unit 6---商务信函翻译business letters and translation

Business Correspondence,2,Knowledge objective： 1. 了解商务信函的行文方式、格式和文体特点。2. 掌握商务信函的常用翻译技巧。Capacity objective： 1. 能够正确翻译商务信函常用词汇和句型。2. 能够熟练地翻译各类商务信函。,Business Letters,3,Warm-up: Translate the following letter,Dear Mr. Lee,Thank you for your letter of 15 April regarding payment terms.We agree to your proposal, the terms of which are as follows. （1） Payment will be made by confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit with draft at sight instead of direct payment at sight.（2） The price quoted to us is with no discount.,4,The above payment terms have been approved by our Managing Director and will be acted on accordingly.The order is being prepared and will reach you in the next ten days.I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that our representative, Mr. John Green, will attend the forthcoming Canton Fair. He will be writing to you shortly.We sincerely hope that future discussions between our companies will lead to further mutually beneficial business.Yours sincerely,Denis Thorpe (Manager),5,Dear Mr. Lee,Thank you for your letter of 15 April regarding payment terms.We agree to your proposal, the terms of which are as follows.尊敬的李先生：4月15日有关付款条件的来函已经收悉。本公司同意贵公司如下建议：,6,（1） Payment will be made by confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit with draft at sight instead of direct payment at sight.（2） The price quoted to us is with no discount.（1） 以见票即付的保兑不可撤销信用证付款，而非见票直接付款。（2） 贵公司的报盘不会有折扣。,7,The above payment terms have been approved by our Managing Director and will be acted on accordingly.The order is being prepared and will reach you in the next ten days.以上建议获本公司总经理批准，今后将如述执行。现正拟订有关订单，十日内将送达贵公司。,8,I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that our representative, Mr. John Green, will attend the forthcoming Canton Fair. He will be writing to you shortly.另外，本公司代表约翰格林先生将参加即将举行的广州交易会，并会于不日以书面与贵公司联络。,9,We sincerely hope that future discussions between our companies will lead to further mutually beneficial business.Yours sincerely,Denis ThorpeManager诚望今后两公司间的会谈能促进双方的业务发展。 经理 丹尼斯索普敬复 2010年5月5日,10,analysis,译文在格式上做了很大的调整因为信封上已经存在收信人的地址，翻译时按照汉语的习惯将其省略了将日期调整到信函的最后有关的商业术语如“confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit”和“the price quoted”等也分别遵守从行业习惯翻译为“保兑不可撤销信用证”和“报盘”语言力求简洁、准确，增略得当,11,Genres of business letters,商务信函（business letters/ correspondence-商务活动中书面交流信息的主要手段-企业对外公共宣传关系中重要的手段-有助于树立良好的公司形象 商务信函涉及商务活动的各个环节，贯穿商务活动的始终，内容广泛.,12,Generally include: 建立业务关系 (establish business relationship)询盘 (inquiry)发盘 (offer)还盘 (counter-offer)受盘 (acceptance)订立合同 (signing contract/ agreement)保险 (insurance)装运 (shipment)索赔 (claim), etc.,13,Contents of a business letter:,Basic contents （a） 信头 (Letter Head) （b） 日期 (Date) （c） 封内地址 (Inside Address) （d） 称呼 (Salutation or Greeting) （e） 信的正文 (Body of the Letter) （f） 结束礼词 (Complimentary Close) （g） 签名 (Signature),Page 162,14,Example: Letter head,奥镁（大连）有限公司RHI Refractories (Dalian) Co., Ltd. No.61 Tie Shan Zhong Road Economic & Technical Development Zone Dalian 116600, P. R. China Tel: +86-411-87542080 Fax: +86-411-87542070Internet: ,15,date line,American style: May 25th, 2009 May 25, 2009British style: 25th May, 2009 25 May, 2009Note: * Complete spelling of the date is necessary.,16,Body of the letter,Usual beginning sentences: 兹收到你方来信We are pleased to acknowledge receipt of your favor of May 3rdYour favor of May 6th is duly to handWe are in due receipt of your letter dated July 8thI have the pleasure of stating, in answer to your inquiry of May 4th, that,17,Closing remarks,希望早日收到回复a. We hope to receive your favor at an early date. b. A prompt reply would greatly oblige us.c. Please favor us with your reply as early as possible.d. We shall be pleased to be of service to you at all times.,18,signature,* 签名要用手签，图章盖署的签名不礼貌* 签名的字体和写法要保持一致* 如果是女性，打上（Miss）(Mrs.) or (Ms.)，以便对方回信时候正确称呼* 代理签名，在所代理的公司和机构前加“Per Pro”, “Per”, “P.P.”, “For” or “By” Yours very truly, Per Pro Smith & Wilson Co, LTD (Miss) Amy S. Bush Secretary,19,II. Other contents,a） 附件(Enclosure)，简写Encb） 附言(Postscript)，简写P.Sc） 经办人姓名(Attention Line)d） 事由(Subject or Heading)e） 查号或参考编号(Reference No.)f） 抄送(Carbon Copy Notation)，简写C.C.,20,Attention (of) or Attn.请某人亲阅，送交某人,Mich & Mclean, Inc.340 Caranedie Ave.Nenilworth, N. T.USAAttn: Mr. William ButlerDear Sirs,Mich & Mclean, Inc.340 Carnedie Ave.Kenilworth, N. T.USAGentlemen: Attn: Mr. William Butler,21,Enclosure Encl. 附件,Encl.: a/s (=as stated)Enclosure: 2Encl.: Price list,22,Subject or Re. 是由,1) Dear Sirs, Subject: British machinery2) Gentlemen, Re: Subscription to American Journals,23,Features of business letters,直截了当,开门见山，层次清楚语言风格更趋于自由、口语化。 （1） stylized pattern 格式程式化 indented form 缩行式 block form 平头式 (semi-block) composited form混合式,24,Messrs. Grinnell Corp.234 Park Ave., NYUSAMarch 15th, 2009Dear Sirs, I am sorry to learn from your letter of 5th March of the difficulty in which the bankruptcy of an important customer has placed you. 收到你方3月5日来信，获知你方重要客户破产的消息深感遗憾. Yours faithfully, Dick Butler,Indented form,25,（2） Concise and clear 内容简明,A. 直入主题，开门见山，避免寒暄客套，就事论事；B. 长话短说，行文简短，避免重复。 We are pleased to advise you that your order No. 103 has been dispatched in accordance with your instruction. 很高兴通知贵方，第103号订单货物已遵照贵方指示运出。,26,（3） Actual language expression & rich in pattern/jargon 语言准确，且富于格式化的套语和专业词汇 We have had our records gone over thoroughly and are not able to find where the mistake crept in. However, the matter must be straightened out to your satisfaction at once. Return at our expense the goods which you have received. 我方已详细阅读了记录，但无法查明差错是何处产生的。然而此事必须圆满解决。请将原货退回，费用由我方承担。,27,Features in language:,收函人为中心 （Readers Point of View）礼貌 （Courtesy）直接简练 （Directness & Conciseness）准确清楚 （Precision & Clarity）,28,We shall be glad to know the difference in cost between transport by train-ferry via Dover/ Dunkerque and road-ship-road via Newhaven/ Dieppe.请告知经多佛/敦刻尔克火车轮渡运货和经由纽哈芬/蒂普公路、轮船、公路联运这两条路线之间的费用上有什么差别。,29,A B C D in business letters,Accuracy _准确 Brevity_ 简洁 Clarity _清晰 Difference_差异,30,“You-attitude”以收函人为中心，语气礼貌且友好,Practice: Use “I”, “We”, “You”, etc. Use affirmation and direct expressions,31,随函附上我公司现可供出口产品宣传册一份。 