Eahfrgx商务英语翻译第二章涉外商务信函的翻译.doc

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1、精品文档秋风清，秋月明,落叶聚还散,寒鸦栖复惊。第二章涉外商务信函的翻译第一节 商务信函简介 一 商务信函的12种要素 信头letterhead 案号 (reference) 日期 (date) 封内地址 (inside address 注意项 (attention line) 称呼 (salutation) 事由栏 (subject) 信的正文 (body of letter) 信尾敬语 (complimentary close) 签名 (signature) 缩写名、附件及分送标志局部 IEC: initials, enclosures and carbon copies block 附言

2、 (postscript)商务信函实例1Kee & Co., Ltd 34 Regent Street London, UK Inside Address 收信人地址 Dear Sirs，Salutation称呼 We have obtained your name and address from Dee &Co. Ltd, and we are writing toenquire whether you would be willing to establish business relations with us. We have been importers of shoes for

3、many years. At present, we are interested in extending our range and would appreciate your catalogues and quotations. If your prices are competitive we would expect to place volume orders on you. We look forward to your early reply. Yours faithfully, Complimentary Close客套结束语 Tony Smith Signature Blo

4、ck签名栏 Enc: invoice for consulting services Enclosure Notation 商务信函实例2 1117 The High Road Austin TX 78703 6 June 2006 MR. David Patricks Road, Yiwu Zhejiang Province. China (PRC) Dear buyer: It is good to hear from you again. You inquired about my bamboo baskets on September 15,1998.I sent you a comp

5、any catalog at that time. I can send you a second catalog if you need? You are not the only importer in Brazil that has asked us about bamboo baskets. I have also received inquires from ABC company, Universal Co Ltd in Brazil, but they always inquired another kind of baskets. I will introduce this k

6、ind of basket for you if you need. Would you like me to help you by making a special sample for you Brazil market? We are a professional bamboo products manufacture with 14 years experiences in China, offering over 1,500 various kinds of bamboo products and monthly output up to 5 millions pieces. We

7、 are the best manufacturer that you can trust in China. The details for the product (as the attached photo) you inquired as following :FOB XXX,Min.Order:2,000,Price:USD1.80/pc,Delievery Time:30 days after the receipt of send you a smaple with catalog together. I look forward to see your reply! 买家您好,

8、 很快乐再次收到您的查询：您在去年9月15日曾向我们查询过竹篮，那时我们曾寄过公司目录给您，如您需要我可再寄一次给您。 您并不是巴西唯一向我们查询过竹篮的进口商，我们也曾收到来自巴西ABC、Universal等的进口商的查询，但他们总是查询另一种竹篮，如您有需要，我可以向您介绍那一类的竹篮，您是否希望我为您的巴西市场做些特别的样品给您？ 我们是有十四年专业竹制品经验的中国制造商和提供超过1,500种多样的竹制品，月产量达五百万个，是您最值得信赖的中国竹制品供给商。您询问的产品如附图资料如后：XXXXXXXXXXXX。我明天会寄一份目录给您，假设您能提供您的快递帐号，我们将把样品一同寄给您！2

9、涉外商务信函语篇风格的特点，也称7C原那么 21 完整 (completeness) 22 简洁 (conciseness) 23 具体 (concreteness) 24 正确 (correctness) 25 清晰 (clarity) 26 体谅 (consideration) 27 礼貌 (courtesy)21 完整 (completeness)实例解说： Cellulose Tape 1/2x 3yds, with plastic dispenser 700 doz./ditto-but 1/2“ x 5 yds, 1,000doz. 这是出口商接到的一份定单中有关商品品名，规格和数

10、量的内容。中文意思是：“纤素带幅宽半英寸，长码，带塑料包装容器，0打； 同上，但幅宽宽半英寸，长码，打。 问题是后半句不清楚。 “ditto在这里表示前面提到的商名称纤维素带，但不能包括“带塑料包装容器，因此，幅英寸长码的纤维素带是否 要塑料包装容器没有说清楚，不完整。所以最好改成： Cellulose Tape 1/2x 3yds, with plastic dispenser 700 doz. Cellulose Tape 1/2 x 5yds，with plastic dispenser 1000 doz.这样既完正，又清楚明确，不引起误解。22 简洁 (conciseness) 简洁是

