第三章 商务信函的翻译

1. 第三章 商务信函的翻译

2. 英语商务信函： • 1、定义及重要性 • 2、要素 • 3、语篇风格特点 • 4、文体特点 • 5、翻译方法与技巧 • 6、注意事项 • 7、翻译实践 • 8、项目分组测试

3. 1.定义及重要性 • 涉外商务信函是对外商务运作过程中使用的各种函件的总称。在国际商务中，商务信函是商家、厂家和客户之间用于联系业务、沟通商情、咨询答复的主要途径和工具。

4. 1、定义及重要性 • 虽然电话、电传、电报已被广泛使用，但商务信函（包括电子邮件）在商务交际中仍然是最主要的工具，因为大部分电话、电报还需要书信作为最后证实，而且书信不限字数，可以充分陈述理由，讲透问题。

5. 试译以下商务信函，并思考下列问题： 英语商务信函： 1）包含哪些要素2）体现怎样的语篇风格特点3）文体呈现出怎样的特点

6. BEATTY Ltd. 1095, Avenue of Hersham Walbridge-on-Thames Surrey, UK Office of the Manager Housewares Department Zhejiang Light Industrial Products Import & Export Corp. 233 Tiyuchang Rd. Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang P.R.China Oct. 20th,2008 Dear Housewares Department: Your company’s name has been given to us by the Chamber of Commerce of London. ……. We await your early reply. Sincerely, Catharina E.de. Jonge Catharina E.de. Jonge Manager

7. 2.商务信函的要素 • 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 and carbon copies block） • 附言（postscript）

8. 3、语篇风格特点 • 从整个语篇的角度来看，涉外商务信函具有完整、简洁、具体、正确、清晰、礼貌和体谅七个特点，是商务语言使用中应当遵守的七条原则或规范。

9. 3.1完整 （completeness） • 这就要求信函涵盖写信人希望收信人做出积极应对的一切情况及问题，或者回答写信人提出的全部问题或要求。在订货时，则需要写清所需商品、所需时间、收货人和收货地址及付款方式等。

10. 3.2 简洁 （conciseness） • 商务人士大都繁忙，所以应当在涵盖各种必须陈述的信息的基础上做到言简意赅、文字简洁。

11. 3.3 具体 （concreteness） • 商务文本应力求具体、明确、形象。在给对方做出明确反应的信函或答复对方的要求或问题的信函中尤其需要做到表述具体化。如在报盘、还盘、理赔时，需要使用具体的事实和数据。

12. 3.4 正确 （correctness） • 事实、数据必须以准确的语言和商务套语加以表达，否则会给己方公司带来重大经济损失。

13. 3.5 清晰 （clarity） • 主题突出，层次分明，可读性强。有时需要附上范例、说明、图示等。

14. 3.6 体谅（consideration） • 即从对方的角度出发，理解并体谅对方的需求、愿望、情感，着重正面、肯定的谈问题。

15. 3.7 礼貌（courtesy） • 本着真诚体贴、有礼有节、不卑不亢的态度。表达方式应委婉、积极，措辞得当。

16. Practice: please translate the following sentences into Chinese • 1. We have heard from China Council for the Promotion of International Trade that you are in the market for Electric Appliances. • 2. Thank you for your letter of July 5. We are obliged to Joes & Co. for having recommended us to you. • 3. We take the liberty of writing to you with a view of building up business relations with your firm. • 4. As exporters dealing exclusively in Chinese Arts & Craft Goods, we express our desire to trade with you in this line.

17. Please translate the following business letter into Chinese. • Gentlemen, • We are pleased to announce our appointment as exclusive export agent for SHANGHAI CANNED FOOD CORPORATION who is the manufacturer of a complete line of canned food. Under this arrangement we will now be able to give you the very best service at the lowest direct factory prices. • SHANGHAI CANNED FOOD CORPORATION, a large state-owned enterprise, manufactures all kinds of canned food, and now, we quote you for the best-selling goods in overseas market as follows:

18. No. Items FOB Shanghai OR-89-10 Canned Orange US $11.70 per doz. PE-89-09 Canned Pear US $11.30 per doz. MU-89-05 Canned Mushroom US $15.50 per doz. AS-89-07 Canned Asparagus US $13.30 per doz. FI-89-07 Canned Fish US $ 16.40 per doz. PO-89-01 Canned Pork US $ 15.60 per doz. Packing: By standard export cases of 10 dozens each. Payment: By confirmed irrevocable L/C payable by a draft at sight. Delivery: One month after receipt of L/C. Since our stocks have been low for the past few months and the demands are brisk now, please let us have your decision as early as possible. Faithfully yours,

19. 4. 文体特点 • 4.1 词汇使用特点 • 4.1.1用词规范正式 虽然有口语化的趋势，但商务英语毕竟是一种正式的公函语体，正式词汇和中性词汇使用较多。 商务英语信函经常以意义相同或相近的书面词语代替基本词汇和口语词汇，如以inform 或advise 代替tell, 以duplicate 代替copy, 以dispatch 代替send, 以otherwise 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, with regarding to等代替about 等。

20. 4.1.2 表意准确， 专业性强 主要表现为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。 Eg. Insurance policy Coverage premium Underwriter Establishment Clearance sale CIF C.B.D.

21. We shall cover TPND on your order. • It would be appreciated if you would let us know by return your lowest possible price for the following goods FOB London.

22. 商务英语以普 通英语为基础，会使用较多的一般词汇，但这些词汇在商务英语中的常用词义与普通英语已有较大区别，而且同一个词语出现在不同的专业领域时所表达的概念也会截然不同。 • Eg: • At the finish oil shares became active. • The finish is not good and the enamel has cracked in some places. • We expected to finish your order very soon. • The contract is due to finish next week.

23. 4.1.3 用语朴素，淡于修饰

24. 4.2 语法使用特点 • 4.2.1 句子类型 • 英语句子按使用目的可以分为四类：陈述句、疑问句、祈使句和感叹句 陈述句：投诉、报盘、招标合同等文件 祈使句：向对方提出要求时 疑问句：表达写信人观点和向对方提出建议时 感叹句：与函电英语讲求客观、严谨的文体不符，极少使用

25. 4.2.2句式结构 • 复合句与简单句结合，以复合句为主 • Eg: • The Credit could cover 85% of the local expenses if hey are made under the responsibility of the British Contractor and within the limit of the down payments paid on the Contract, i.e., 15% as a maximum.

26. 口译以下对话，特别注意黑体字部分的口译，并分角色扮演口译以下对话，特别注意黑体字部分的口译，并分角色扮演 • D: I’d like to get the ball rolling by talking about prices. • R: Okay. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. • D: Your products are very good. But I’m a little worried about the price you’re asking. • R: You think we should be asking for more? (Laughs.) • D: (Chuckles.) That’s not exactly what I had in mind. I know your research costs are high, but what I’d like is a 25% discount. • R: That seems to be a little high, Mr. Smith. I don’t know how we can make a profit with those numbers. • D: Please, Robert, call me Dan. (Pause.) Well, if we promise future business– volumesales—that will slash your costs for making the clothes, right? • R: Yes, but it’s hard to see how you can place such large orders. How could you turn over so many? (pause.) We’d need a guarantee of future business, not just a promise. • D: We said we wanted 1,000 pieces over a six-month period. What if we place orders for twelve months, with a guarantee? • R: If you can guarantee that on paper, I think we can discuss this future.

27. 常用并列结构 • Eg: • This Contract is made by and between the two parties. • Any dispute arising from the execution of, or in connection with the agreement, shall be settled through friendly consultations between the two parties.

28. 状语位置独特 • Eg: • The Contractor shall, if called upon so to do, enter into and execute the Contract, to be prepared and completed at the cost of the employer, in the form annexed to these conditions with such modification as may be necessary. • If, after 30 days from the commencement of such informal consultations, the parties fail to resolve amicably a contract dispute, either party hereto may require that the dispute be submitted to arbitration for resolution.

29. 虚拟语气的的运用 • Eg: • We would like you to hasten shipment upon receipt of this letter. • We want you to hasten shipment upon receipt of this letter.

30. We should be glad if you could manage to ship the goods by s.s. Dongfeng sailing from Xingang on May 15. • We shall be glad if you can manage to ship the goods by s.s. Dongfeng sailing from Xingang on May 15.

31. 5、翻译方法与技巧 5.1商务英语信函翻译的原则 准确规范，礼貌得体

32. 5.2翻译方法与技巧—词类转译法(see p.29) 在英译汉过程中，有些句子可以逐词对译，有些句子则由于英汉两种语言的表达方式不同，就不能用“一个萝卜一个坑”的方法去逐词对译，原文中有些词在译文中需要转换词类，才能使汉语译文通顺自然。

33. 1）转译成名词 英语中很多由名词派生而来的动词，以及由名词转用的动词，在汉语中往往不易找到相应的动词，这时可将其转译成名词。 2）转译成动词 3）名词+of+名词或代词

34. 6、商务英语信函翻译的注意事项 • 以传递信息为主，较少运用修辞手段，多数情况下可直译 • 译文简洁、严谨、准确，确保术语、缩略语、具有商务术语性质的词语以及商务套语翻译的规范性和准确性，要用对应的汉语术语翻译原文中的商贸术语。还需确保事实细节（如日期、数量、金额等）的准确翻译，不得疏漏。 • 翻译时应注意保留原文的文体正式性和委婉礼貌性，对原文情态、礼貌程度、语气和态度应当仔细分析、整体把握并在译文中充分再现。 • 汉语商务信函用语和行文都讲究郑重，常用文言词语，套语亦多。常用的信函词语包括“收悉、承蒙、乞谅、赐复”等，这些词现在都还在用。

35. 在实际工作中，商务信函翻译者往往并不要求将函件全译，而只是摘译。摘译信函时需要注意以下要领：在实际工作中，商务信函翻译者往往并不要求将函件全译，而只是摘译。摘译信函时需要注意以下要领： • a) 摘译之前必须通读全文，弄清信件中的所有事实。翻译之前还应当通读在此以前的有关此事的往返信函，并特别注意时间顺序，力求理清事件的来龙去脉，这是能做到准确摘译的先决条件。千万不要任意猜测，不清楚时，应多请教承办过此事的相关人员。

36. b) 摘译应包括信中所有主要事实的梗概，包括时间、地点、条件等。摘译有很大的伸缩性，其内容取决于材料使用者的要求。最简略的摘译是函件摘要，往往要求只用一两句话概述来函意图或涉及何事、有何要求或建议等。 • c) 如函件使用者要求了解较多的具体情况，则可以将信中最重要（一般来说也就是最具体的）语句加以摘译。 • d) 摘译公函不必拘泥于原文词句的形式，但必须做到不仅在事实上符合原件内容，而且在语气上也不失分寸。

37. 7、翻译实践 • 将下列商务信函常用语句翻译成汉语。 • 1. If you think our offer meets your requirements, please let us have your order at an early date, as supplies are limited. • 2. We trust you will find our quotation satisfactory and we look forward to receiving your order. • 3. You will observe that the prices quoted are very reasonable and as they are likely to rise very soon following the bullish trend in the world market, we would advise you to place your order as soon as possible. • 4. According to the terms of the contract the shipment is to be effected by the 20th June and we must have the B/L by the 25th at the latest.

38. 5. We have been put to considerable inconvenience by the long delay in delivery. We must insist on immediate delivery. Otherwise we shall be compelled to cancel the orders in accordance with the stipulations of the contract. • 6. We think you will be interested in a novelty for which we have secured the sole patent rights. • 7. We shall be pleased to supply you with 50 boxes of canned asparagus at the low price of HK$500 per box, which we bought from a bankrupted stock.

39. 8. As the wholesale price of leather is rising, it is certain that you will not be able to buy anything at the same prices in the near future. • 9. This is a trial order. Please send us 35 sets only so that we may tap the market. If successful, we will give you large orders in the future. • 10. We want the goods to be of exactly the same quality as that of those you previously supplied us. • 11. Please ship the first lot under Contract No. 12345 by s.s. Wuxi scheduled to sail on or about July 5.

40. 8. 翻译项目分组测试 Dear Sirs, Our market survey informs us that you are a big buyer of Cotton Piece Goods. As this item falls within the scope of our business activities, we take this opportunity to express our wish to establish direct business relations with you at an early date. In order to give you a general idea of the various kinds of Cotton Piece Goods now available for export, we enclosure a brochure and a price list. Quotations and sample books will be airmailed to you upon receipt of your specific inquiry. We look forward to your favorable reply. Yours faithfully

41. Dear Sirs, • We have carefully studied your letter of Dec. 14. As our two firms have done business with each other for so many years, we should like to grant your request to lower the prices of our underwear. But there are difficulties. Our cost of raw materials has risen sharply in the past three months and to reduce prices by 5% you mentioned could not be done without considerably lowering our standards of quality. This is something we are not prepared to do. Instead of 5% reduction on underwear, we suggest a reduction of 3% on all lines. On orders of this size we could manage to make the reduction without lowering our standards. • We hope you will agree to our counter-suggestion and we look forward to receiving orders from you as in the past. • Yours faithfully,

42. Gentlemen, • We are in receipt of your telegram of May 6, from which we understand that you have booked our order for 2,000 dozens of shirts. • In reply, we have the pleasure of informing you that the confirmed, irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 7634, amounting to $17,000, has been opened this morning through the Commercial Bank, Tokyo. Upon receipt of the same, please arrange shipment of the goods booked by us with the least possible delay. We are informed that s.s. Wuxi is scheduled to sail from your city to our port on May 28. We wish that the shipment will be carried by that steamer. • Should this trial order prove satisfactory to our customers, we can assure you that repeat orders in increased quantities will be placed. • Your close cooperation in this respect will be highly appreciated. In th meantime we look forward to your ship advice. • Yours sincerely,