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1、Lexical Features and Translation of English Business Correspondence AbstractEnglish business correspondence plays an important role in foreign trade. In English business correspondence, the lexicon is a key aspect which can influence the effect of communication: This thesis is a study on lexical fea
2、tures and Translation of English business correspondence .Key words: English business correspondence; Lexical features; Translation摘要商务英语信函在对外贸易中起着很重要的作用。而在商务信函中，词汇又是影响交际效果的一个主要方面。本文是对商务英语信函的词汇特点及翻译展开的研究。关键词:商务英语信函； 词汇特征； 翻译IntroductionBusiness English is a very wide concept. On the one hand, it inc
3、ludes many fields, from the economic policies and legal regulations of governments to the correspondence, contract, agreement, documents and advertising of a certain transaction; everything concerning economic and trade is included (Wang Enmian 1993). On the other hand, because of the large variety
4、of business English, the styles are therefore rich, including legal styles, theoretical styles, journalistic styles, correspondence styles and advertising styles, etc. and correspondingly they have different language features (Zhang Delu, 1998:125). The formality of lexicon is an important feature o
5、f Busiriess English other than advertising English. Firstly, there are more formal and spoken words, which appears clumsy. Secondly, there are usually archaic words in legal texts to increase its solemnity and formality. Thirdly, due to large coverage of Business English, such as industry, trade and
6、 laws, the technical terms are also rich and complicated. Some of the terms have fixed meanings and some vary with the occasions. Fourthly, there are many borrowed words from other languages which can strengthen the formality, for example, re (Latin), force majeure (French). 1.Lexical features of En
7、glish business correspondenceThe most striking Lexical feature of business correspondence lies in its jargons, which refer to those words that can only be understood by the insiders involved in the field. Take the word “balance”,a polysemy,for example,it usually means 平衡 in Chinese, while it refers
8、to,more often than not,余额in business letters. That can be proved by the following sentence: The balance of $300 will be paid in one week. The meaning of“balance”obviously differs from that in the sentence: Riders need a good sense of balance.Moreover,most of the specific terms are fixed in form, exa
9、ct in meaning, and accurate in translation,which can be proved by these phrases:letter of credit(信用证),force majeure(不可抗力),All Risks(一切险),etc.Besides,some ordinary terms become specialized in business correspondence. For instance,“accept” denotes “willingly receive”(接受);however, it switches to the me
10、aning of “sign a bill of exchange to say that somebody promises to pay”(承兑),just like in the sentence “We request you to accept the draft drawn on you.”.The example will further demonstrate how this term turned into a specialized one: We have drawn on you at sight a draft for the invoice value to be
11、 collected through the Bank of China.Here,“collect”is not equal to 收集,but to 托收 instead. Another Lexical feature of business correspondence are possessed with consists in its conciseness. Specifically speaking,there exist numerous abbreviations in business writing to keep the letter brief. Four kind
12、s of abbreviations can be found in business correspondence, namely initialing, clipped word, blend, and acronym. Abounding in those words, business correspondence needs expertise. Some abbreviations as well as its corresponding translations are listed as follows: WTO for World Trade Organization (世界
13、贸易组织);B/L for Bill of Lading (提单);D/P for Document against Payment (付款交单) etc. 2.Technicals of translation2.1Convey the information of business correspondence accurately Accurately convey information of jargons in the business correspondence, in particular to the general terms described .For example
14、, “shipping advice” is “运输建议”rather than “已装船通知”。2.2Identifying the Normal Meaning and Technical Meaning No matter we do C-E or E-C translation, we cant just find the word from a dictionary. We should identify its technical meaning based on business English features. In business English, many words
15、have their special meanings. For example,1) Our company is ready to foot the bill.这笔费用我们公司愿意负担。 2) They missed the last bus, and had to fool it. 他们未赶上最后一班公共汽车，不得不走着去了。 As a noun, foot means “lowest part of the leg, below the ankle”. As a verb, it means “walk”. But in business English, it means “pay
16、somebody for something”.2.3Omission of Unnecessary Words In English language, the articles, pronouns and verbs sometimes only have the grammatical function. So, translators can omit those words if necessary. For example,1) Its a pleasure for us to offer you the goods as follows.非常荣幸向贵方报盘如下（omit “for
17、 us”）2) The purpose of insurance is to provide protection against financial loss at a reasonable cost.保险的目的是以合理的代价为经济损失提供保障。（omit “a and the”）2.4Adding Necessary Words Generally speaking, translators cant add or omit the meaning of the original expression. But it doesnt mean that translators cant ch
18、ange any word in the original text. As English and Chinese are two different kinds of languages. They have their own features. So, translators sometimes can add some words if necessary. But it should loyal to the original meaning. For example,1) The most successful manufacturers make it their busine
19、ss to understand consumer psychologyhow to use design, both in marketing and production, to make their products “speak” to the consumer.最成功的制造商总是把了解消费者心理，即在营销和生产中如何运用设计来让产品向消费者“表达情感”，作为职责。 If translating “speak to the consumer” literary into “向消费者说” doesnt suit the Chinese expression. While translat