11、有客观标准的。虽然西方国家的作者之间在怎样用词才算简洁方面还是有争论的，不过他们的一些看法还是有一定参考价值的。 怎样才能使商业书信简洁？ 西方国家作者有很多建议，先介绍如下： 一 防止使用陈旧的商业术语 陈旧的与传统的商业术语Commercial jargon对信的内容没有什么作用，应该防止使用。 Ex 1： Wordy: We wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of November 14 with the check for Stg.10 enclosed and wish to thank you for same Concise:

12、We appreciate your letter of November 14 and the check for Stg. 10 you sent with it. 例二： Wordy: We take liberty to approach you with the request that you would be kind enough to introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your cities. Would you please introduce to us some exporters of cotto

13、n textiles in your city? Concise: Please introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your city. 二 要长话短说，防止罗嗦 通常商业人士每天需要阅读大量的书信，对开门见山，长话短说，直接切题的信特别欢送。因此， 写信要力求长话短说， 例如： 不要写 Please see that an enquiry is conducted to determine the reason. 应写作 Please find out the reason. 不要写 We express our reg

14、ret at being unable to fulfill your order on this occasion. 应写作 We are sorry we cannot meet your present order. 要使用简洁的语言，有可能的话， 尽量使用单词来代替某些娇柔做作的短语。 删去不必要的形容词，如以下句子中的形容词或副词删去后并不影响句子的原意： The proposal is under (active) consideration. The answer is (definitely) correct. I would (rather) think the fare i

15、s too high. The (true) facts are as stated . 三 要注意每句句子的长短 例如： “We would like to know whether you would allow us to extend the time of shipment for twenty days, and if you would be so kind as to allow us to do so, kindly give us your reply by cable without delay. 这句话过分“客气，使句子过长而不清楚。内容要求对方同意延期交货20天，一般

16、情况下，应尽可能提出延期到那一天的具体日期。 这句话可压缩为： Please reply by telegram immediately if you will allow us to delay the shipment until April 21. 23 具体 (concreteness) 24 正确 (correctness) 商业书信必须写得正确，因为它涉及到买卖双方的权利，义务，厉害关系，是各种商业单据如合同的根据。 广义的说，商业书信的正确性表现在： 一 运用正确的语言水平 二 表达得正确 三 数字要正确 四 正确理解和运用商业术语 五 适宜的写作技巧或方法，以及正确运用其他 的

17、六个。 一 运用正确的语言二 表达得正确 表达得正确： 商业书信的内容要表达得正确，既不要说得不够(Understatement)，更不要说得过头(Overstatement)。 例一 This stove is absolutely the best (or: the very best) on the market. (这种炉子是市场上绝对最好的炉子。) 这句话是用来介绍商品的，但没有具体介绍商品的性能，而是抽象地断定这种炉子是“市场上最好的。这样介绍商品，不但不能到达推销的目的，反而使人对写信人有“卖狗皮膏药的感觉。 改写 Our model A195 is designed on mo

18、dern lines, without any increase in fuel consumption, 25% more heat than the older models. So you will agree that it is the outstanding stove for economy of fuel. (我们的型炉子是按近代样式设计的，在不增加燃料消耗的情况下，比其他各种旧式炉子温度高。所以，你会同意，这是优良的节约燃料的炉子。) 三 字要正确字要正确： 做对外贸易离不开数字。对商业书信中的数字的正确性要特别加以注意，有时“失之毫厘，差之千里。甚至引起不同的理解。 a“以

19、上，“以下，“以前，“以后，“从.到. 等的表达法 b二美元和二美元以上 $2 or (and) $2 above (over) 不少于罗的定单 50gross or (and) up (upward, upwards)四 正确理解和运用商业术语 理解和运用商业术语 ： 一般常用的商业用语用字简洁，意义明确，使用得好，工作进行得顺利，使用得不好，就会引起混乱，误解，甚至产生不必要的纠纷. 如：You ask very short delivery for your order. 写信的人原意是说“你们要求赶快交你们的定货。 可是short delivery不是快点交货的意思，而是“短交的意思，

