1、中国最大的论文知识平台 摘 要商务英语信函在国际贸易中起着重要的作用。本文首先通过介绍商务英语信函的特点，然后遵循商务英语的翻译准则，从商务英语信函的用词，中长句的处理以及语气特点三方面着手探讨商务英语信函的翻译技巧。为了提高商务英语信函的翻译质量，翻译者必须了解商务英语信函的特点及商务英语信函的翻译准则及技巧。通过举例和比较，本文详细地分析了商务英语信函的特点并总结出翻译商务英语信函的标准和方法及商务英语信函翻译中应注意的问题。关键词：商务英语信函；翻译；特点；翻译技巧中国最大的论文知识平台 ABSTRACTBusiness English letter plays an important
2、 role in international trade.This thesis first introduces the features of business English letter with 7Cs. Then following the translation principles of business English letter, from the words, long sentences and manner of speaking aspects, it discusses the translation skills. In order to obtain goo
3、d quality translation of business English letter, translators must understand the features of business English letter and the translation principles and skills. By analying the examples and making the contrastive study, this thesis gives a detailed analysis of the features of business English letter
4、 and figures out the basic principles and methods applicable to the translation of this specific genre and some problems a translator should pay attention to during the translation of business English letter.Keywords：business English letter; translation; feature; translation skills中国最大的论文知识平台 Conten
5、ts1. Introduction 12. The features of business English letter.32.1 Courtesy .32.2 Correctness.32.3 Clearness 42.4 Completeness .42.5 Conciseness 52.6 Concreteness 52.7 Consideration .63. The translation of business English letter73.1 The theory of translation 73.2 The principle of business English t
6、ranslation 73.3 The requirement of business English letter translation 84. The skills of business English letter translation 94.1 The skills of the words translation .94.1.1 Preference of the concrete words to abstract words94.1.2 Using the precise words 104.1.3 Using the concise words114.1.4 Using
7、the correct and accurate words .124.2 The translation skills of long sentences .124.2.1 Division .134.2.2 Sequential-order translation of long sentences .134.2.3 Reverse-order translation of long sentences .144.3 Manner of speaking and translation skills154.3.1 Manner of speaking.154.3.2 Translation
8、 skills .165. Conclusion.17Acknowledgements.18References .19中国最大的论文知识平台 1IntroductionTrading-the exchange of goods and services-is one of the most basic activities of the human. It has existed in every society, every part of the world, and in fact, and every day since a primitive man swapped an anim
9、al skin for a stone chisel. In the history, China was among the first to trade with other countries. With the economic globalization and Chinas successful entry into WTO, business activities and information exchanges between different countries have been increasing rapidly. Today almost all the busi
10、ness companies recognize the significance of essential communicating skills, for all business activities rely on satisfactory exchange of information. Among the several communication tools, business English letter is an indispensable part of business communication.The business English letter refers
11、to the letter used in the international business trade. Communication in business is important for the smooth development of the international trade. And business English letter is the most frequently used means in todays business communication by business companies to keep in touch with their custo
12、mers. Therefore, it is important for us to learn to translate business English letters precisely so that to present ideas interestingly and clearly to enable readers to understand with the least possible effort.The business English letter plays an important role in todays international trade. Withou
13、t it, much of the ordinary activities of business would be impossible. It is used to sell products or services, request material or information, answer customers inquiries, maintain good public relations, and serve a variety of other business functions.Business English letter is one of the best ways
14、 to ensure that your message is accurately received, particularly if you are discussing technical or highly detailed information. Business English letter also serves as a part of a companys permanent record. It can be used to verify bookkeeping and inventory entries. If you have a question about a c
15、ustomers order, whether someones query was answered, or about the details in an agreement, you can check your file copy of the letter. The business English letter functions as written contracts, fully recognized by the courts. It can act as formal or informal public relations material. It can help t
16、o build good will between you and your clients, creditors, suppliers, and other public groups. Your letter represents you and your firm to people you may never meet personally or 中国最大的论文知识平台 call on the phone. How do you express yourself and the appearance of your letter form an impression in the re