I. We are enclosing a brochure outlining our companys goods available for export.II. Enclosed is a brochure outlining this companys goods available for export. The first one is more polite. “Please let us know.” is much better than “You fail to tell us.”.,32,在选词上力求准确清楚，避免陈词、长词及词义重复,很抱歉通知你方，我们无法接受报盘。I. “We regret to advise you that we can not accept your offer.” II. “We are sorry to tell you that we cannot accept your offer.” The second is better.,33,“As per your request.” Revised as “As you requested/ According to your request/In accordance with your request” as per这样的陈词很少出现在日常商务书信中,34,“Above-mentioned policy” revised: “This policy” Is there anything wrong with the following sentence? Please send us your catalog at once and by return mail.Revised: Please send us your catalog at once. 在此句中出现了词义重复的现象,35,内容表达言简意赅，传达足够信息且机智表达,By this letter we would ask you to consider our proposal.Revised: Please consider our proposal. more concise Whenever there is any way in which we can be of assistance, please feel free to contact us.Revised: Please let us know whenever we can be helpful.,36,Thank you very much for your inviting me to speak at your annual get-together of your staff members and friends in the business circle. Much to my regret, I cannot go because at that time I will be on a business trip in Europe. 感谢您邀请我在贵公司员工及业务伙伴年度会议上做演讲。但是很遗憾，由于本人彼时出访欧洲，惜未能出席。 作者就把自己不能参加对方的邀请说得非常机智且有礼貌，使邀请人读上去感到很自然，全然没有不悦的感觉。,37,Skills of translating business letters,Principle of translation: faithfulness, expressiveness注意信函结构程式化的翻译运用套译的翻译方法商务信函翻译中要注意礼貌原则,38,Faithfulness & Expressiveness,准确、忠实再现SL思想内容及风格特征 It is the international practice that when a claim is established, the inspection fee shall be borne by the seller. Therefore, we hereby register our claim with you for the following sum. 按照国际惯例：索赔成立时，检验费由卖房承担。因而在此向贵方索赔如下金额。,39,Be sure to contain any important information,We have obtained your name and address from the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, who have told us that you wish to import electric goods manufactured in China.原译：我方从新加坡商会处获悉贵方的名称和地址，得知贵方有意进口中国制造的产品。改译：我方从新加坡商会处获悉贵方的名称和地址，得知贵方有意进口中国制造的电子产品。【never neglect the important information】,40,I have the honor to notify you that we have commenced a business as commission agents for British goods.原译：我很荣幸地告知你我们已经开始了一项业务，来作为英国货物的代理。改译：我们已经开始了经营代销英国货物的业务，特此通告。 【翻译绝对忠实于原文，但却不能够达到通顺的要求，让人读起来感到特别生硬，须调整语序】,41,Stereotype pattern in business letter,John Wanamaker68 Fifth StreetPhiladelphia 11U.S.A 美国费城第十一邮区第五大街68号 约翰华纳麦克先生November 2, 20102010年11月2日,42,Tips in translating BE letters: Set translation 套译,1. addressing Dear Sir(s)/Madam/Gentlemen/Ladies 尊敬的阁下/先生/女士/夫人;敬启者、谨启者、执事先生、尊鉴、台鉴等2. Complimentary close: Yours faithfully，Faithfully yours，Yours truly，Best regard，Sincerely，Best wishes，Yours sincerely，Kind regards 谨上、敬上、谨启、顺致敬意等,43,3. Modest expressions,Frequently uses: appreciate，esteem，favor，grateful，kindly，oblige，please，pleasure，Allow us.，Permit us to.，May we.等等。 Polite expressions 敬辞：贵方/国/公司、阁下、敬复、敬悉、惠请、惠函、惠顾、赐复、奉告、承蒙、恭候”, etc. ；Modest expressions: 敝人、敝公司、敝处、卑职、愚见、拙见、拙作、拜读、过奖” etc.,44,examples,We have pleasure in acknowledging receipt of your esteemed favor of the 8th May.