Eahfrgx商务英语翻译第二章涉外商务信函的翻译.docx

1、Eahfrgx商务英语翻译第二章涉外商务信函的翻译秋风清，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、附件及分送标志部分 （IEC: initials, enclosures an

2、d carbon copies block） 附言 (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 bee

3、n importers of shoes for 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

4、 Tony Smith Signature Block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

5、15,1998.I sent you a company 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

6、. I will introduce this kind 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

7、 to 5 millions pieces. We 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

8、 to see your reply! 买家您好, 很高兴再次收到您的查询：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应商。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，若您

9、能提供您的快递帐号，我们将把样品一同寄给您！2 涉外商务信函语篇风格的特点，也称7C原则 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.”

10、这是出口商接到的一份定单中有关商品品名，规格和数量的内容。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

11、确，不引起误解。22 简洁 (conciseness) 简洁是有客观标准的。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） 避免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，应该避免使用。 Ex 1： Wordy: We wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of November 14 with the check for Stg.10 enclosed and w

12、ish to thank you for same Concise: 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 intr

13、oduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your city? Concise: Please introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your city. （二） 要长话短说，避免罗嗦 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迎。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 o

14、ut the reason. 不要写 We express our regret 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，如下列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) corre

15、ct. I would (rather) think the fare is 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

16、.” 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） 叙述得正

17、确 （三） 数字要正确 （四） 正确理解和运用商业术语 （五） 合适的写作技巧或方法，以及正确运用其他 的六个。 （一） 运用正确的语言（二 ）叙述得正确 叙述得正确： 商业书信的内容要叙述得正确，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，不但不能达到推销的

18、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 modern 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

19、： 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 f

20、or 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，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）避免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

21、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） 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 Fran

22、cisco 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 what 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

23、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

24、紧凑，连贯 不一致： Being a certified public accountant, I am sure you can help us. 一致： Being a certified public 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，一般的分段落原则是一个段落一个意思（A paragraph for each poi

25、nt is a good general rule.）现举例说明： Dear Sirs, It is reported in a domestic newspaper that the Iranian Central 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 thi

26、s arrangement would be a temporary one and with establishment of new import policy this emergency arrangement 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

27、this new arrangement especially in connection with import from France. Yours faithfully, 以上这封信只有一段，供两句。第一句39字，第二句66句。 读后虽 然能基本了解其内容， 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

28、 newspaper that the Iranian Central Bank has instructed the commercial banks to suspend their issuing 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

29、 a new import policy. We are much concerned, however, about the outcome of this movement toward restriction 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 faith

30、fully, 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。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 firms? 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