17、aders mind of you and your business?Every letter that leaves our office fulfills several purposes. The business English letter plays an ever-increasing role in the international trade, and the same is true to the translation of business English letter. Many people have made tremendous contribution t
18、o the business English letter translation, such as professional translators, college teachers or postgraduates, etc, while business English letter translation is not such an easy thing that almost everyone who knows English can do it well. Many scholars at home and abroad have contributed a lot to t
19、he theories of translation for business English, however, this thesis will focus on the translation skills basing on the features of business English letter.中国最大的论文知识平台 2. The features of business English letterBusiness English letter writing is not different compared with any other form of creative
20、 writing. Good English is one of the most important bases of good business letter. The most effective business letter should be easy to read and understand. It must be friendly and courteous. We should put in mind the point that business English letter plays an important role in development of goodw
21、ill and friendly trade relationship. They are certain essential qualities of business letter, which can be summed up in the seven Cs, i.e. courtesy, correctness, clearness, completeness, conciseness, concreteness and consideration.63 2.1 CourtesyCourtesy plays an important role in business letter wr
22、iting, as in all business activities. It is a favourable introduction card, helping to strengthen the business relations and establish new ones. By expressing our enthusiasm, consideration and friendliness, courtesy not only means politeness, but also means thinking about the readers interest. We sh
23、ould answer the letter immediately for punctuality will please our recipient who hates waiting for days before he or she obtains a reply to the letter. And we must also adopt the right tone.Lets compare the following sentences.(1) We are sorry that you misunderstood us.(2) We are sorry that we did n
24、ot make ourselves clear.In sentence (1), the party of the author is to put the blame on the customer for something, but in sentence (2), the party of the author takes the initiative to bear the responsibility.2.2 CorrectnessCorrectness means to express properly with correct grammar, punctuation and
25、spelling, and use appropriate tone which is a help to achieve the purpose. In business letter no excuse can make any errors acceptable, because it concerns the rights, benefits, responsibilities of both sides. Incorrectness causes inconvenience, disputes, and may 中国最大的论文知识平台 destroy the relationship
26、 between both sides.(1) All offers by fax are open for 5 days.This sentence does not clearly explain or account for specific 5 days, and it should be changed in to: All offers by fax are open for 5 days inclusive of the date of dispatch.(2) We assure you that this error will never occur.This sentenc
27、e is the overstatement of the fact, and it should be changed into: “we will do all we can so that we may not repeat such an error.”2.3 ClearnessWe must express ourselves clearly to make sure that the letter conveys exactly what we wish to say and is not liable to misunderstanding. Avoid vague and am
28、biguous expressions. To achieve this, we must have a clear idea of what we wish to convey in the letter, such as the purpose, the attitude, and the matter concerned. Only a clear mind can express clearly. We also should study the readers interest and the level of the readers understanding, and try t
29、o imagine how he will feel about the letter. Contrast the following sentences:(1) It is obligatory that you confirm this outstanding indebtedness and, if no discrepancies exist, that you expedite remittance.(2) Please let us know if your records and ours do not agree. If you find that they agree, wo
30、nt you send us your check right away? From the above sentences, we know that they express the same meaning, but the sentence (2) uses the plain, simple words, and short sentences rather than long, complicated ones, so we can knew its meaning better.2.4 CompletenessThe business letter is successful a
31、nd functions well only when it contains all the necessary information. Incomplete letters can be costly, for they lead to errors, often cause delays in filling orders, and call for other letters of clarification to be written.83 Answers to some fundamental questions help to see the audience and ensu
32、re that the letter is complete. There is a way to verify the completeness of what we write, that is five “Ws“ (who, what, where, when and why) and one “H“ (how). For example: the following is a letter of order.中国最大的论文知识平台 Gentlemen:Re:computersWith reference to your letter of May 8, we are pleased t
33、o accept your offer of 200 sets of ICM-4 Computers as per your Quotation Sheet No.9/04/2000.Please go ahead and apply for your Export License.As soon as we are informed of the number of the Export License, we will open the L/C by fax.Yours TrulyAfter having written the business letter, you can check