敬收悉贵公司5月8日来函。 Kindly provide us with all possible information on your market.惠请告知你方市场详情。,45,Principle of courtesy 礼貌原则,（1） 策略准则和慷慨准则 - 常用于指令和承诺，对于咨询信息、发盘还盘、商议付款条件、索取免费产品以及就赔付方式进行交涉等方面比较适用。,46,Should you desire, we would be pleased to send you catalogs together with export prices and estimated shipping costs for these items.若贵方需要，本公司将乐意寄上目录以及这些项目的出口价格以及预估的运输费。,47,（2） 赞誉准则和谦逊准则,-要求尽量减小对别人的贬损，夸大对别人的赞扬以及缩小对自己的赞扬，夸大对自己的贬损。在商务信函中这两项准则常见于试探合作意向、商谈合作细节或是感谢信当中。,48,We were pleased to know from your letter of 24th October of your interest in our products and enclose the catalogue and pricelist asked for. Also enclosed you will find details of our conditions of sale and terms of payment. 奉读10月24日来函，欣悉你们对我们的产品有兴趣。兹附上你们所要求的商品目录和价目表，并附上我们的售货条件和付款方式。,49,（3） 一致准则,根据这一原则，贸易双方应尽量扩大一致，减少分歧。,50,We have gone into the matter and we are prepared to make you a reasonable compensation, but not the amount you claimed, because we cannot see why the loss should be 50% more than the actual value of the goods. 我们已对此事进行调查，愿意对贵方给予合理赔偿，不过不是贵方索赔的金额，因为我们看不出损失何以超过货物实际价值的一半以上。 写信人在指出对方索赔金额数目不合理之前首先表明愿意承担相应责任，目的在于尽量消除谈判的障碍，从而扩展了双方的一致，确保了合作的顺利进行。,51,（4） 同情准则,与一致准则相似，同情准则也要求尽力缩小自身对他人的感情对立，增加自己对他人的同情。,52,At any rate, we deeply regret to learn from you about this unfortunate incident and should it be necessary we shall be pleased to take the matter up on your behalf with the shipping company concerned.不管怎样，从贵方闻悉发生这一不幸事件，我们深表遗憾。如有必要，我们将很乐意代为贵公司向船方提出交涉。 以上这一事例真切地表达了贸易一方对遭受损失一方的慰问及希望给予对方帮助之意，充分体现了同情准则的要求。,53,Exercise,Dear Sirs, 【First paragraph】 We are pleased tat the businesses between us have proved to be very smooth and successful. Our past purchase of Giant Bicycles from you has been paid as a rule by confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit.【Second paragraph】 On this basis, it has indeed cost us a great deal. From the moment we open the credit the time our buyers pay us, our funds are tied up for about four months. Under the present circumstances, this question is particularly taxing due to the tight money conditions and the unprecedented high bank interest. If you would kindly grant easier payment terms, we are sure that such an accommodation would be conductive to encouraging more business. We propose payment either by “Cash against Document on arrival of goods” or “Drawing on us at three months sight.” 【Third paragraph】 It will be highly appreciated if you can kindly give priority to the consideration of the above request and give us an early favorable reply. Yours faithfully,54,Translate the following letter,Dear Sirs,We are pleased that the businesses between us have proved to be very smooth and successful. Our past purchase of Giant Bicycles from you has been paid as a rule by confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit.敬启者： 你我双方间的贸易一向顺利成功，令人欣慰。我方以往一直采用保兑的、不可撤销的信用证支付从贵处购买的捷安特自行车。Note: 这是一封要求更便利付款条件的信函，目的是使对方同意己方提出的条件，首先要对对方公司的贸易往来表示感谢，说明双方长期合作的愉快。