20、这就用错了商业术语。 因此，应该说： Your require quick (prompt) delivery of your order. 五正确运用其他的六个 。 25 清晰 (clarity) 一防止使用可能产生不同理解或意义不明确的词 例一 As to the steamers sailing from Hongkong to San Francisco, we have bimonthly direct services. (从香港到旧金山有直达船，) 但是bimonthly 究竟是一个月两次即半月一次呢，还是两个月一次？不明确。 因此，最好清楚明白说明一个月两次还是两个月一次 a

21、We have two direct sailings every month from Hongkong to San Francisco. 每月两次直达船 b We have semimonthly direct sailing from Hongkong to San Francisco. 每半月一次直达船 c We have a direct sailing from Hongkong to San Francisco every two month. 每两个月一次直达船 二注意修饰词的位置，有时修饰词的位置不同，会导致不同的含意如： a) Please let us know wha

22、t you wish us to do about this matter as soon as possible; b) Please let us know as soon as possible what you wish us to do about this matter. 以上两句中的“修饰的内容不同： a) 你们要求我们尽快做些什么。 b) 请尽快告诉我们。 a) 可译成“请告诉我们你们要我们为此尽快做些什么； b) 可译为“请尽快告知，你们要我们为此事做些什么。 三注意代名词,关系代词和先行词的关系按照英语习惯,句子中的代名词和关系代词一般是指离得最近的名词，因此要特别注意，以

23、免引起误解或不清楚.例： 不好 ：They informed Messrs. John & Smith that they would receive an answer in a few days. 较好： They informed Messrs. John & Smith that latter would receive an answer in a few days. (四)注意前后一致和紧凑，连贯 不一致： Being a certified public accountant, I am sure you can help us. 一致： Being a certified pu

24、blic accountant, you can surely help us. or; As you are a certified public accountant, I am sure you can help us.五仔细和恰当地分段落 商业书信要写得使人一读就明白，因此必须按照内容仔细和恰当的分段落，一般的分段落原那么是一个段落一个意思A paragraph for each point is a good general rule.现举例说明： Dear Sirs, It is reported in a domestic newspaper that the Iranian C

25、entral Bank has instructed the commercial banks to suspend their business of opening a new letter of credit as from the 3rd May for financial reason of foreign currency. Although it is said that this arrangement would be a temporary one and with establishment of new import policy this emergency arra

26、ngement would be lifted, we are much concerned about the outcome of this movement toward restriction of import to Iran and shall be obliged if you will kindly keep us well advised of development of this new arrangement especially in connection with import from France. Yours faithfully, 以上这封信只有一段，供两句

27、。第一句39字，第二句66句。 读后虽 然能根本了解其内容， 但读起来很舒服。信的内容大体有三点： 伊朗中央银行因外汇原因，通知个商业银行从五月三日起停止 开立信用证； 这临时措施，新的进口政策一订，这个措施可能取消； . 希望对方随时告之有关情况。 按照这三点，适当地分段，把信重新改写，读起来比原来的清楚易懂：Dear Sirs, It is reported in a vernacular newspaper that the Iranian Central Bank has instructed the commercial banks to suspend their issuing

28、new Letters of Credit as from the 3rd May because of its decreasing foreign currency funds. Furthermore it is said that the suspension seems a temporary one and willbe released with establishment if a new import policy. We are much concerned, however, about the outcome of this movement toward restri

29、ction of import to Iran. We, therefore, shall be obliged if you will keep us well informed of development of this new state of affairs, especially in connection with imports from France. Yours faithfully, 26 体谅 (consideration)27 礼貌 (courtesy) COURTESY译成“礼貌。但是根据西方国家函电书籍作者普遍的看法，所谓COURTESY是“客气而又体谅人的意思。

30、这样的形式很多，现在提供一些常见的供参考： 一 把命令变成请求的常用形式： Please, Will you., Will you please.,如： a) Will you give us more detailed information on your requirement? b) Will you please (kindly) let us hear from you on these two points? 二 虚拟式Past Subjunctive From如： a) Would you compare our sample with the goods of other f

31、irms? b) We would ask you to ship the goods by the first available vessel. c) We wish you would let us have your reply soon. d) This would seem to confirm our opinion. e) We should be grateful if you would help us with your suggestion. f) We might be of some service to you in a similar case. 以上的b, 也

