事务信函的翻译

二、事务信函的翻译

（一）事务信函概述

事务信函包括私人事务信函和公务信函。事务信函与社交信函没有非常严格的界限，其行文格式基本一样。本书所列的事务信函主要是指单位与单位之间、个人与单位之间的工作来往信件。以下所列的是事务信函中最常见的，包括申请信、求职信、推荐信、证明信、介绍信、索要信等。

（二）事务信函的构成

与社交信函相同，事务信函主要由六个部分构成：信头（发信人名称和地址）、信内地址（收信人名称和地址）、称呼、正文、结束语、签名，有时还有附言和附件等。以下第四小节中，事务信函样例中的信头和信内地址均省略。

（三）事务信函的语言特点与翻译

与社交信函相比较，事务信函的语言更正式，措词更严谨，语气更庄重。不同的事务信函要达到的目的各不相同，因此，翻译事务信函时，译文虽不求虚饰，但要注意用词简洁、准确，注意译文的严谨性和准确性。可视情况需要决定是否把信头和信内地址翻译出来，正文部分一般按汉语书信格式翻译，可适当套用汉语相应公函的习惯表达，酌情使用汉语公函用语，如“敬启者”、“收悉”、“承蒙”、“为盼”、“赐复”、“此致敬礼”、“谨上”等。

（四）事务信函样例及译文

1.私人事务信函

1）申请信（Letters of Application）

申请信是一种涉及申请入学、奖学金、就业等的事务性信函。翻译申请信时，要注意译文应简洁、清楚、明了。请看下例。

Dear Sir，

I have learned from a friend of mine who is studying at your university that you will offer scholarships for overseas students to study at your university during the 2006－2007 academic year.I have chosen your university to continue my studies because of its world－wide reputation.

I should be much obliged if you could send me an application form and details about your scholarships.

I am looking forward to your early reply.

Sincerely yours，

Li Hongyan

敬启者：

我从就读于贵校的一个朋友处获悉，贵校将在2006—2007学年向外国留学生提供奖学金。由于贵校享有崇高的国际声誉，我决定去贵校继续深造。

如蒙惠寄一份申请表以及奖学金的详细资料，将不胜感激。

祈盼早赐复。

此致

敬礼！

李鸿燕

这是一封索取申请表和有关奖学金资料的信函。英语信件格式规范，表意清楚，语言精练。译文在忠实于原文的基础上，采用了汉语公函用语。如称呼未直译成“亲爱的先生”，结尾套语未直译成“您真诚的”，这不符合汉语事务性信函的表达习惯。再如“I should be much obliged if you could send me an application form and details about your scholarships”若翻译成“如果你能寄一份申请表以及有关奖学金的详细资料给我，我会很感激”，虽然意思表达完全正确，但这样通俗的译文，未能把英语礼貌套语体现出来，也未把写信者诚恳、礼貌、渴望之情反映出来。所以，译文把原信函中的一些礼貌套语如“I should be much obliged if you could...”，“I am looking forward to your early reply”等翻译成汉语礼貌套语“如蒙惠寄……”和“祈盼早赐复”。

2）求职信（Letters of Job－application）

求职信是指为了谋求一个工作职位而自我介绍的一种信函。英语求职信一般不太讲究华丽的辞藻和修辞，开门见山，直截了当。求职信正文简洁明了，层次分明，所以翻译时，译文也应力求语言简洁准确，表达得体。

Dear Mr.Taylor，

In response to your advertisement in Shanghai Daily of July 15，I wish to apply for the position of business assistant in your company.I will graduate this coming summer.My outstanding record at school and some experience in business gained during the holidays has prepared me for the position.

I am really interested in learning the practical side of business，and also a diligent worker and a fast learner.If given a chance，I am sure I can prove my worth in your company.

I will be available during the weekdays in the morning for any interviews you may want to give.Enclosed please find my resume and two letters of recommendations from my teachers in the university.Hoping for your immediate reply.

Sincerely yours，

Yang Tao

尊敬的泰勒先生：

贵公司7月15日在《上海日报》刊登招聘业务助理，现拟应征。我将于今年夏天毕业。在学校的突出成绩以及在假期获得的商业方面的某些经验，使我作好了准备承担这一职务。

我对学习商业实务很感兴趣，工作勤奋，也是一个一学就会的人。如果能有机会，我确信我可以证明自己在贵公司的价值。

周一到周五您想和我面谈，我都可以。兹附上本人的履历表和两封大学老师的推荐信。希望早日回复为盼。

杨涛　谨上

这封求职信措词直接，实事求是。译文忠实于原文，对求职者在叙述自己的长处和能力时，汉语措词也实事求是、客观，不夸大也不缩小，体现求职者肯定自信的语气。

3）推荐信（Letters of Recommendation或Reference Letters）

推荐信是由申请人以前的老师或单位领导向申请学校写的推荐申请人入学与申请奖学金的信函。推荐信的格式与申请信相同，信的内容包括推荐人与被推荐人的关系、熟悉程度；概述被推荐人的优点或特长。推荐信应实事求是，语气积极、热情。翻译时，译文要体现原文的真实性，不夸大、不虚饰。

Dear Mr.Brown，

It affords me much pleasure to recommend Mr.Li to you.He has been in my company as an interpreter for nearly four years during which he gave me every satisfaction.

His knowledge of English is sound and amply sufficient for all practical purposes.He is industrious and reliable in every way.I am confident that I can’t recommend him too highly.You won’t go wrong by hiring him.

Any attention you may extend to him will be gratefully appreciated.

