False Friends - Taschen Guide

about the conjuncture. But I would like to see my performance paid at the market price. Inflation has increased in the last five years, too, also I am earning less than at the start, though I work harder.
    Holly: My hands are tied where money is concerned. I can't allocate any more for salaries until the evaluation round. What I can do at present, though, is offer you other concessions …
Which false friends were used?
Pia spoke about a ‚theme‘ that was important to her. As already mentioned, in this context it is better to say ‚subject‘ or ‚topic‘ . ↓
Pia wants ‚to become a salary raise‘ (sie will eine Gehaltserhöhung werden). This mistake happens a lot and can be forgiven, but it certainly confuses English speakers with no knowledge of German. Use ‚to have‘ or ‚to receive‘ . ↓ ↓ ↓
Another common error is using ‚branch‘ as a translation of Branche. You can talk about the Frankfurt branch of a German company (die Frankfurter Filiale) but otherwise say ‚ sector‘ or ‚ industry‘ . ↓ ↓
‚Engagement‘ was also mentioned earlier. It is not Pia's Verlobung that she should be emphasizing, but her commitment . ↓ ↓ ↓
Also/ also ? Be careful here.‚… also I am earning less …‘ should be ‚… so (or therefore ) I am earning less …‘, because Pia is pointing out a consequence. ↓
Tips for negotiations
Write down on paper the things you want to talk about, your point of view and the reason(s) for it. Check it before your meeting.
If you are not used to conducting negotiations in English, look up the vocabulary you are not sure about beforehand – online dictionaries are a good resource if they provideexample sentences to show the correct use of words that have various meanings.
Useful vocabulary
    in turn
der Reihe nach
pitfall
Falle
tell-tale
verräterisch
an array of
eine Vielzahl
text message
SMS
extinct
ausgestorben
off by heart
auswendig
daunting
beängstigend
out of the woods
aus dem Gröbsten raus

False friends on a business trip
    Do you travel often? Here are some of the situations you are most likely to encounter on a business trip. Maybe there are a few things in this section that you will have the opportunity to try out right away.
    In this chapter you will see some false friends in action:
at the airport (page 34),
at a restaurant and while shopping (page 36),
and when small talk takes place (page 42).
    At the airport
    The check-in staff at international airports can usually speak at least one other foreign language, so checking-in is normally easy, especially now it is more automated. Still, watch out for false friends, whether you are an airport employee or a business traveler.
    Example
    Lisa has arrived safely in Manchester, but her luggage has not.
    Lisa: Hello, my coffer hasn't arrived. Is there someone who can help me?
    Baggage claim attendant: Coffer? (The man smiles. He knows ‚a coffer‘ as a wooden box full of treasure that pirates normally search for.) What does it look like?
    Lisa: It's big, blue, and it has rolls.
    Baggage claim attendant: (understands: groß, blau und hat Brötchen! Looks at the empty baggage carousel) No, it doesn't seem to be here. Do you see that office over there? The lady in there can help you.
    Lisa (in the office): Hello, my coffer has not arrived. Do you know where it is? Here is my pass, and here is my boarding pass from the machine I came in.
    Employee: (Wonders what type of machine Lisa travelled with – normally air passengers travel by plane.) Aha, I see. I'll look in the computer and perhaps we can locate your luggage. I see it was just one suitcase, am I right?
    Lisa: Yes, that's correct. I knew something would go wrong. We started an hour late and … this is really a problem.
    Employee: I'm afraid the database has no record yet of the whereabouts of your suitcase, but I expect it will be updated any moment. When it arrives, we can have it delivered to you. Could you tell me where you are staying?
    Lisa: But what will I do until my suitcase arrives? All my things are in it …
    Employee: I can give you a voucher so that you can buy the essentials, and I am certain you will have your case by this evening.
    Lisa: I see I have no choice. I will give you the address of my hotel and my handy number.
    Employee: (understands: nützliche Telefonnummer) Thank you; that would be great.
What needs to be corrected?
    Don't say