An Analysis of English-Chinese Translation Strategies for Business Letters英语专业毕业论文.docx

密 级学 号122309 毕 业 设 计（论 文） An Analysis of English-Chinese Translation Strategies for Business Letters 院（系、部）：外语系姓 名： 年 级：10级专 业：英语（国际商务）指导教师： 教师职称：副教授 2014年5月20日·北京北京石油化工学院学位论文电子版授权使用协议 论文An Analysis of English-Chinese Translation Strategies for Business Letter系本人在北京石油化工学院学习期间创作完成的作品，并已通过论文答辩。 本人系作品的唯一作者，即著作权人。现本人同意将本作品收录于“北京石油化工学院学位论文全文数据库”。本人承诺：已提交的学位论文电子版与印刷版论文的内容一致，如因不同而引起学术声誉上的损失由本人自负。 本人完全同意本作品在校园网上提供论文目录检索、文摘浏览以及全文部分浏览服务。公开级学位论文全文电子版允许读者在校园网上浏览并下载全文。 注：本协议书对于“非公开学位论文”在保密期限过后同样适用。 院系名称：外语系 导师签名：xxx 作者签名：xxx 学 号：122309 2014 年 5 月 20 日Abstract With the world economic integration, international business activities have become increasingly frequent,so the role of business English is becoming increasingly significant for setting up business relations, communicating, consulting, and answering questions of customers. Written rules in English on the rights and obligations of the buyer and the seller create a legal basis for resolving disputes. The wording and contents of business letters can decide whether customers can be interested in the products or services. Sometimes jargon is used for accurate information. Besides, business letters should be easy to understand, plain and simple, with clear intent in order to win new customers, expand business contacts, and develop customer relationships. With the growing number of business contacts, business letters translation is also becoming increasingly important.This thesis, based on the principle of “7C”, first illustrates the linguistic features of English business letters, for example, discourse structure and different expressions in English and Chinese, analyzes the translation strategies of English business letters into Chinese, and sums up the translation strategies such as literal translation, model-copy translation, amplification or omission. The results show that these translation strategies will not only help to represent the contents of a letter, but also help to solve the problem of how to express the original information accurately.Key words: business letters, “7C” principle, translation strategiesIII摘要随着世界经济一体化的不断深化和扩展，国际商务活动日益频繁，商务英语的作用也变得日益显著。它是与客户联系业务，沟通，咨询，答复的主要途径，是对买卖双方权利义务的书面规定和解决争端的法律依据。能否让对方通过信函推荐的产品或服务产生兴趣，很大程度上取决于往来商务信函的措辞和内容。除了使用专业术语准确表达信息外，还要求信函语言明白易懂，朴实平易，直达意图,从而赢得新的客户，扩大商业联系，促进和发展客户关系。随着商务交往的不断增多，商务信函的翻译也变得越来越重要。本文依据“7C”原则，以英语商务信函的语言特点，篇章结构，英汉语言表达差异等为基础，对英语商务信函的汉译策略进行了分析,总结出实用的商务信函汉译策略，如：直译，套译，增译和减译等翻译策略。结果表明这些翻译策略不仅有助于信函内容的表达，还能帮助译者解决如何准确表达出原文信息的问题。关键词：商务信函，“7C”原则，翻译策略ContentsChapter 1 Overview of English Business Letters11.1 The concept of business letters11.2 The importance of English business letters11.3 English-Chinese translation of business letters21.4 The feature of business letters31.4.1 Stylistic features31.4.2 Language features4Chapter 2 Differences Between English and Chinese Business Letters72.1 Writing format72.2 Differential expressions82.2.1 Different expression and thinking92.2.2 Different voices92.2.3 Different focus positions102.3 Summary11Chapter 3 An Analysis of English-Chinese Translation Strategies for Business Letters123.1 The “7C” principle for the translation of business letters123.1.1 Completeness123.1.2 Correctness123.1.3 Conciseness143.1.4 Courtesy153.2 An analysis of English-Chinese translation strategies for business letters163.2.1 Literal translation163.2.2 Model-copy translation173.2.3 Amplification or omission183.3 Summary19Chapter 4 Conclusion21Reference22Acknowledgments23Chapter 1 Overview of English Business Letters1.1 The concept of business lettersBusiness letters are one of the main ways of communication in foreign trade. It is a tool between customers and sellers. In foreign trade business letters play a role of the media on both sides of them. It includes establishing business relations, inquiries and replies, quotations and offers, counter offers, sales letters, orders and acknowledgments, payment, letter of credit, packing, shipment, claims and settlements, and so on. Business letters have their special writing styles, and they are professional, simple and solemn.1.2 The importance of English business lettersSince China joined the WTO, business activities and information exchanges across borders have been increasing rapidly. Today almost all the business communities recognize with one consent the significance of essential communicating skills, for all business activities rely on satisfactory exchange of information. Without them, many of ordinary activities of business would be impossible. They are used to sell products or services, to request material or information, to answer customers inquiries, to maintain good public relations, and to serve a variety of other