商務(wù)英語的語言特點(diǎn)及其翻譯

1、商務(wù)英語的語言特點(diǎn)及其翻譯Language Features and Translation of Business English摘 要近年來，隨著經(jīng)濟(jì)全球化的發(fā)展，商務(wù)翻譯在國際貿(mào)易中的重要性日益突顯。它不同于文學(xué)翻譯等其他形式，具有自身的特點(diǎn)。本文通過對商務(wù)英語語言特點(diǎn)進(jìn)行分析，提出一些翻譯的原則和策略，對解決商務(wù)翻譯的一些問題有一定的指導(dǎo)意義。文章先從三個(gè)語言學(xué)角度分析商務(wù)英語的語言特點(diǎn)：詞匯角度、句法角度、語篇功能角度，其次針對其特點(diǎn)提出幾點(diǎn)翻譯原則與策略，并在此基礎(chǔ)上對大量的商務(wù)英語實(shí)例進(jìn)行了翻譯，對常見錯誤進(jìn)行修正。事實(shí)證明，掌握好一定的技巧及方法后翻譯出好的商務(wù)譯本是完全可能的

2、。本文旨在提高商務(wù)英語的翻譯質(zhì)量，促進(jìn)貿(mào)易雙方的溝通及交流。正文將分為五個(gè)章節(jié)來闡述論題。第一章為引文。第二章系統(tǒng)地介紹商務(wù)英語的語言特點(diǎn),其中從三個(gè)語言學(xué)層次上進(jìn)行分析研究。第三章由其特點(diǎn)引出對商務(wù)英語進(jìn)行翻譯時(shí)應(yīng)掌握的一些原則和策略,其中包括真實(shí)性原則、對等性原則、精確性原則、連貫性原則。第四章主要分析一些翻譯中的常見錯誤并提出對譯者的一些要求。最后一部分為結(jié)論。關(guān)鍵詞：商務(wù)英語; 語言特點(diǎn); 翻譯AbstractIn recent years, with the development of economic globalization, business translation has

3、 become more and more important. Business translation is different from the literary translation and other forms since it has its own characteristics. This thesis analyses the language features of business English from three linguistic levels: the lexical level, the syntactic level and the textual l

4、evel, according to which several translation principles and strategies are proposed. On basis of the principles and strategies, some examples are analyzed and some common mistakes are corrected. The thesis aims at improving the quality of business English translation and promoting the understanding

5、and exchange between two trading parties.The thesis will be divided into five parts. Part One introduces the topic. Part Two analyses the linguistic features of business English from three linguistic levels. Part Three presents some translation principles and strategies based on the above language f

6、eatures including faithfulness, equivalence, exactness and consistency. Part Four deals with an analysis of some common mistakes and then makes some requirements for translators. Last part comes to the conclusion.Key words: business English; language features; translationContents. Introduction1. The

7、 Language Features of Business English.3A. Language features from the perspective of function.3B. Language features from the perspective of style.41. Elementary view of the features of business English.42. Detailed feature analysis of business English.6a. Lexical level. .6b. Syntactic level.8c. Text

8、ual level.10. Specific Principles of and Strategies for the Translation of Business English.13A. Faithfulness principle in the translation of business English.131. Faithfulness is the fundamental requirement for business English translation.132. Equivalence of the concept can assure the fidelity to

9、the original text14B. Exactness principle in the translation of business English.15C. Consistency principle in the translation of business English.15. Some Problems Existing in Business English Translation and the Requirements for Translators.17. Conclusion.20. Notes.21. Bibliography.22. Acknowledge

10、ments.24. IntroductionSince the economic reform and opening up to the outside world in China, our business communication with other countries has become more and more frequent. The scope of economic exchange has also extended and more people are engaged in the work of business English translation. F

11、rom ancient times to the present, abundant fruits have emerged in translation research in China, for instance, Yan Fus “faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance”, which gained popular influence in China, Lu Xuns “rather be faithful than smooth”, or Xu Yuanchongs “notion of rivalry”, “the notion of

12、transcendence”. However, what almost all the fruits focus on is literary translation and all the efforts are made to render perfect literary translation and achieve the harmony between the form and the content of literary translation. Eugene A. Nida once made comments on the current situation of tra

13、nslation in China: But unfortunately too many Chinese theorists and practitioners have focused primarily on elegance and quite naturally they concentrated their efforts on literary texts.1Though translation gets its appropriate treatment as an academic pursuit in China for a long history, it is not

14、true of business translation. The traditional Chinese translation theories lay too much emphasis on literary translation, which results in great limitation. Particularly for business translation, whose features are greatly different from those of literary translation, traditional translation theory

15、is not so suitable. However, business translation has for a long time remained only a business translation in a functional view and been ignored by Chinese academic field. It is only recently that it has become the focus of attention. The input from academic endeavor will certainly give an impetus t

