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1、第四章第四章 商务英语的句式特征商务英语的句式特征与翻译与翻译 第一节 商务英语的句式特征一、句式结构复杂,长句多一、句式结构复杂,长句多作为企业间商务交流的媒介,商务英语具有句式讲究、条理清晰、结构严谨的特点。如:If a Party breaches any of the representations or warranties given by it in Articles 18.1 or repeated in 18.2,then in addition to any other remedies available to the other Party under this con
2、tract or under Applicable Laws,it shall indemnify and keep indemnified the other Party and the company against any losses,damages,costs,expenses,liabilities and claims that such Party or the Company may suffer as a result of such breach.(如果一方违反任何根据第18.1 条或18.2 条所作的陈述及担保或重述,则另一方除根据本合同或相关法律寻求任何可能的救济之外
3、,违约方应当赔偿另一方或合营公司由此造成的任何损失、损害、费用、开支、责任或索赔。)此句的主干为 it shall indemnify and keep indemnified against the other Party and the company,前面是一个由if 引导的条件状语从句(If a Party breaches any of the representations or warranties given by it in Articles 18.1 or repeated in 18.2)。在这个条件状语从句中,其宾语部分(any of the representatio
4、ns or warranties)又跟随着后置定语(given by it in Articles 18.1 or repeated in 18.2)。in addition to 引导的是增补成分,其核心词remedies 之后也跟了后置定语(available to the other Party under this contract or under Applicable Laws)。这一部分对句子的主要成分进行了补充说明,从而使句意更加严谨。最后,that 后面的成分是作为后置定语修饰其前面的五个并列名词。二、复杂句子的使用二、复杂句子的使用 商务英语句式复杂、长难句多的特点在外贸函
5、电、金融英语以及企业管理英语中也都有很好的体现。外贸函电是国际商务中传递信息、协商交易条件的主要途径,严谨、规范的复杂句能够准确、完整地传达信息。金融英语和企业管理英语等也属于专业文体英语,表达时需要内容严谨、格式规范,因而复杂句的应用也极为突出。例如:In order to facilitate business in consideration of the present monetary stringency,the corporation,on behalf of which I am studying this proposition,is willing to base tran
6、saction on trade by barter and would import any articles,which you would ship to the United States.(最近银根很紧,为谋求达成交易,本人代表公司正在研究如何做成这笔交易。我们希望以易货贸易为基础,进口你方能运到美国的任何商品。)这句话的主语是由两个并列结构构成(the corporation is willing toand would),前面有一个较长的不定式短语(In order to facilitate business in consideration of the present mo
7、netary stringency)作状语。另外,句子中还有两个定语从句(on behalf of which I am studying this proposition 和which you would ship to the United States)。译者在译这个复杂句时采用了拆译法,把原文拆开译成了两个汉语句子,从而使译文更为准确流畅。三、被动语态频繁使用三、被动语态频繁使用 商务英语追求内容的客观公正以及准确无误,而被动语态的最大特点之一就是不带个人主观性,强调客观性和事实,重在表达动作本身而不在动作执不带个人主观性,强调客观性和事实,重在表达动作本身而不在动作执行者行者,恰恰符
8、合商务英语客观、庄重的文体特点,因此在商务文本中大量出现。如:Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Contract shall be settled through friendly consultation.(双方应通过友好协商解决因本合同产生的或与本合同有关的任何争议。)It is mutually agreed that the certificates of quality and quantity or weight issued by the Manufacturer shall be part of the
9、document to be presented to the paying bank for negotiation of payments.(双方同意以制造厂出具之品质及数量或重量检验证明书作为卖方向付款银行议付货款单据之一。)这两个例句摘自商务合同文本,其目的是要对人们的行为做出规定,规范各方的权利和义务,因此文字叙述客观公正、措辞严谨,译文也应注意保留这些文体特征。被动语态在金融英语中也比较常用,以体现金融语体的客观性和正式性。凡是不必、不愿或无从说出动作发出者的时候,往往都使用被动语态。译者在翻译这些被动句时要灵活处理,或译成主动句,或借助汉语中的“被”、“为”等词,保留原文的被动形
10、式。如:It is said that our bilateral deficit with Japan stubbornly refuses to shrink because their market are closed.(据说,我们和日本的双边贸易逆差很难缩小是因为日本关闭其国内市场。)Deposits at banks and other financial institutions are also money because they can be converted into currency and because they are used to settle debts.
