外贸英语语言特点和翻译

1、 概而言之，英语的词语在不同情景中具有不概而言之，英语的词语在不同情景中具有不同含义，外贸英语的词语尤其如此。许多我同含义，外贸英语的词语尤其如此。许多我们平时熟悉的词语，在外贸英语语篇中，往们平时熟悉的词语，在外贸英语语篇中，往往具有特定的专门意义。只有了解词语的专往具有特定的专门意义。只有了解词语的专业含义并运用自如，才能灵活准确地翻译。业含义并运用自如，才能灵活准确地翻译。For example: （一）（一）多义词与其翻译多义词与其翻译 （1）The shop only allows people six months credit. 这这家商店只准许人们六个月的家商店只准许人们六个月

2、的赊欠期赊欠期。（2）Does this item go among the credits or the debits? 这笔帐应记入这笔帐应记入贷方贷方还是借方？还是借方？（3）An L/C normally specifies the documents that are required by the buyer and the date by which the goods in question must be shipped. 信用证通常规定信用证通常规定买方所需的买方所需的单据单据以及有关货物的装运日期。以及有关货物的装运日期。(4) documents against pay

3、ment / documents against acceptance 付款付款交单交单和承兑和承兑交单交单1. （一）（一）多义词与其翻译多义词与其翻译 （5）Industrial averages were up. 工业股票的平均价工业股票的平均价格在上升。格在上升。（6）If a particular cargo is partially damaged, the damage is called particular average.如果某批货部分受损，我们称之为如果某批货部分受损，我们称之为“单独海损单独海损”。（7）It is not surprising, then, that

4、the world saw a return to a floating exchange rate system.在这种情况下，世界各国又恢复浮动汇率也就不足为在这种情况下，世界各国又恢复浮动汇率也就不足为奇了。奇了。（8）Floating policy is of great importance for export trade. 流动保单对出口贸易至关重要。流动保单对出口贸易至关重要。1. （一）（一）多义词与其翻译多义词与其翻译 许多词语在一般语篇中表示的意义和它们在许多词语在一般语篇中表示的意义和它们在外贸英语语篇中所表达的意思是完全不同的，外贸英语语篇中所表达的意思是完全不同的，

5、而且在外贸英语不同语境中甚至具有不同的而且在外贸英语不同语境中甚至具有不同的专门意义，必须根据语境，正确理解，准确专门意义，必须根据语境，正确理解，准确翻译。因此在理解和翻译时，要特别注意一翻译。因此在理解和翻译时，要特别注意一词多义现象，只有准确了解外贸英语中具体词多义现象，只有准确了解外贸英语中具体词语的具体意思，才能避免与其一般含义相词语的具体意思，才能避免与其一般含义相混淆。外贸英语语篇中词语所表达的意义通混淆。外贸英语语篇中词语所表达的意义通常比较确定，只要正确理解其在语句中的专常比较确定，只要正确理解其在语句中的专门意义，理解与翻译不会有大问题。门意义，理解与翻译不会有大问题。 关

6、于外贸英语中的一词多义现象，在理解和翻译时主要可以从以下两个方面入手： u 根据词在语境中的词性来确定词义,先弄清多义词在语境中的词性及其充当的语法成分，然后根据语境推断多义词的确切词义: For example:1. aa perfect net of bus and air service 由公共汽车和飞机构成的完整的交通网 （名词） ba net income / a net loss 净收入 / 净亏损 （形容词） cThe sale netted the company a fat profit. 这项买卖让公司净赚了一大笔钱。（动词）2. aWe should avoid tend

7、er subjects of conversation at parties. 我们在聚会上应该避免谈敏感的话题。 bFirms were invited to tender for the contract to build a new hotel. 多家公司受邀投标承包建造一幢新宾馆。 cAs of 1 January 2001, the US dollar was made legal tender alongside the colon in the country. 到2001年1月1日止，美元同萨尔瓦多科郎一起作为该国的法定货币。 u 根据单词在外贸领域内的特定用法来确定其词义在外

8、贸英语中，许多词语具有不同于其一般意义的专业意义，与平时普通语篇的用法截然不同，因此能够根据词语所处的外贸英语语境来判定其词义。如： The documents will be presented to you against your acceptance of the draft in the usual way. 凭你方按通常的方式承兑汇票，单据才能转交给你方。 Provided you fulfill the terms of the credit, we will accept and pay at maturity the draft presented to us under t