Truly yours，

Zhang Huaguang

尊敬的布朗先生：

我怀着极为喜悦的心情向您推荐李先生。他在我的公司做了近四年的口译员，他的各方面都使我满意。

他的英语知识丰富，足够实际运用所需。他为人勤勉，各方面都极为可靠。我深信，我怎样推荐他，都不会过分。您可以完全放心地雇用他。

若承关照，感激不尽。

此致

敬礼！

张华广

2.公务信函

1）证明信（Certificates）

证明信是以单位或个人的名义，证明某人的身份、学历、品行、工作能力或其他事宜的书信，一般简明扼要。正文开头通常使用较为正式的语言，如“This is to certify that...”，可套用汉语传统的公函用语“兹证明……”。翻译证明信时，应注意语言简练、准确。以下是一封公对公的证明信。

To Whom It May Concern，

This is to certify that Miss Wang Ying has been a typist in our company for the past three years and has been working to our complete satisfaction.She is now leaving our company because of a downsizing initiative.Any enquiries regarding her will be answered by us.

Yours faithfully，

Chen Hanhua

Director of the Personnel Dept.

敬启者：

兹证明王颖小姐曾在我公司任打字员三年之久，工作一直很努力，使我们感到十分满意，现因我处裁员而离职。如欲了解其他情况，乐于奉告。

谨上

人事处主任　陈汉华

2）介绍信（Letters of Introduction）

介绍信用于介绍本来互不相识的两个人或公司互相认识。随身携带的介绍信在格式和内容上都比较简明，主要起引见作用。英语介绍信中的习惯用语，如“This is to introduce to you the bearer...”以及“The bearer of this letter...”，可译成“兹有……”、“兹介绍……”。

Dear Mr.Ford，

This is to introduce to you the bearer，Mr.Chen Kai of Smith Company，who will be in New York for three weeks.Mr.Chen，with whom we have done business for many years，would like to set up a branch office in your city and is visiting New York for that purpose.

I want very much to have him meet you and should appreciate for any help or advice you can give him.

Sincerely yours，

Liu Yang

尊敬的福特先生：

兹介绍持信人史密斯公司的陈凯先生前往纽约。陈先生与我们已有多年的贸易往来，他这次前往纽约逗留三周，设立分支机构。

我希望他能见到您，并请您给予他帮助和建议。

刘洋　谨上

3）索要信（Requesting Letters）

Dear Mr.Li，

We owe your name and address of your research institute to a Chinese expert in New York and understand that you are specializing in fresh water pearls，which is the very category we are studying now.As we have not much experience in this field，we are particularly interested in reference materials.Therefore，we should be grateful if you would furnish us with some materials about the culture of pearls.

Yours sincerely，

John Smith

尊敬的李先生：

承蒙纽约的一位中国专家介绍，我们得知你们研究院的名称和地址，并了解你们是专门研究淡水珍珠的，这正是我们目前在研究的项目。由于我们在这方面经验不足，所以我们对这一类的参考资料特别感兴趣。因此，如蒙惠寄一些你们有关珍珠养殖的材料，将不胜感激。

约翰·史密斯　谨启

这是一封索要资料的信函。全信语言简洁，意思清楚，译文也体现了原信函的礼貌之处，如“承蒙”、“如蒙惠寄……不胜感激”。

翻译实践

I.将下列句子译成汉语。

1.With a view to further my studies，I have a strong desire to study in your university for an M.S.degree.

2.Learning from my friend，Li Jie，that you are looking for a sales manager，I should like to apply for the position.

3.In reply to your advertisement in today＇s Shanghai Daily，I respectfully of－fer my services for the position.

4.You will find enclosed an outline of my education and business training and copies of two letters of recommendation.

5.I should be glad to have a personal interview and can furnish references if desired.

6.I am willing to serve on trial for some months at a small salary.

7.Please accept my notice to resign my present position on September 15.

8.The bearer，Mr.Li，desires a position of a clerk in your company，and I take pleasure in recommending him for your consideration.

9.This certifies that Mr.Lu Jie served as the manager of our Product Development Department from 2002 to 2005.

10.The bearer of this letter Mr.Cao is entrusted with the task of making a market research in your city.

II.将下列信函译成汉语。

1.

Dear Mr.Thompson，

Thank you very much for the Scholarship Application Forms which you were kind enough to send me.I return them herewith，duly completed and with the necessary photographs attached.

Yours truly，

Shi Guangyao

2.

Dear Sirs，

I am now writing to apply for admission to the Computer Department of your university for an M.S.degree in computer application.

Enclosed please find my resume and a copy of my transcript from Shanghai University for your reference.

Hoping my application for admission will meet your kind approval.

Yours sincerely，

Luo Liang

3.

July 16，2006

Dear Mr.Brown，

As required by my employment contract，I hereby give two weeksnotice of my intention to leave my position as a sales manager.

As you know，for some time I have wanted to gain additional experience in other areas of marketing.I now have that opportunity and will be leaving the company on July 31st.I will do all I can to transfer my responsibilities before leaving.

I appreciate the support and encouragement you have given me during the years we have worked together.

Yours sincerely，

Yao Lihui

4.

Dear Sir，

I am going to graduate from the Department of Computer in Tian Jin University in June next year.It is my long－cherished hope that I will be fortunate enough to be admitted into the Graduate School of your university next fall for a master＇s degree.

I would appreciate it very much if you would send me a graduate catalog of your university，an application form and some related information.

I am looking forward to your early reply.

Sincerely yours，

Wang Feng