11、(在银行和其他金融机构的存款也是货币,因为它们可以变为现金和用于结清债务。)Though commissions in the over-the-counter securities market are unfettered by legal restraints,brokerages have agreed to charge the same fees in order to keep profit margins up.(场外证券交易市场上的回扣不受法律限制的约束,尽管如此,为了提高利润率,各经纪公司仍然决定收取同样数额的费用。)被动语态除了不带个人主观性,强调客观事实之外,还具有较高
12、的礼貌性,使语气更加委婉。Ashley 指出,在商务信函中,为了使得请求听起来比较温和,从而更加礼貌得体,可以选择被动语态作为适当的语言形式。因此,被动语态在外贸函电、合同中也有较高的使用频率。如:Full information as to prices,quality,quantity available and other relative particulars would be appreciated.(请详告价格、质量、可供数量和其他有关情况。)So far,all our purchases from you have been paid by confirmed,irrevoc
13、able letter of credit.(迄今为止,我方向贵方订购的全部货物都是采用保兑的、不可撤销信用证付款。)After a check-up by our staff,it was found that the packing bags of some 30 bags were not strong enough,thus resulting in the breakage during the transit,for which we render our apologies.(经我方人员检查,大约30 袋化肥的包装不够牢固,结果导致运输途中发生破损,对此我方深表歉意。)四、使用固
14、定句型结构四、使用固定句型结构 商务英语中有不少套语或惯用的句型结构,这些用法是在长期的商务活动中逐渐形成的,已为人们所接受使用。例如:在外贸函电中,表示已收到对方来函时可用:Were in receipt of your letter./We acknowledge receipt of your letter./We admit receipt of your letter.(贵公司来函已收悉。)在回复对方函电时可使用:Regarding your letter of/in reply to your letter of/referring to your letter of(鉴于贵公司来
15、函);表示希望得到对方回函时可用:We are looking forward to receiving your positive/favourable repay;we are looking forward to hearing from you in the affirmative.(盼收到贵方肯定的答复。)随函附上某物时可用:Enclosed please find/We are enclosing(随函附上)除此之外,表示委婉礼貌的邀请时可用“May I have the pleasure of inviting you to”、“Will you please honour me
16、 by coming”;告知对方不利消息时可用句型“Im sorry to tell you”,“I regret to say”,等等。这些表示感情的词可以委婉、礼貌地引进话题:We regret being unable to accept your claim because the cases were in perfect condition when the goods were loaded on board the ship.(因货物装船时箱子是完整无损的,请恕我方难以接受贵方的索赔。)在商务合同前言中常见的句型有:(1)The contract is made by and
17、between the seller and the buyer,whereby(2)The undersigned buyer and seller have confirmedin accordance with the following termsand conditions:(3)Party A and Party B hereby agree to conclude the contract in accordance with the followingterms and conditions 等。以上几句都可以套译为:“买卖(甲乙)双方依据特立约如下”。除此之外,商务合同中还有
18、很多固定条款,其句法结构和表达方式也在商务实践中逐渐固定了下来。这些固定句型在表达意思时更为准确,在合同中经常会用到,如:subject to,without prejudice to,for the purpose of,by and between,on and after,or other similar or dissimilar causes 等。Subject to the conditions hereafter set forth,Party B will protect(在下列情况下,乙方将保证)在这里,“subject”并不是普通英语中“主题”或“使服从”的意思,而是表示“
19、在情况下,根据规定”的意思。Without prejudice to any rights which exist under the applicable laws or under theSubcontract,the Contractor shall be entitled to withhold or defer payment of all part of any sum otherwise due by the Contractor to the Subcontractor.(在不影响按适用法律或分包合同享有任何权利的情况下,承包商有权扣留或暂缓支付承包商应付给分包商的全部或部分到