business functions.In this age of rapid communications, many of the activities could be handled over the phone or in person. But few business people have the time to visit client personally, and long-distance telephone calls can be time-consuming and expensive. More importantly, most people retain only about 25% of what they hear. The chances of your message being forgotten or misunderstood greatly increase if you rely on oral communication.As a result, business letters are one of the best ways to ensure that the message is accurately received, particularly if technical or highly detailed information are discussed.Business letters also serve as a part of a companys permanent record. The letters also function as written contracts, fully recognized by the courts.1.3 English-Chinese translation of business lettersBecause of economic globalization and integration process. International business activities have become increasingly complex, and English in international politics, economy, culture and technology are remarkable. Especially business English for the economy, have made outstanding contributions to science, technology and social development. It has become the inevitable result of social development. “According to statistics, 1,600,000,000 people in the world speak English as a first language, second language or foreign language in the crowd, almost 90% people dealing with business English everyday (Liu 2000: 56).” With the rapid development of China, English-Chinese translation of business letters has become more and more important.The definition from Collins Cobuild Advanced Dictionary of English about translation is “a piece of writing or speech that has been put into a different language.”(1172) The famous British educator Peter Newmark thinks “It is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intends.” And USA modern translation theorists Nida thought that “Translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.” With the development of theory and practice, people are constantly bringing new understanding of translation. The translation process is reasonable to the correct understanding of the original, creative use of another language, and in that process the original meaning reappears clearly. It mainly includes the understanding of the original text, translation and translation verification. The key of the translation is understanding. Many scholars have been investigating into translation strategies or principles, such as the exploration of modern business English translation strategies (Duan 2005: 106) and principles of translation (Liu 2000: 93). Some scholars study from the interdisciplinary perspective of business translation. In 2001, Mr. Huang held that each discourse can be regard as belonging to a particular genre, and a particular genre requires specific discourse structure (Huang 2001: 75). In half of the 20th century, M.A.K.Halliday held that the systemic functional linguistics theory and in 1952, Zellig Harris held that discourse analysis theory have been applied into the study of translation of business discourse. So it is also very important to explore the language of business letters, translation strategies and principles of translation.1.4 The feature of business lettersThe method of communication by business letters is different from common communications. According to the traditional view, there are seven principles: Completeness, Concreteness, Correctness, Conciseness, Clearness, Courtesy and Conscientiousness. Those principles are put forward by Daniel Kennedy. Business letters is a way for companies to communicate efficiency. Efficiency is the goal, and the content is the carrier; the two complement each other. Business letters have distinct characteristics.1.4.1 Stylistic featuresAccording to Nidas classification, because business letters involve import and export, and they also have some relations and professional knowledge about banks, customs, transport and law, they have two specific styles: professional style and formal style. 1.4.1.1 Formal specific wordingThe formal vocabulary, basic vocabulary and informal vocabulary coexist in business letters. And the case of using the formal vocabulary and neutral words are more usual. It fully reflects the business letters characteristics: formal and specific.Example 1, English version: we are pleased to advise you that your order No.105 has been dispatched in accordance with your instruction.Chinese version: 我们高兴的通知你们：第105号订单已遵照你方指示运出。Analyzing: Using the same or similar meaning of written words instead of spoken words or basic vocabulary.In the example,(1) “advice or inform” is more formal than “tell”; (2) “Dispatch” is more formal than “send”;(3) “In accordance with” is more formal than “according to” Other cases,(1) “Duplicate” is often used instead of “copy”.