16、o the theoretical development of business translation practice by selecting from among many frameworks of translation theories the most suitable one for business translation.Up to now, there are not as many books or theses studying business translation as those that concern other kinds of translatio

17、ns in China, though there is rapid development in this area. But there are still many famous scholars who have made tremendous contributions to business translation in recent years. Professor Jia Wenbo published a book named Pragmatic Translation with a Functional Few and one of its chapters is cont

18、ributed to business translation; there is also one chapter in Professor Fang Mengzhis A Coursebook on Pragmatic Translation discussing business translation; Professor Liao Ying also published several books centered on many aspects of business translation. And there are a number of papers and discuss

19、ions in many periodicals concerning business translations in recent years. However, there are few books that offer systematic researches and concentrate on business translation and few theories are applied in business translation; consequently, the systematic research on business translation and its

20、 suitable theories is urgent in China.Therefore, in the following parts of this thesis, the author will discuss the translation of business English on the basis of its own language features. The Language Features of Business EnglishA. Language features from the perspective of functionFunctions of la

21、nguage are closely related to translation, and so are the language features of business English. Translation is the art of language. People use different words for different purposes and effects, which are exactly the functions of language. A translator therefore should first of all be able to recog

22、nize the functions of language in different texts or contexts and then tries his utmost to choose an equivalent sentence or discourse in the translation, which has the same language function as the sentence or discourse of the original. Thus functional equivalence is achieved.As Nida said in his boo

23、k Language, Culture and Translating, language has two types of functions, one is psychological function, the other is sociological function. The psychological functions may be described as the means by which people negotiate with reality, and the sociological functions can be said to be those ways b

24、y which people negotiate with other persons. And the sociological functions may be regarded as external and interpersonal. Business English is a kind of pragmatic English, whose main features are external and interpersonal. Therefore the analysis of the language features of business English can be s

25、tarted from the angle of sociological functions.The primary sociological functions of language, according to Nida, contain the following types: interpersonal, informative, imperative, performative, and emotive. However, in view of the purpose of business English, the language in this special registe

26、r may have the following two main functions, that is, interpersonal and informative functions. The reason why the rest of the functions (the imperative, the performative, and the emotive) are not listed here in business English is not that they are unimportant, but that they can be involved in the t

27、wo functions emphasized: the interpersonal function and the informative function.The interpersonal function of language primarily involves the ways in which people negotiate and/or maintain social status, in other words, how they make use of language to help establish themselves in the social “pecki

28、ng order” and how they maintain these relations with other persons. In most languages there are quite distinct levels or registers, including ritual, formal, informal, casual, and intimate speech.2 In business English, the interpersonal relationship is essential to the success of a business transact

29、ion. If you negotiate with your counterpart, you should know how and when to use polite language, vague language or logical language, which are used according to different registers. The use of these various registers depends primarily upon the purposes of power and solidarity.3 Just as Mark Ellis s

30、aid in his book Teaching Business English, the most important characteristic of exchanges in the context of business meetings, telephone calls, and discussions is a sense of purpose. Even used in phatic manner, business English can obtain interpersonal function. But unlike in EGP registers, in busin

31、ess English the speaker is often pressed time at business meetings, so it is impossible to keep on chattering cleverly about inconsequential matters.The most obvious function of language is informative, the use of speech or writing to influence the cognitive content or state of other people. In busi

32、ness English, this function is especially obvious. Information has to be conveyed with minimum risk of misunderstanding, and the time for processing needs to be short. Therefore there is a preference for clear, logical thought emphasized by the kinds of words that indicate the logical process (for e

33、xample: “as a result”, “for this reason”, “in order to”).4“Those who employ performative language are often authority figures, or they are credited with possessing esoteric knowledge about the power of words, and in most instances, performative Functional Equivalence and Business English Translation

34、 language is highly ritualized and fixed in form”.5According to Gillian and George, language has “transactional” and “interpersonal” functions. The distinction between “transactional” and “interpersonal” stands in general correspondence to the distinction between “informative” and “interpersonal”. R

35、elatively few discourses are restricted to a single function. In fact, most speaking and writing involve several different functions and often in quite different proportions. But business English involves most obviously the interpersonal and informative functions in almost the same proportions. The

36、features of the informative function and the interpersonal function are the language features of business English from the perspective of function. In the following section, the language features will be discussed from the perspective of style.B. Language features from the perspective of style1. Ele

37、mentary view of the features of business EnglishBusiness translation does not have essential differences from literary translation, nor from other special translations. But each special area of translation must have its special considerations, which mainly concern jargons, techniques of ambiguity re

38、solution, methods of transfer of style, and selection of information that needs translation, etc. In this section, the main considerations of business translation in stylistic aspect will be analyzed, which have tremendous influence on business translation in practice.The major function of business

39、English is to offer all kinds of information to businessmen and help them to communicate better with each other. And business English is used to propaganda various kinds of information of products to the outside world to make people know more about them. Example (1): Extra privacy could be obtained