9、his credit. 在贵公司履行信用证条款的条件下，我行将承兑并于期满时支付信用证项下提示的汇票。 The shipping documents for the consignment are now with us and we shall be glad if you will arrange to collect them. 货运单据现存在我行，请安排人来赎单。 The so-called negotiation is to buy the draft from the beneficiary or to give value for draft and / or documents

10、 by the bank authorized to negotiate. 所谓议付就是由被授权进行议付的银行向受益人购买汇票或对汇票和/或单据付价。We shall lodge a 90-day note in the bank for discount. 我们将把一张90天的期票交银行贴现。We shall write and ask for their ceiling for the advertising project and then we can budget accordingly. 本公司将写信询问他们有关广告项目的最高费用，然后相应作出预算。 （二）（二） （1）aThe

11、company has executed the order promptly. 公司迅速交付订货。 bThey have placed an order with the Boeing Company for 30 new middle-size airliners. 他们已经向波音公司订购30架中型新客机。 （2）aGoods already manufactured in Italy and successfully marketed in foreign countries could be produced in and exported from China. 在意大利已经大量生产

12、，而且在国际市场上已成功打开销路的产品，可以在中国生产并出口。 bTo market a product for a producer on a worldwide or regional basis is what Myrrh does best. 为生产厂商在全球或某一地区推销产品是米瑞公司最拿手的业务。 （二）（二） （1）The exporter has drawn a draft on the importer for US$5800 with relevant shipping documents attached. 出口方开立了一张金额为5800美元、以进口方为付款人的汇票，随附

13、相关货运单据。（2）Please open an irrevocable documentary letter of credit in your favor. 请以你方为受益人开立不可撤消的跟单信用证。（3）Our company is interested in a two-way business with you. 我公司有兴趣与贵方进行易货贸易。（4）Payment will be made by 100% confirmed, irrevocable Letter of Credit available by sight draft. 付款方式为100%即期，保兑，不可撤消信用证。

14、（5）Pricing goods below the competition also exposes a business of pricing wars. Competitors can match the lower price, leaving both parties out in the cold. 如果把商品价格定得低于竞争对手，就会使企业卷入价格大战。竞争者会竞相压价，以致于两败俱伤。 （二）（二） （4）Due diligence should be done before finalizing any large investment or acquisition. 在确定

15、大笔投资或并购前需要进行尽职审查。（5）The final price will be a fair one, calculated at arms length. 最后的价格以正常交易关系核算，将是公道的。（6）The Board made great effort to improve the balance sheet of the company. 董事会竭尽全力改善公司的整体财务状况。（7）Under the circumstances, it seems rather difficult to close a bargain. 在这种情况下，成交看来相当困难。（8）We have

16、decided to allow you a special discount of 10% to set the ball rolling. 为了打开僵局，我们决定给贵方10%的特别折扣。 诸如此类的词组还有很多，其他常见的有：hive off 承包，rack up买卖进展快获利多，in the red 亏损、有赤字，measurement cargo 轻量货物，order to pay 委托付款，master credit 原始信用证，straight credit 指定银行兑付的信用证，cover note 承保条或暂保单，open cover 预约保险单，counter purchas

17、e互购贸易，buy-back回购贸易。这些词组的存在让外贸英语富有趣味，不过它们的真实含义不能单从字面上理解。 （三）（三） （1）According to the shipping schedule, there will be two shipments of crude oil before the end of the year. 根据船期，年底前还有两船原油。（2）The United States is a heavy consumer of natural resources, and it is increasingly reliant on certain imports,

18、especially on oil. 美国是自然资源消耗大国，因此它越发依赖某些进口产品，尤其是对石油的依赖。（3）The greatest increase in US imports of China goods has been registered in toys and foot-wear. 美国已经大量增加从中国进口玩具和鞋袜。（4）The supplier has decided to stop free delivery as a result of a rise in the cost. 由于成本上升，供货商决定停止免费送货的服务。 （三）（三） （1）Commodity f

19、utures trading is an important part of the buying and selling process.商品的期货交易是买卖过程中的重要组成部分。（2）For accounting and other purposes, the above-mentioned current assets and liabilities are those actually shown in the Balance Sheet as per incorporation date. 为了核算和其他目的，上述流动资产及负债就是那些实际反映在公司成立那天的资产负债表内的数字。（3

20、）BOOM offers online stock trading services for listed securities in Hong Kong, US and other Asian Markets. BOOM提供了网上证券交易的服务平台，以方便客户交易美国、香港和其他亚洲市场上的上市证券。（4）The duration of the trade agreements are to be five years. 这些贸易协定的期限规定是5年。 （三）（三） （1）To finance these purchases, the importer may arrange for the

21、 opening of a red clause credit.进口商为提供资金可以开具红条款信用证。（2）In view of our long friendly relations and the efforts you have made in pushing the sales, we agree to change the terms of payment from L/C at sight to D/P at sight, but this should not be taken as a precedent. 鉴于我们长期的友好关系和您在销售方面作出的努力，我们同意将即期信用证付

22、款方式改为即期付款交单，但这不应当作先例。（3）Cash discounts encourage consumers to pay cash so that the retailer can avoid processing fees for credit card transactions. 现金折扣鼓励顾客用现金购买商品，这样，零售商就不用支付信用卡交易过程中的手续费。 （4）We have received your price list and have carefully looked over it. But please let us know your bottom price

23、s for these articles. 我们已经收到贵公司的价目表并仔细拜读了，但请告知我们这些商品的底价。（5）In order to book ships space, we have to take a shipping order from the shipping company.为了订到船位，本公司必须从船运公司拿到装货单。（6）If the price and quality of your goods are satisfactory, we will place our repeat orders with you. 如果贵方货物质量和价格都令人满意，我方会续购的。 由于

24、英语和汉语分属两种不同的语系，在表达习由于英语和汉语分属两种不同的语系，在表达习惯、用词习惯、单词搭配和句型结构等方面存在惯、用词习惯、单词搭配和句型结构等方面存在较大差异，因此在翻译时不可能做到译文完全和较大差异，因此在翻译时不可能做到译文完全和原文中的单词词性及表达手法一致，因而也就产原文中的单词词性及表达手法一致，因而也就产生了词类的转换。为了适应汉语的表达习惯和语生了词类的转换。为了适应汉语的表达习惯和语法规则，多数情况下，应根据上下文的含义，进法规则，多数情况下，应根据上下文的含义，进行词类转换，对译文作适当处理，使之通顺，自行词类转换，对译文作适当处理，使之通顺，自然，而不能一味追

25、求译文和原文在词性上的对等。然，而不能一味追求译文和原文在词性上的对等。外贸英语的翻译同样如此。外贸英语的翻译同样如此。 （一）（一）词类转换词类转换 （一）（一） （1）Extremely keen competition between American and Japanese vehicle manufacturers in the American market has compelled us to bring down the price for the time being. 美国和日本的汽车制造商在美国市场竞争得非常激烈，迫使我们不得不暂时降价。（2）Marketing of

26、 a product does not only mean selling, but going to the market, visiting our customers and offering best customer service. 推销产品，不仅意味着卖，而且要亲临市场，拜访客户并且提供最好的售后服务。（3）All disputes in connection with this contract or execution thereof shall be settled friendly through negotiations. 一切因执行本合同或与本合同有关的争议，必须由双

27、方通过友好方式协商解决。（4）Our order is given on this condition, and we reserve the right of cancellation on the execution of this order after this date. 我方依此条件订货，如果订单在该日期之后才履行，我方保留取消订单的权利。 （5）In the memorandum, our readiness is indicated to provide technical service to your end-users. 备忘录中已写明，我们愿意向贵方用户提供技术服务。（

28、6）Owing to the frequent fluctuations in the market price, it is impossible for us to keep the prices open for more than two weeks. 由于市场价格不时波动，本公司维持这个价格不可能超过两星期。（7）There has been a fall in the price for this article, and your price is rather expensive. 这种商品的价格已经下跌了，而贵公司的价格却仍相当昂贵。（8）Even with this inc

29、rease, the prices of our products are still slightly lower than those of our competitors. 尽管本公司产品的价格提高了，但与本公司的竞争对手相比，价格仍稍低。 （一）（一） （1）With the future deterioration of the Western economy, the prospects of chemicals market become very dim. 随着西方经济进一步恶化，化工市场的前景变得十分暗淡。（2）The sellers and buyers have reac

