第三节 商务信函的翻译技巧
一、使用套语和套语句式翻译
所谓套译,是指用一种语言中的礼貌词语或套语来翻译另一种语言中相当的礼貌词语或套语,而不必按原文句式逐词直译。不论是在英语还是汉语的商务信函中都有许多约定俗成的、广泛使用的套语和套语句式,因此,针对商务信函中的大量礼貌客套语和套语句式,翻译时既要语气相仿,又要用词得当,符合译入语的表达习惯,采用功能意义相当的礼貌词语和句式进行套译,从而再现原文的语气和风格。
1.称呼语的套译
在英语商业信函里使用最普遍的称呼套语是“Dear Sir/Sirs”(用于男性),“Dear Madam or Ladies”(仅用于女性)或“Gentlemen”(仅用复数形式,指男性等。此处的Dear只是一种表示对收信人的尊称,是一种礼貌的习惯性表达方法,并不等同于汉语中的“亲爱的”,因此,根据汉语习惯我们可以套译为:尊敬的阁下/先生(女士/夫人),有时也可以套译为:敬启者、谨启者、执事先生、尊鉴、台鉴等。
2.结尾敬语的套译
结尾敬语在英语里的表达方式有很多,例如:Yours faithfully、Faithfully yours、Yours truly 、Sincerely yours、Yours sincerely等等。这些结尾敬语也只是一种敬辞,在汉语中不能直接按照字面意思翻译为“您的真诚地”和“您的忠诚地”等,这不符合汉语公函的表达习惯,而应该套译为:谨上、敬上、谨启等。
3.正文中敬辞和谦辞的套译
英语商务信函中频繁使用appreciate, esteem, favor, grateful, kindly, oblige, please, pleasure, Allow us..., Permit us to..., May we...等等。而中文商务信函常用的一些敬辞包括:贵方、贵国、贵公司、阁下、敬复、敬悉、惠请、惠函、惠顾、承蒙、烦请、敬请、赐复、奉告、承蒙、恭候等等;常见的一些谦辞包括:敝人、敝公司、敝处、卑职、愚见、拙见、拙作等。
4.正文中句式的套译
汉、英商贸信函均有大量的套语句式,翻译时不妨直接套用相应的习惯表达方式,但要注意要灵活运用,切不可生搬乱套。
(1)常用的开头用语
With reference to your letter/email/fax dated/of (+ date)…
就您于××月××日的来信/电子邮件/传真……
Thank you for your letter/email/fax/catalog...
谢谢您的来信/电子邮件/传真/目录……
Regarding our meeting on Thursday ...
就我们星期四的会议……
(2)通知对方
We are pleased to inform you … 特此奉告……
Notice is hereby given that …特此函告……
(3)收到对方来函
We acknowledge/ admit receipt of your letter dated /of (+ date); We are in receipt of your letter dated /of (+ date).欣悉……来函;来函收悉。
(4)回复对方来函
In reply to/Regarding/Referring to your letter dated/of (+ date).兹回复/谨复贵方(某日)来函。
(5)表示从何处得知对方
We owe your name and address to …
Your company has been/was recommended to us by …
We have had your name and address given to us by …
We have learned/obtained your name and address from/through …
The name of your company has come to us through …
以上均可译为:“承蒙……的介绍我们得知贵公司”,“承蒙……向我们推荐了贵公司”。
(6)表示感激
Thank you for… 感激……
We shall appreciate it/We should be obliged(pleased, grateful)/It would be appreciated if (for)… 若……,我们将不胜感激。
It gives us great pleasure (+ to-infin.). 非常感激……
Please accept my sincere/profound appreciation for …请接受我对……表示真挚的/深切的感谢。
(7)请求对方复函和感谢对方复函
Looking forward to your positive/ favourable/affirmative reply.敬候佳音/静候惠复。
We would appreciate your early reply.
Your early reply would be highly appreciated.
It would be appreciated if you can send us your reply early.
We shall appreciate it if you can send us your reply early.
We shall be grateful/obliged if you can send us your reply early.
以上均可译为:如蒙早日答复,将不胜感激。或:请早日答复为盼。
(8)表示歉意
We regret to … 非常遗憾……
We are very sorry to … 甚为遗憾……
Please accept our apologies for …;We tender you to accept our apologies for …
……,我们深表歉意。
I owe you an apology/ apologies. 我向贵方致歉。
(9)为对方提供服务寄去物品
We have pleasure in sending you… ; We should be pleased to let you have… 欣然奉上……
(10)随函附上某物
Enclosed please find/We are enclosing … 同函奉上/ 随函附上……
(11)正文结束语
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any questions or concerns.
如果您有任何疑问,欢迎联系我们洽询。
Please let me know if I can be of more assistance.
如果还有什么我可以帮上忙的地方,请通知我,不要客气。
If you need further help, please contact us again.
如果您还需要进一步的协助,请与我们联络。
We look forward to our next meeting/working together.
我们诚心期盼下一次的会面/合作。
也可采用分词短语或其他完整句子。例如:
Waiting for your good news.
Looking forward to your early reply.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Hoping you are enjoying good health.
Regretting that I can’t give you a more favorite reply.
Regretting the trouble I’m causing you.
Wishing you every success.
Wishing you a pleasant journey.
Wishing you a happy New Year.
We are waiting for your good news.
I hope to receive your early reply.
We look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience.
汉、英商务信函均使用一定的套语,有一定的格式规范要求。由于中英信函存在的差异,英译汉时,保留汉语信函的格式;汉译英时套用英文的信函格式。总而言之,翻译商务信函应当遵循忠实、通顺的原则,采用功能意义相当的礼貌词语套译。同时注重语言的准确性,信息完整具体,涉及双方的利益和责任的内容要准确无误,注意句子语法结构、逻辑结构、遣词(特别是数字)的准确性。下面试举一运用以上套语句式的商务信函实例:
Dear Sirs,
We have duly received your letter dated March 5, 2011, with a price list of the business copiers enclosed therein.As we have much interest in this line of goods, and we often receive inquiries about them from our friends in Europe, we shall be able to give you considerable orders, if your quality is suitable and the price moderate.We shall be obliged if you will send us some samples with the best terms at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Jack Gooper
Manager
译文:
敬启者:
贵公司于2011年3月5日的来函及所附商用复印机的价目单均及时收悉。我公司对此类产品颇感兴趣,我方经常收到欧洲有关客户的来函询价,如贵公司提供的商品质量优良,价格适中,则可向贵公司大量订购。望早日收到贵公司的样品与最优惠的条件,谢谢。
杰克·库伯 谨呈
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