2014年ESL之商务英语 21 Dealing with Bureaucracy

（单词翻译）

Dealing¹ with Bureaucracy

Jogi: I knew when we got this government contract that it would be a two- edged sword. 

Deborah: How so? 

Jogi: I’m grateful for the work, but having to jump through hoops² of the government’s bureaucracy has me pulling my hair out. 

Deborah: What’s wrong now? 

Jogi: You know that all of our documents have to be submitted in triplicate. I anticipated that and had done everything to the letter, or so I thought. 

Deborah: I know. I helped you prepare those documents. What’s the problem? 

Jogi: The documents were sent back to us because they say we didn’t follow some of the reporting regulations. But the verbiage³ in the regulations is so convoluted⁴ that I had to interpret them to the best of my ability. I thought I had done everything right. 

Deborah: Didn’t they tell you what they thought was done wrong when they returned the documents? 

Jogi: All I got was a form letter with no specifics. 

Deborah: I suggest calling the office responsible for reviewing the documents and asking someone there. 

Jogi: You don’t think I’ve tried? Every time I think I have the right department and leave a voicemail message, either I don’t hear back or I get palmed off on another office. I can’t get a straight answer to any of my questions. I never expected this much red tape. 

Deborah: So I see what you mean about that two-edged sword. 

Jogi: I can think of one good use for that sword right now – to put me out of my misery⁵! 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse