1、第八章 商务信函,Business letter,商务信函的文体特点,商务信函属于公文文体，具有朴素纪实、严谨规范、庄重典雅的特点。下面从词汇、句式结构、语篇风格三个方面来探讨商务信函的文体特点。,词汇使用的特点,用词规范正式 表意准确、专业性强 用语朴素、淡于修饰,用词规范正式,商务英语信函中正式词汇、基本词汇和非正式词汇并存，并且使用正式词汇和中性词汇的情况多于非正式口语词汇，充分体现了商务公函的规范正式、公事公办的特性。,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。,商务英语信函经常使用here/there介词构成的复合词。,Hereafter Hereof Her
2、eby Hereunder Hereto Hereinafter Herewith Heretofore Herein Hereupon Thereafter Therein Therefrom,此后，今后 于此, 关于此点 兹，特此 在此之下, 在下(文) 到此为止, 关于这个 以下, 在下文中 随函；附上 直到此时, 迄今 于此, 在这里 此刻，随后 其后, 从那时以后 在其中；在那一点上 从那里, 从此,表意准确、专业性强,Trimming charges Insurance policy Coverage Premium Underwriter Establishment Surcha
3、rges Proforma invoice Clearance sale Irrevocable letter of credit,平仓费 保险单 险别 保险费 保险人 开证 附加费 形式发票 清仓削价销售 不可撤销信用证,Case 1,Industrial averages were up. 译文：工业股票的平均价格上涨了。 Average is of two kinds;General Average and Particular Average. 译文：海损有两种，一种是共同海损，另一种是单独海损。,Case 2,The vendor shall deliver the goods to
4、 the vendee by June 15. 错误译文：卖方须于6月15日前将货交给买方。 析：by 和 before修饰时间时有所不同，by包括其后面所示时间，而before则不包括其后面所示时间。 正确译文：卖方须于6月16日前将货交给买方。,Case 3,The market here for this product is active, and the best price we can offer is US$ 150 or over per long ton. 错误译文：该产品在本地的销售看好，我方出价可达每长吨150美元以上。 正确译文：该产品在本地的销售看好，我方出价可达每
5、长吨150美元或以上。,用语朴素、淡于修饰,Dear Sirs,Thank you for your interest in our fireworks.In reply to your enquiry of November 10, we are really sorry to say that we cannot divulge any of our sales information. We hope this will not bring you too much inconvenience.Yours truly, 析：这是一封非常简短的商务信函，用词朴素，只使用了两个副词(real
6、ly, too）和一个描述性形容词（much），段落则更简单，体现出商务信函的简洁。,译文,敬启者：承蒙贵方对我们的烟花感兴趣，十分感谢。兹复贵方11月10日询价函，我们非常抱歉地奉告，我们不能泄漏我方的任何销售情况。我们希望这不会给贵方带来诸多不便。此致 敬礼！,句式结构特点,句式正规完整 用陈述句表示委婉的祈使意义 大量使用套语 使用倒装句,句式正规完整,In order to facilitate business in consideration of the present monetary stringency, the corporation, on behalf of whic
7、h I am studying this proposition, is willing to base transaction on trade by barter and would import any articles, which you would ship to the United States. 译文：鉴于最近银根吃紧，为谋求达成交易，本人代表公司正在研究如何做成这笔交易。我们希望以易货贸易为基础，进口你方能运到美国的任何商品。 析：该句较长，其中主句是由两个并列结构构成，另外还带有两个定语从句、一个较长的不定式短语。对于该句的翻译，宜采用拆译法。,用陈述句表示委婉的祈使意义
8、,We should be glad to have your immediate shipping instructions. We should be obliged if you would send us by air a copy of the packing list for the shipment to be dispatched by sea. We would appreciate it if you could send us the shipping instructions immediately. It would be appreciated if you cou
9、ld send us your shipping instructions. Your confirmation on this point would be appreciated.,大量使用套语,表示自己收到对方的来函时可常用：we are in receipt of your letter; we admit receipt of your letter; we acknowledge receipt of。 表示自己是在回复某份函电时可用：regarding your letter of; in reply to your letter of;referring to your let
10、ter of。 说明自己是从何处得知对方时可用：we owe your name and address to; your name and address has been given by; has referred us to you 表示希望得到回函时可用：to hear from you in the affirmative; to receive your positive/favorable reply。 说明寄上某物时可用：Enclosed please find; We are enclosing,使用倒装句,Enclosed please find a full range
11、 of catalogues covering the textile accessories inquired in your letter of Should there be any breakage, please do not hesitate to let us know. Should you require the insurance to be covered as per institute cargo clauses we would be glad to comply.,语篇风格,商务信函在语篇风格上表现为礼貌、委婉语气的准确把握。,比较下列句子在语篇风格上的差异,We
12、 have not received your payment of the balance of US$ 5,000.You have to replace the damaged records. Your letter is not clear at all, I cannot understand it.,We regret having to remind you that we have not received your payment of the balance of US$ 5,000. We will appreciate it if you replace the da
13、maged records. If I understood your letter correctly, I would immediately accept your offer.,商务信函的礼貌、委婉的语篇风格还表现在以对方为中心的态度(YOU-ATTITUDE)，因此经常使用各种表达感谢、快乐、满意、道歉等功能的语言手段，如频繁使用“please”, “thank you”, “sorry”, “I understand”, “we regret to”等礼貌标记语，以及情态动词的大量使用。,商务英语信函翻译的原则,准确规范 功能对等 （准确不仅指用词用句和语言结构上的准确，包括对信函
14、内容的准确把握；规范则指译文必须符合专业规范；功能对等指译文在语言准确、风格规范方面与原文对等。）,Case 1,Please be informed that, on account of the fluctuations of foreign exchanges the quotation is subject to change without previous notice. 译文：兹告知贵方，由于外汇的波动，报价随时可能改变，不另行通知。,Case 2,Full information as to prices, quality, quantity available and oth
15、er relative particulars would be appreciated. 译文：请详告价格、质量、可供数量和其他有关情况。,Case 3,We are looking forward to a favorable reply. 译文：等候贵方佳音。,Case 4,We should be grateful/pleased if you would give us further details of Chinese leather shoes. 译文：如能告知中国皮鞋的其他详情，将不胜感激。,Case 5,At present, we cannot entertain you
16、r counteroffer, as our price is quite reasonable. 译文：因我们的价格订得相当合理，故目前不打算考虑贵方的还盘。,Case 6,We shall take out insurance at this end under our open policy. 译文：我们将在我方预约保单项下按其规定在此办理保险。,Case 7,The goods we received contrary to our instructions are packed in wooden cases without iron hoops. 译文：收到的货物是包装在没有铁腰子的木箱里，而这种包装与我们的指示不符。,Thanks!,
