外贸英语函电的语气

(1) 使用交谈式语言，尽量避免业务术语。

不用：

Re your letter of the 21st inst. , in connection with our account, we are remitting our check herewith, as per your request, in the amount of $100.00.

而用：

As requested in your letter of the 21th June, we are enclosing our check for $100.00.

(2) 在保持交谈式语句简明特点的同时，又要避免俚语或结构欠佳的语句。

不用：

Hello,This is Charles Fonda. I'm writing about the contract. Mr. Wu asked us to explain the new clause.

而用：

We received a letter from Mr.Wu today asking us to explain the new clause in the contract.

(3) 使用读者词汇量范围以内的词语。有许多专门术语对普通读者来讲是不能理解的。因此，如果你觉得你的读者可能不明白，那就要加以解释，但是要巧妙，万万不得使用以恩人自居的语气。请比较下列两段中哪一段的词汇水平适当，而且解释得体。

a. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors of this Corporation has decided to award common shareholders a stock dividend. One hundred fifty thousand shares will be distributed pro rata. Since you own three hundred shares, you will receive three additional shares as your stock dividend.

b. Each year we declare cash dividends. Cash dividends are sums of money which the Board of Directors of this Corporation distributes to every shareholder of common stock. This year, in addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors has decided to declare a stock dividend. A stock dividend is like a cash dividend except that payment is in shares instead of cash.

c. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of directors of this Corporation has decided to declare a stock dividend to holders of common stock. One hundred fifty thousand shares will be distributed pro rata. This means that each stockholder will receive one additional share for each one hundred shares that he or she owns. Since you own three hundred shares, you will receive three additional shares as your stock dividend.



英语函电的语气-恰当语气的特点


一封商业函电的语气反映了笔者对待读者的态度。如果函电中有一种亲切而充满合作之意的语气，它在建立令人满意的关系时就会起到很大作用，而这种关系在开展业务时十分重要。

如果笔者想达到自己的目的，除了用简洁明了的语言提供一切必要的情况之外，还要采取适当的语气。笔者的语气必要既切合实际情况，又切合自己的目的。一封语气不当的函电会产生意想不到的不良效果。请参看下列例证。

On the 6th Maarch last we ordered 100 cartons of socks. We stressed the importance of delivery by the 30th April at the latest. The socks have not yet been delivered nor has there been an acknowledgment of our order.

Please look into the matter at once and let us know when you expect to fill the order.

例文中使用的是一种命令式的语气，这种语气暗示了读者做错了事，这很难使读者配合。对这种不当的语气可以做如下的改进。

On the 6th March last we placed with you an order for 100 cartons of socks,stressing the importance of delivery by the 30th April.

We have not received the socks,nor have we received an acknowledgment of our order. Delay in receiving the socks is creating difficulties. Since the matter is urgent, we will appreciate your advising us when we many expect to receive the shipment.

(1) 自然：如果笔者使用读者熟悉的词语，函电就会显得自然，这样的函电才能收到良好的效果。一般来讲，交谈式的语言在写业务函电时是最理想的，因为这显得很自然。简而言之，像说话那样写。

比较：

Its operational deficiencies were attributed by the agency to a lack of personnel resulting form budget limitations.

The agency said that it could not do a good job because it did not have enough money to hire enough peple.

(2) 友好：函电中对读者的问题表示关心，让读者感到函电中充满同情心，读后颇有裨益，觉得心中热乎乎。这样做十分重要。冷漠的语气可能会令人感到笔者对读者的利益漠不关心。请注意下列两句的区别。

We are obliged to inform you that the completion of processing your application has been postponed until the end of next week.

We are sorry to have kept you waiting, but it has taken us more time than expected to process your application. We will have it completed by next Friday.

(3) 礼貌：写业务函电时务必注意礼貌。即使收到一封态度粗鲁、蛮不讲理的信时，也要以谅解的态度做出彬彬有礼的回答。提出批评，表示不赞同时一定要谨慎小心，让自己的语气充满关心和体谅，即使向对方提出责备时，也不要冒犯对方。

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