20、期金额。)这里,without prejudice to 表示“在不影响的条件下;在不损害的原则下”的意思,在商务合同中经常出现,如:Without prejudice to your powers and discretions(不使贵行权利和任意决定受到损害),Without prejudice to the contractors rights to(在不影响承包商权利的情况下)等。For the purpose of this Agreement,each of the following terms shall have the Following meaning respectiv
21、ely:(就本协议而言,下列各用语分别具有下述意义:)在这个句子中,for the purpose of 就不是日常英语中“为了”的意识,而是表示“就而言”。五、条件句式的应用五、条件句式的应用 英语中的条件句主要表示一种未来可能发生的事情。商务英语中,国际商务合同是用来约定合同各方应享有的权利和应履行的义务的书面文件,由于这种权利的行使和义务的履行均需要有各种条件,所以商务合同中存在大量的条件句式。这些条件句多采用现在时态,体现了合同文体的严肃性。商务合同中的条件句多由下列连接词引导:if,in case(of),in the event of/that,provided(that),sho
22、uld 等。If there is any delay,the seller will immediately notify the buyer of the delay and the reason for the delay.(如果推迟交货,卖方应通知买方推迟交货以及延误的原因。)In case of any divergence of interpretation,the Chinese text shall prevail.(若对解释产生异议,以中文文本为准。)Should no settlement be reached through negotiation,the case sh
23、all then be submitted for arbitration to the China International Economic and Trade Commission(Beijing)and the rules of this Commission shall be applied.(如协商不能解决争议,则应将争议提交中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会(北京),依据其仲裁规则进行仲裁。)Either side can replace the representatives it has appointed provided that it submits a written no
24、tice to the other side.(任何一方都可以更换自己指派的代表,但须书面通知对方。)六、状语从句的使用六、状语从句的使用 在国际商务英语文献中,常常使用状语从句,精确地指出在何种情况下在何时何地接受和完成商务业务。例如:I am sure you will think it fair on our part when we suggest that the total value of the Parcel should be reduced by 50%.(我方建议这批货从总价中消减50%,相信你方会认为这样对我方是公平的。)When a party assigns,who
25、lly or in part,its contractual rights and obligations to a third party,it must obtain the consent of the other party.(当事人一方将合同权利和义务的全部或者部分转让给第三人的,应当取得另一方的同意。)If two or more applicants apply for registration of identical or similar trademarks for the same kind of goods or similar goods,the trademark
26、whose registration was first applied for shall be given preliminary examination and approval and shall be publicly announced;if the applicants are filed on the same day,the trademark which was first used shall be given preliminary examination and approval and shall be publicly announced,and the appl
27、ications of the others shall be rejected and shall not be publicly announced.(两个或者两个以上的申请人,在同一种商品或者类似商品上,以相同或者近似的商标申请注册的,初步审定并公告申请在先的商标;同一天申请的,初步审定并公告使用在先的商标,驳回其他人的申请,不予公告。)七、七、shall 的使用的使用 国际商务英语中常用带 shall 的句子来增强语气。特别是在合同类的材料中,单词shall 不仅表示将来时,而且表达了每一方的职责与义务,常具有“必须”、“应当”等强制意味。例如:The liquidation of t
28、he joint ventures shall be handled in accordance with related states laws and administrative regulations and rules as well as the ventures contract and the articles of the association.(合作企业的清算事宜,依照国家有关法律、行政法规及合作企业合同、章程的规定办理。)If the Buyers fail to provide such letter of credit in the Sellers favour a
29、s 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 cancelling any others at any time on the Buyers account and risk.(如果买方未能向卖方提供上规定的这种信用证,卖方有权选择把合同规定的买方账上的货物转售或随时推迟付运和(或)撤销任何订单,损失和风险由买方承担。)The board meet