40、by engaging a “drawing-room” at the end of the car, which would accommodate up to three, but at a higher supplement. In these cars it was also necessary to use common wash-rooms at the car end. 車廂盡頭有一個(gè)特等臥室，具有很好的私密性內(nèi)可容納三人， 但要額外收較高的費(fèi)用。這類車廂的兩頭還設(shè)有公用洗手間，供旅客使用。In this paragraph, the information of extra p

41、rivacy and common wash-rooms are introduced to passengers.What is closely related to its informativeness is the succinct language of business English. Business English especially business documents or files seek for succinctness and try to avoid ambiguity and to reduce redundancy to the minimum, eve

42、n at the cost of other language features. Here succinctness does not mean the messages are little. Actually, it means using fewer words and sentences to convey more messages and at the same time avoiding ambiguity. Relatively speaking, sentences or words or paragraphs are much less complicated in bu

43、siness English than those of literary works except those articles of contracts. In business context, language ambiguity usually would be eliminated by specific business context. For business English, conveying the information is its most important function. The misunderstanding of information should

44、 be limited into minimum and less time should be spent on business documents or files so as to achieve high efficiency; consequently, most business texts are concise and succinct. Example (2):(a) Documents against payment付款交單(b) Freight forward運(yùn)費(fèi)到付(c) In your favor以你方為受益人(d) Backlog of orders尚未交付的訂單

45、In example (a)，there is only one noun phrase in English to convey the meaning that must be expressed by two verb phrases in Chinese. In example (b) one noun phrase is enough to express the meaning while in Chinese a sentence is necessary. And the English expressions of example (c) and example (d) ar

46、e also simpler than their Chinese expressions. And the words used in these examples are very common in business English and there are few modifiers of them. All these features make businessmen get the information more easily. In businessmens eyes, business world is a battlefield and time is money. A

47、s a reflection of this, business English is always compact and terse. If the meaning could be expressed by one word or sentence, there will not be more than one used. For example, the phrase “at this time” is always expressed by one word “now” while the verb phrase “make inquiry regarding” is expres

48、sed by “inquire”. There are many examples like these in business English, which show the succinct feature of the language. Succinct languages used in business English are welcomed by businessmen. The succinctness of the language and common words make much convenience for businessmen and their commun

49、ication.2. Detailed Feature Analysis of Business EnglishObviously, the two above-mentioned characteristics are reflected at different levels of business English. This section will mainly concern the stylistic characteristics of business English at lexical, syntactic and textual levels.a. Lexical lev

50、elAs one part of English, most words of business English take the general characteristics of English lexis. Except some words, such as some price terms stipulated by international organizations, most of words are just common ones in English. Business English is much less ambiguous than literary Engl

51、ish, and even daily English, and therefore it is much easier to find equivalence for business English in the target language. Most of words used in business English correspondingly have limited meanings and could be understood easily and clearly. However, words in business English still have their o

52、wn features. And the followings are the most prominent ones.(1) The exactness of the meanings of wordsWith regard to the meanings of words, words of business English get more attention than those in other kinds of English. Particularly when it comes to the exactness of the meanings, more emphasis sh

53、ould be paid to it.Example (3):A confirmed irrevocable letter of credit shall be established within 15 days after the conclusion of the contract and such letter of credit should be maintained at least 15days after the month of shipment for the negotiation of the relative draft. If the Buyers fail to

54、 provide such letter of credit in the Sellers favor as prescribed above, the Seller shall have the option of reselling the contracted goods for the account of the Buyers or delaying any shipment and/or canceling any orders at any time on the Buyers account and risk.保兌的和不可撤銷的信用證必須在和約簽訂之后十五天內(nèi)開立。而且，該信用

55、證必須在貨物付運(yùn)之后至少十五天內(nèi)繼續(xù)有效，以便議附有關(guān)匯票。如果買方未能向賣方提供如上規(guī)定的信用證，賣方有權(quán)選擇轉(zhuǎn)售合約規(guī)定為買方的貨物或推遲付運(yùn)和(或)隨時(shí)撤消任何訂單，損失和風(fēng)險(xiǎn)由買方承擔(dān)。There are only two sentences in this paragraph but words related to business such as confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit, conclusion of the contract, shipment, negotiation, draft in the sellers favor

56、, reselling the contracted goods and for the account of the buyers account for a large part of the whole sentence. And in business context, the meanings of such words are completely different from them in common English. For example, commonly, negotiation means the action of talking with another per

57、son or group in order to try to come to an agreement or settle an argument. But here negotiation means the actions which the Seller sells the relative documents or drafts to the Bank for getting the payment. And in common English, confirm means to provide evidence for the truth of something or to give approval to. For example, please confirm your telephone message by letters(請來信確認(rèn)你的電話內(nèi)容)，but in this paragraph and in many business context, confirm always means保兌 and a confirmed letter