20、ing it into “表达情感” will be much more suitable.References1Bilbow, Grahame T. (2001) Write for Modern Business. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.business correspondence. 2Gan Hong，English for International Business Communication M.上海:上海科学技术文献出版社.1996，2-30.3徐静.科教创新 2009年第8期4彭 萍.实用商
21、务文体翻译(英汉双向)M.中央编译出版社,2008.55叶玉龙等编著.商务英语汉译教程M.天津:南开大学出版社. 1998，88-96.英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs are the daughters of daily experience.谚语是日常经验的结晶。1. Look before you leap./Second thoughts are best. 三思而后行。/再想而后行。2. Great minds think alike; (heroes have similar views.) 英雄所见略同。 3. We shall never have friends if
22、 we expect to find them without fault.欲求完美无缺的朋友必然成为孤家寡人。4. What you sow, you must mow. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。5. A beggar can never be bankrupt.天无绝人之路。6.A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。7. No news is good news. 没有消息就是好消息。8. No cross, no crown. 不经历风雨,怎么见彩虹。9. The more haste, the less speed. /Haste makes
23、waste.欲速则不达。10. Victory belongs to the most persevering. 坚持就是胜利！11. A young idler, an old beggar. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。12. Put ones foot in ones mouth. 说话不得体。13. It is no use crying over spilt milk.覆水难收/悔恨已晚/木已成舟,回天乏力。14. Content is better than riches. 知足常乐。15. No gains without pains. 没有辛苦就没有收获。16. The more
24、a man knows, the more he is inclined to be modest. 大智若愚。17. All roads lead to Rome .条条大路通罗马。18. A snow year, a rich year. 瑞雪兆丰年。19. Never say die! 永不言败！20. The best mirror is a friends eye. 朋友的眼睛是最好的镜子。 21. Faith will move mountain. 精诚所至，金石为开。 22. A life without a friend is a life without a sun. 人生没
25、有朋友，犹如生活没有了太阳。 23. Great wits have short memories.贵人多忘事。 24. Do well and have well. 善有善报。25. A bad thing never dies. 坏事传千年。26. Four eyes see more than two. 人多识广/集思广益。27. Diligence is the parent of success. 勤劳是成功的根本。28. Water dropping day by day wears the hardest rock away.滴水穿石。29. Hope for the best,
26、 but prepare for the worst. 抱最好的愿望，做最坏的打算。 30. While there is life, there is hope. /Debt is better than death. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。/有生命就有希望。31. Where there is a will, there is a way. 功夫不负有心人。/有志者事竟成。32. Where there is great love, there are always miracles. 哪里有真爱存在，哪里就有奇迹。33. Where there is smoke, there is f
27、ire. 无风不起浪。34. One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。35. A stitch in time saves nine. 及时缝一针能省九针。/小洞不补，大洞吃苦。36. Never too old to learn, never too late to turn. 亡羊补牢，为时不晚。37. Dont claim to know what you dont know. 不要不懂装懂。38. Do in Rome as Roman do. 入乡随俗。39. R
28、ome was not built in a day. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。40. Sharpening your axe will not delay your job of cutting wood. 磨刀不误砍柴工。 41. Things of a kind come together, people a mind fall into a group. 物以类聚,人以群分。 42. One mans meat is another mans poison. 萝卜白菜,各有所爱。43. like author like book.文如其人。46. Like for like. 惺惺相惜。
29、47. Like teacher like pupil. 有其师必有其徒。48. Gods that run many hares kill none.贪多必失。49. Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。50. Actions speak louder than words. 行胜于言。51. You cannot eat your cake and have it. 鱼与熊掌，不可兼得。52. One loses by pride and gains by modesty. 满招损,谦受益。53. Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌。54. An a
30、pple a day keeps the doctor away. 每日一苹果远离医生。55. Time past cannot be called back again. 时光不倒流。56. A drop of water cannot make a sea, and a tree cannot make a wood. 滴水不成海，独木不成林。57. If you venture nothing, you will have nothing. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。58.The tree is known by its fruit. 观其行知其人。59. All work no play m
31、akes Jack a dull boy. 只会用功不玩耍,聪明的孩子也变傻。60. The pot calls the kettle black. 五十步笑百步。61. Unkindness often reacts on the unkind person. 恶有恶报。62. Todays work should never be left over till tomorrow. 今日事今日毕。63. Nothing so bad but might have been worse. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 64. God helps those who help themselves. 自
32、助者天助。65. Complacency is the enemy of study. 学习的敌人是自己的满足。66. A fox may grow gray, but never good.江山易改，本性难移。67. A friend without faults will never be found. 没有十全十美的朋友。68. A good beginning is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半。69. A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. 一本好书，相伴一生。70. A good
33、 medicine tastes bitter. 良药苦口。71. A leopard cannot change its spots.积习难改。72. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 一知半解，自欺欺人。73. All good things come to an end. 天下没有不散的筵席。74. Justice has long arms. 天网恢恢，疏而不漏。75A man becomes learned by asking questions. 不耻下问才能有学问。76. A man can do no more than he c
34、an. 凡事都应量力而行。77. A man cannot spin and reel at the same time. 一心不能二用。78. Diamond cuts diamond. 强中自有强中手。79. Doing is better than saying. 与其挂在嘴上，不如落实在行动上。80. Do it now. 机不可失，时不再来。81. It is the unforeseen that always happens. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。82. Dont put off till tomorrow what should be done today.今日事，今日
35、毕。83. Do well and have well. 善有善报。84. Easy come, easy go. 来也匆匆，去也匆匆。85. Every advantage has its disadvantage.有利必有弊。86. Every day is not Sunday. 好景不常在。87. Every man has his faults. 金无足赤，人无完人。88. Every man has his weak side. 人人都有弱点。89. Every potter praises hit pot. 王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸。90. Experience must be bou
36、ght. 吃一堑，长一智。91. Far from eye, far from heart. 眼不见，心不烦。92. First come, first served. 先来后到。93. Judge not from appearances.人不可貌相，海不可斗量。94. Gold will not buy anything.黄金并非万能。95. He laughs best who laughs last.谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好。96. He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. 想不犯错误，就一事无成。97. Learn not and know not. 不学无术。98. It is never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。 99. It takes three generations to make a gentleman.十年树木，百年树人。100. It is the first step that costs troublesome. 万事开头难。8