30、hed the following agreement through friendly consultations.经过友好协商，卖方和买方达成了以下协议。（3）Preference shares have a fixed rate of dividend (interest paid per year). If a company does well, holders do not receive an additional dividend over this rate. 优待股的红利作一个固定的比率（每年付息），如果公司生意做得好，股东所得的红利也不会超过这个比率。（4）There i

31、s an over-supply because people have been putting their goods from stock on the market. 现在货源过剩，因为人们一直在清理库存，把存货投放到了市场。 （一）（一） （1）One of the best ways to guard against large financial losses is through insurance. 防范重大财务损失的最好方法之一是投保。（2）Your request for a further reduction of the price is really beyond

32、my authorization.贵方要求价格再便宜点，我实在无权决定。（3）The party who sets up a breach of the contract shall be under a duty to take all necessary measures to mitigate the loss which has occurred. 违反合同的一方有责任采取一切必要措施减轻已造成的损失。（4）We cannot accept your price which is away from the market. 我方无法接受贵方的价格，因为此价不符合市场价。（5）We ar

33、e still without payment of our long overdue account and must request you to let us have payment without further delay by return post at once. 长期拖欠我方的帐款，仍未结清，务请贵方即信汇与我方，不要一拖再拖。 （一）（一） （1）We are very hesitant about signing a new contract with you as you have regulated your price.对于签定新合同一事，我们非常犹豫，因为贵方已

34、经调整了价格。(2) We are committed to fulfilling the contractual obligations to your satisfaction. 我们答应将完全按照合同办事。（3）But our products have never been all that dominant on the American market, a result which goes against our expectation. 但是我们的产品从未在美国市场占据那样的主导地位，这样的结果和我们的预计完全相反。（4）After the bid is accepted, w

35、e shall be preoccupied with our advance-phase preparation. 项目中标后，我方将专注于前期的准备工作。（5）If these conditions are acceptable to you, we will place an order with you. 如果贵方接受这些条件，我方将下订单给贵公司。 （一）（一） （1）The company report targets earnings from selling at USD2million by 2007. 公司的报告中提出一个目标：到2007年，销售收入要达到两百万美元。（2）

36、We are impressed with the capacity of your company and willing to sign a new contract covering substantial quantity. 贵公司的生产能力给我们留下了深刻的印象，我们愿意与贵公司签订较大数量的新合同。（3）For the last two years, the company has spent more than it has taken in. 在过去的两年中，公司的支出大于其收入。（4）We aim at seeking new global partners and expl

37、oiting a new market by e-commerce. 我们的目标是寻找新的全球合作伙伴，并且通过电子商务开拓新市场。 （5）Business-format franchises are characterized by an ongoing business relationship between franchisor and franchisee that include not only the product, service and trademark but the entire business concept itself. 特许经营的特点是特许授予者和特许经营

38、者之间具有不间断的业务关系，这不仅包括产品、服务和商标，而且还包括整个经营理念。 （一）（一） （1）A series of spare parts of the latest model are listed in our order. 订单中列明了一系列最新款机器的零配件。（2）From the enclosed price list, you will see that we offer a good variety of childrens wear.从附寄的价目表上你可以看到我们有各种各样的儿童服装。（3）In reply to your enquiry of August 18,

39、we are able to offer you a lot of samples. 贵方8月18日询函悉，我们能向贵方提供多种样品。 （4）We are prepared to make a quantity order for this article. 我方对这种物品准备下一张大数量的订单。（5）The moderate price coupled with the superiority of our goods will surely induce you to pass our orders. 我们的货物价格公道，品质优良，相信贵公司会乐于向我们订货。（6）The inferior

40、ity of our order has made your goods useless for our purposes and we are compelled to cancel the order immediately. 本公司订购的货物质量低劣，不符合本公司的要求，因此不得不立即取消订单。（7）We have admitted the feasibility of your proposal and try to meet the reasonable requirements of your company. 本公司承认贵方的提议切实可行，并愿尽力满足贵公司的合理要求。 （一）（一） （1）We find difficulty in making a further discount of 2% in view of the fact that all other customers have accept