,55,【Second paragraph】 On this basis, it has indeed cost us a great deal. From the moment we open the credit the time our buyers pay us, our funds are tied up for about four months. Under the present circumstances, this question is particularly taxing due to the tight money conditions and the unprecedented high bank interest. If you would kindly grant easier payment terms, we are sure that such an accommodation would be conductive to encouraging more business. We propose payment either by “Cash against Document on arrival of goods” or “Drawing on us at three months sight.”,56,信函接着对买方客观说明目前的付款条件给己方带来的负担以及自己的困境。要求语言礼貌、语气委婉，语言简洁流畅，对对应的术语进行解释，语气上没有强加于人的感觉。,57,On this basis, it has indeed cost us a great deal. 以此种方式支付，我方费用甚大。From the moment we open the credit the time our buyers pay us, our funds are tied up for about four months. 从开立信用证到买方付款，资金占用约需四个月。,Under the present circumstances, this question is particularly taxing due to the tight money conditions and the unprecedented high bank interest. 当前，由于资金紧张和银行的高额利息，此种支付方式负担过重。,59,If you would kindly grant easier payment terms, we are sure that such an accommodation would be conductive to encouraging more business. 若能给予更便利的付款条款，我方相信，这样的照顾定会促进双方间的贸易。,We propose payment either by “Cash against Document on arrival of goods” or “Drawing on us at three months sight.” 为此，我方建议采用“货到后凭单付款”或“见票后3个月付款”方式支付。,61,【Third paragraph】 It will be highly appreciated if you can kindly give priority to the consideration of the above request and give us an early favorable reply. Yours faithfully,【信函最后买方希望卖方能够尽早回复。】 如能优先考虑上述要求，尽早给予令人满意的答复，我方将不胜感激。 敬上,62,translating fax,传真的规格因公司做法的不同有很大差异，由公司的惯常做法或使用的接收传真的软件而定。大体来讲，传真的格式与备忘录的格式相仿传真非正式文体用词和语言较随意翻译时，只需要把传真的主要意思译出即可。,63,To : XX Company Attn: Mr. XFrom: Mr. Wang Date: 2009-1-23Fax No.: 2233666 Ref No : FO 12-01Pages Incl. cover : 2Subject : Providing InformationContent:,致： XX公司 收件人： X先生发件人：王先生 日期：2009年1月23日传真号：2233666 存档号/文件编号： FO 12-01页数(含封面）：2页 事由：提供资料内容：,64,Dear Mr. Smith,It was a pleasure meeting you this week and learning of your interest in our promoting project.Please find enclosed detailed information of our special promotion package for the March issue. As time is short final deadline has passed. Your prompt confirmation would be highly appreciated. Thank you for your kind attention and I look forward to your prompt reply. Best regards.,65,Section 3,史密斯先生:很高兴这星期与你会面，并得悉阁下对我们的推广计划有兴趣。现谨附上3月份推广计划的详细资料。由于时间紧急而截稿日期已过，故希望你能尽快确认。谢谢，静候回复。 祝好！,66,Translating E-mail,Contents of an e-mail: head of the mail body signature,67,Format of the e-mail,68,Subject:（事由/主题）简明概括信的内容，短到一个词长到一个句子，最长一般不超过35个字母。主要目的是为了让收信人对邮件内容一目了然，分档归类，及时回复。该栏经常显示如Subject或Re，其中的Re相当于about或regarding，译为“关于”。 Re: Your order No.101 for 5,000 Pairs of Mens Shoes 关于：贵方第101号订单项下5000双男鞋。,69,正文：电子邮件的主体中，正文的写法并无严格的规定，但无论原文还是译文，均应遵守“网络礼仪”结尾：视需要附发信人姓名职务和所属单位组织名称及电话号码传真号码E-mail等。,Body,70,署名 Sigature1）简单署名（发信人名）：只需直译出名字即可。 John译为“约翰”2）简单署名（全名+电子邮件）： 只需译出发信人的全名，电子邮件地址不译，如John Smith，译为约翰史密斯.3）全名署名（用于个人书信）： John Smith 83#, Jinrong Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, P.R.C. Phone:86-10-1234-5678 Fax: 86-10-2345-6789,71,translate the following fax SHENZHEN ARTS & CRAFT IMP. & EXP. CORP TEL:826732456 FAX:826732457DATE:FEB.25,03 NO. OF PAGES: 2ATTN: John Smith FAX:5436678COPY:1 TEL:5437648FROM: H