(2) “otherwise” could be used instead of “or”(3) “employ” could be used “use”(4) “commitment” could be used instead of “promise”(5) “with reference/ regard to” could be used instead of “about”(6) “on the ground that” could be used instead of “since/ because”1.4.1.2 Professional styleIn the context of business letters, there are a large number of specialized terminology, jargon, foreign words, acronyms and general ideographic words to reflect the strong professional style.Example 2, English version: It would be appreciated if you would let us know by return your lowest possible price for the following goods FOB London.Chinese version: 请报下列商品伦敦船上交货的最低价。Specialized terminology and jargons are:FOB: Free on Board 离岸价Others like：CIF: Cost, Insurance and Payment 到岸价C.B.D: Cash Before Delivery 付现提货Documentary Credit 跟单信用证Counter-offer 还盘(Teng and Xu 2011: 15)1.4.2 Language featuresBusiness letters are accurate, concise and clear. The writers attitude has to be considerate and polite. In addition, there are other requirements: complement for the format; “specific” for the whole letter correspondence content. Thus business letters have their own lexical features and syntactic features.1.4.2.1 Lexical features of business lettersBusiness English vocabulary is highly professional, single-minded and meaningful, reflecting exact business form. For example, insurance policy (保险单), premium(保险费), stock(存货), confirmed L/C(保税信用证) and so on.Many archaic words are also used in business letters. Some words are often used by here, there, where as the root, and add one or several prepositions for synthesis of adverbs. There words usually appear like this, hereinafter(之后，在下文中), herein（在此，于.之中), hereby(下述), therein-after(在下文，此后), therefore(由此), whereby(根据) and so on.Moreover, in business activities in order to improve the efficiency, the uses of the abbreviations are quite common. For example, T/T(Telegraphic Transfer 电汇), FOB(Free on Board 船上交货), WA(With Average 水渍险), L/C(Letter of Credit 信用证), ICC(International Chamber of Commerce 国际商会), and so on. These abbreviations have been formed in the international conventions, so the meaning is single and accurate. (Teng and Xu 2011: 22)1.4.2.2 Syntactic featuresSyntactically, the obvious characteristic of business letters is concise and logic. They are mainly written in short sentences.In addition, business letters usually have a large member of fixed sentence patterns. For instance, the formula of thanks:Example 3, English version: We shall be most grateful of you will introduce him to reliable manufacturers and give him any help or advice he may need.Chinese version: 如果能介绍他给可靠的生产厂家，向他提供所需的任何帮助或建议，我们将感激不胜。(Xu 2009: 56)Example 4, English version: We shall thank you very much if you inform us soon of your price for the goods including both FOB London and CIF Guangzhou quotes.Chinese version: 请速告知这些货物的伦敦离岸价和广州保险，运费加成成本价，我们将非常感谢。Example 5, English version: We should be obliged if you would let us have some names and address of likely importers of good standing from your customers, together with brief credit reports on them.Chinese version: 如蒙告知你们客户中你们认为可靠的进口商号的名称和地址并附来他们都信用报告，将十分感谢。(Teng and Xu 2011: 73)Business letters are very important, by which companies can do business with other companies. With the developing of China, the English-Chinese translation is also very important. When writing or translating business letters, writers or translators should follow the “7C” principle, for their stylistic features and language features are different from usual writings. The style of business letters is conciseness, and the words of business letters are special and specific. It is very important for translators to know the features of business letters in order to translate the letters efficiently.Chapter 2 Differences Between English and Chinese Business LettersEnglish business letters and Chinese business letters have their unique characteristics. They have their own writing requirements: written formats, expressions and cultural factors, which all influence the business letters. 2.1 Writing format English letters have two types. One is mixed type and the other is block type. Mixed type: the first line of each paragraph indent two lattice. Signed at the end of the letter under the right position.Block type: all the contents of the letter are on the left side of the letter, with a blank line between paragraphs.The idiomatic usage of business letters are composed of the following aspects: (1) The heading The header is stationery printing enterprise name, factory name, address, telephone, telex, supervisor's name etc. Usually The company will be devoted to the prod