exchange allowed industrial
u) La Bourse permet aux industriels de mettre en
promoters to "float" shares in new ventures
circulation les actions de nouvelles entreprises
and allowed individual investors to
risquées et aux investisseurs d'échanger entre eux
exchange existing shares and bonds with
actions et obligations.
other investors.

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