34、 the completeness of the letter against the questions: who wants to order, what he wants, when he needs the goods, where the goods to be sent and how payment will be made. If there are some special requirements should be presented, you could explain why you would do so.2.5 ConcisenessTo be efficient
35、, business writing should be direct and get to the point quickly and cogently. Conciseness is often the most important writing principle. A concise letter is not always a short one. Sometimes a letter dealing perhaps with a multiplicity of matters cannot avoid being long. If conciseness conflicts wi
36、th courtesy, then make a little sacrifice of conciseness. Generally speaking, we will gain in clearness and conciseness by writing short sentences rather than long ones.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 a
37、llow us to do so, kindly give us your reply by fax without delay.This sentence is too long and courteous in expression, which sounds unclear in meaning. To express the meaning better, the sentence should be write as follows:Please reply by fax immediately if you will allow us to delay the shipment u
38、ntil July 20.2.6 ConcretenessWhat the business letter comes to should be specific, definite rather than vague, abstract and general.84 Especially when the writer is requiring a response, solving problems, making an offer or acceptance, etc. Look at the following sentences:(1). We wish to confirm our
39、 fax dispatched yesterday.In the sentence (1), the word “yesterday“ is a vague and general concept, which 中国最大的论文知识平台 allows possibility for misunderstanding. Like today and tomorrow, the word “yesterday“ is not suitable here. It should be changed into: We confirm our telex of June 1st, 2008.(2). Th
40、e Red Trading Company is one of our big buyers.The phrase “one of our big buyers“ of the sentence (2) is too general and vague and it cannot express degrees of “big“. If we want to give a clear concept, we should change it into: The Red Trading Company placed over US10,000,000 worth of business with
41、 us each year. The aim of business letter is communication for the trade, so we should use some objective things, data and specific words.2.7 ConsiderationConsideration means thoughtfulness. So before we go on to the detailed structure of the business letter we should remember this general principle
42、, on which the American writers lay great emphasis, that is, the “you“ attitude. In our letters we should always keep in mind the person we are writing to, see things from his point of view, visualize him in his surroundings, see his problems and difficulties and express our ideas in terms of his ex
43、perience. For example:“We“ attitude “You“ attitudeWe shipped your order today.No exceptions to this rule can be allowed.Your order will arrive on Monday.(look at the things from the readers point of view)This rule must apply equally in all situations. (Focus on the positive and say “no“ positively.)
44、中国最大的论文知识平台 3. The translation of business English letter3.1 The theory of translationWhats translation? A great number of scholars both at home and abroad have contributed a lot to the theory of translation. About it, they have put forward their different propositions, such as linguistic, communica
45、tive, and relevant and so on. But there is no generally accepted translation theory and it seems to be a subject on which hot debates never cease since its appearance, yet there are quite a few influential “theories” in the broad sense of “a set of principles which are helpful in understanding the n
46、ature of translating or in establishing criteria for evaluating a translated text.” In general, however, these principles are stated in terms of how to produce an acceptable translation.Among them, the most famous translation principles are Chinese translator Yan Fus triple principle of translation,
47、 namely, faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance which should be understood as additive factors, not competitive factors, and American translator Eugene A.Nidas functional equivalence and British translator Peter Newmarks semantic translation and communicative translation. According to American t
48、ranslator Eugene A.Nida, “ translating consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the sourcelanguage, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style“.937Though Chinese and foreign translators have given different definitions of translation, they shar
49、e the common nature of translation. “Generally speaking, translation implies rendering from one language into another of something written or spoken. It is essentially the faithful representation in one language of what is written or spoken in another. It is the replacement of the information of the source language by its counterpart of the target language. However, translation, in a narrow sense, is
