The Lexis Translation of English Business Correspondence

孔琳

【Abstract】As the main communication method， business English correspondence takes the critical role of written evidence， so the lexical meaning of business English words must be accurate， understandable and normative， or the inconvenience and damages will be taken. This paper analyses the lexical features of business English correspondence and offers a pointed translation method on the basis of it by using examples to give the illustration.

【Key words】business English； English correspondence； lexis； lexical translation； method

1. Lexical features of business English correspondence

（1） Accuracy：

Accuracy is the important lexical feature of business English correspondence. This feature manifests the use of numeral-classifier compounds and technical terms and jargons. Business English correspondence including enquiries， offers， and bids， counter-offers and counter-counter offers， orders， contract and so on. So， the numerals used in passage must be accurate， concrete and ambiguity should be avoided.

（2） Polite expression and Conciseness：

In business English correspondence， there are a large number of polite expressions are used to impress the readers with good image and to conclude transactions smoothly （Li Tengyu 64-66）.

Except for including formal words and jargons， there are many spoken words such as short sentences and expressions with modifiers in business English correspondence， which are efficient.

（3） Formality：

In despite of the spoken and modern words used in business correspondence， it belongs to the official files. So， formal， informal and common phrases included together in business English correspondence. In addition， compound words such as “hereby”“hereto”“hereafter”“thereafter” are used to show the formality feature.

2. Translation of business English correspondence

2.1 Omitting the articles

There are no articles in Chinese. So， omitting the articles can be used as translation method. For example：

①We trust you will give this enquiry your immediate attention and let us have your reply at a early date.

我們相信你方會對此詢盤加以重視， 盼即復。

②We are large dealers in textiles and believe there is a promising market in our area for moderately priced goods of the kind mentioned.

我行是經營紡織品的主要經營商， 如上述這類商品價格公道， 相信在這里會獲得暢銷。（Liao Ying 89）

2.2 Omitting the verbs

There are so many verbs in business English correspondence only to form the verbal phrases and indicate the meaning and they usually have no definite meaning in phrases. So， we can omit the verbs meaning and translate the noun phrases into Chinese verbs. For example：

①Delivery must be effected within the time stated on the purchase order.

②In reply to your letter of 21st “November， we have pleasure in enclosing a detailed quotation for bathroom showers.” （Ye yulong， Wang wenhan， and Duan yunli 71）.

In the first sentence， the verb “effect” used its passive voice and it should match “delivery” to form “effect delivery”， meaning “交貨”. So the sentence can be translated into “必須在訂單規定時間內交貨”。In the second sentence， the phrase “have pleasure in doing sth.” means that “高興做某事”， so the meaning of this sentence can be translated as “我們樂于隨函附寄浴室淋浴器的詳細報價”.

2.3 Amplify the categorized words

In business English correspondence， we often see the words with general and vague connotation， which could be understood in different ways. For example：

①The export is not permitted to exceed its limitation.

出口物資不得超出限制范圍。

②Before settling your prices， you must understand your products market， distribution costs and competition.

定價前，你需要了解你方產品市場、經銷成本和競爭情況。

③Your Corporations representatives asked that additional details be sent to your corporation for future consideration.

貴公司的代表要求我們寄送更為詳細的資料以便做進一步的考慮。

Above these three sentences， the words “export” “limitation” “competition” are abstract words. Put the word “detail” as the example， in Chinese， it means “細節”， but which “細節” it refers to is not clear. So if we categorize the word as “資料” “詳細的資料”， it will make the sentence more specific and clear according to the original.

3. Conclusion

The research is expected to shed light on the teaching and study of business English correspondence written by the professionals in the field of foreign trade. But， for the time is limited， the discussion may sometimes be subjective and regarding the changing features of language in different areas， the validity of discussions may be fully changed.

References：

[1]李騰宇.論外貿英語書信及函電中的詞匯特征[J].鄭州煤炭管理干部學院學報，1999（9）：64-66.