32、可用 will, shall, may, 但是用Past Subjunctive Form那么表示更客气婉转些。 27 礼貌 (courtesy)三 缓和用法Mitigation 为了缓和过分强调或刺激对方，常用: We are afraid, we would say, we may(or, might) say, we(would) think, it seems(or would seem) to us, we(would) suggest, as you are (or: may be) aware, as we need hardly point out等等表达法来缓和语气，如： a

33、) It was unwise of you to have done that. We would say that it was unwise of you to have done that. b) You ought to have done it. It seems to us that you ought to have done it. c) We cannot comply with your request. We are afraid we cannot comply with your request. d) Our products are the very best

34、on the market. We might say that our products are the very best on the market.符合7C原那么的信函实例 Dear Sirs, Our client in Mumbai requests us to obtain from you a pro forma invoice for color TV sets with the following specifications: “Haier brand color TV sets 25-inch and 34-inch(each 500sets). Would you p

35、lease airmail us the soonest possible your pro forma invoice for 1,000 color TV sets with prices CIF Mumbai, so that we obtain our clients confirmation. There is no question about our getting the necessary import license from our authorities. As soon as the said license is approved, we shall establi

36、sh an L/C in your favour. Thank you for your close cooperation in this respect. Yours Sincerely, John Smith敬启者： 我们的一个孟买客户要求我们从贵方取得以下规格的彩色电视机形式发票：“海尔 彩色电视机25英寸和34英寸各500台。 请尽快航邮注有孟买到岸价格的1，000台彩色电视机的形式发票，以便我们取得客户认可。从当局取得必要的进口许可证当无问题。 一俟获得许可证即开以贵方为受益人的信用证。 感谢贵方的密切合作。 你真诚的， 约翰史密斯第二节 商务信函的文体特点及其翻译 1 商务信函的

37、文体特点 11 词汇使用特点 111 用词标准正式 112 表意准确、专业性强 113 用语朴素、淡于修饰 12 语法使用特点 121 句子类型 122 句式结构 1复合句与简单句结合，以复合句为主 2常用并列结构 3状语位置独特 123 虚拟语气的运用 2 商务信函的翻译要点 21 商务英语信函翻译的原那么 22 商务英语信函翻译的考前须知1 商务信函的文体特点 11 词汇使用特点 111 用词标准正式 1商务英语信函经常以意义相同或相近的书面词语代替根本词汇和口语词汇，如以inform或advise代替tell，以duplicate代替copy，以dispatch代替send，以other

38、wise代替or；以介词短语代替简单的介词，如以as for，in respect to，in connection with和with regarding to等代替about等。 例如： We are pleased to advise you that your order NO.105 has been dispatched in accordance with your instruction. 我们很快乐地通知你们：第105号订单货物已遵照你方指示运出。111 用词标准正式 We will meet you half way by offering a discount of 5%

39、 in view of our long pleasant relations. 鉴于我们之间长期愉快的业务关系，本公司将酌情考虑给予5%的折扣。 2商务信函中还经常使用here/there +介词构成的复合词，如hereafter，hereby，hereunder，hereto，hereinafter，herewith，thereafter，therein，therefrom等。 例如： All offers and sales are subject to the terms and conditions printed on the reverse side hereof. In suc

40、h a case, Seller is bound to reimburse buyer for any loss or damage sustained therefrom. All offers and sales are subject to the terms and conditions printed on the reverse side hereof. 所有报盘和销售均应遵守本报价单反面所印的条款。 In such a case, Seller is bound to reimburse buyer for any loss or damage sustained therefrom. 在次情况下，卖方负责归还买方由此所遭受的损失。112 表意准确、专业性强 商务信函用词表意准确、专业性强，主要表现在使用大量的专业术语、行话、外来词、缩略语以及一般词语在商务英语语境中的特殊用法。 1专业术语类： Trimming charges 平仓费 insurance policy 保险单 coverage 保险工程 establishment 开证 counter-suggestion 反还盘 surcharges附加费 pro forma invoice premium clearance sale underwriter 保险人 L/C CIF FOB bid