Language Functions
Expressing Average
Average is the arithmetic mean.It is the value arrived at by adding the quantities in a series and dividing the total by their number.Average also refers to a common or usual standard.We may use the following language devices to express average:
The average size of the offices is 10 square meters.
The average weight of the sofas is 8 kilograms.
The average age of women employed in this industry is twenty-five.
An average of 1,000 yuan is spent on rent each month.
…is/are above/below average.
…is/are up to the average.
On(the/an)average,global trade grew by 6%.
Daily foreign exchange turnover averages out at US$5 trillion.
The annual bond yield averages out to 10%.
Expressing Estimation
Estimation is an opinion or assessment of value or importance.The following words or phrases are often used to express estimation:
It is/was estimated that…
As estimated,…
In one’s estimation,…
The estimated population of this country is 150 million.
At a moderate estimate,80% of the mail is written in English.
I estimate the country’s forex reserves at US$3.5 trillion.
The agency makes a rough estimate of 30 million jobless people.
Expressing Approximation
Approximation means the amount that comes close to or is almost the same as what is exactly right.The following expressions are often used in approximating:
China’s population is about/around/near/towards 1.4 billion.
China’s population is somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 billion.
China’s population is approximated at 1.4 billion.
more or less/in the rough
approximate/approximately
range from…to…
Online Library
You may log onto the following websites for more data and information of the lecture topic:
www.bis.org
www.cnbc.com
www.economist.com
www.euromoney.com
www.forbes.com
www.ft.com
www.imf.org
www.invespedia.com
www.knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu
www.mckinsey.com/mgi
www.worldbank.org
www.wto.org