30、ing shall be called and presided over by the Chairman.Should the Chairman Be absent,the vice-Chairman shall,in principle,call and preside over the board meeting.(董事会会议应由董事长召集、主持;如董事长缺席,原则上应由副董事长召集、主持。)第二节 商务文本翻译的要求、方法和技巧一、商务文本的翻译要求一、商务文本的翻译要求1.术语精确术语精确 商务材料涉及到经济、贸易、法律等很多方面,因此不可避免地要牵涉很多术语。要精确地传达原文的信息
31、,使译文读者能够正确地理解原文,译者必须使用标准的、对等的术语。譬如说,译者不能把“不可抗力”译为“force that can not be resisted”,在商务活动中它的对应译文应是“force majeure”;“信用证”的对等译文应该是“letter of credit”,而不是“credit card”。有些常见词在商务文本中的含义与在我们日常生活中的含义有很大的区别,譬如,在商务活动中“make an offer”并不是指“提出帮助”,而是“发盘”。例如:We enclose our invoice and shall draw on you at sight against
32、 this shipment through the local bank,as agreed,we ask you to protect upon presentation.(票随函寄上。我们将按约定通过本地银行向你开出这批船货的即期汇票。请见票付款。)原文可能会给不懂商务术语的人造成不解。在商务英语中,“sight draft”意思是“即期汇票”,“protect on presentation”意思是“见票即付”。因此术语的精确运用在商务英语翻译中是至关重要的。2.语气恰当语气恰当 在商务活动中,礼貌原则是非常重要的。在商务交往及商务文本中,双方都尽量措辞严谨、语气温和。在商务活动中,中
33、西方都有一些固定的表达方式可以使商务文本严肃可信。这种情况下,译者可以在准确传达原意的基础上,采取归化翻译手段使译文更易于被接受。3.用词准确用词准确 做商务文本翻译时,在理解原文、选准句型后,我们所面临的问题就是选择恰当的词汇。在微观层面上,译文中最常见、最严重、数量最大的问题就在词汇的选择上,包括选择词汇时必须考虑到对应词的广狭、褒贬、修辞、具体与抽象等方面。用词问题并不一定是指难词,例如,我们常见的“公司简介”、“公司结构”、“公司范围”、“公司历程”几个小标题不算疑难词,但是由于译者可能只注重表面的形式对等,将其分别译为“introduction”,“structure”,“range
34、”,“career”。这些貌合神离的翻译从功能上说无一达到了同等的交际功能,比较好的译文分别是“Corporate Profile”或“About Us”,“Organization Chart”,“Business Line”,“History”等。下面用两个例子说明商务文本汉英翻译中恰当选词的技巧。例 1:港台等地中小资本利用华人之间的关系,通过民间的渠道设法将资金、设备和技术引入内地。译文:Business men of mid-and small-size corporation in Hong Kong,Taiwan and other regions introduced capi
35、tal,equipment and technology to mainland China through non-governmental channel,namely by using personal contacts among their compatriots on the mainland.分析:汉语原文中有“民间渠道”这个词,我们不能按其字面对等译为“civil channel”,它实际上是指两方的非官方接触,所以应译为“non-governmental channel”.例2:我们采取了有效措施,狠抓了贷款的收回工作。译文:Effective measures on cre
36、dit extension enabled the Bank to have successfully recouped the overdue loans.分析:“收回”在这里的意思是指原来决定要放贷,但现在又决定不放贷了。所以,不能译为“to withdraw”或“to recall”,因为“recall”一般指制造商把有严重质量问题的产品召回,而本文中的收回是指在贷款到期时或到期之后连本带息一并收回。因此,准确用词应该是“to recoup”。从上面的分析我们可以看出,准确的用词既需要我们具备对商务背景知识的了解,也要求我们进行语境分析,选择特定语境中最恰当的词。2)名词和形容词或副词转
37、换(1)The fair price connected with the superiority of varieties of our products will be able to guarantee our competitive edge in the international market.(我方各种各样的产品价格公平,品质优良,能够确保在国际市场的竞争优势。)(2)We find difficulty in raising a great number of funds when the government executes the tight money policy.(
38、当政府实行紧缩银根政策时,我们觉得难以筹集大量资金。)3)副词和形容词转换(1)如合同一方实质性违反本合同或其项下的陈述与保证,另一方可终止合同,并向违约方提出索赔。(If either party commits any material breach of this Contract or its representations and warranties,the other party may terminate this contract and file a claim against the breaching party.)(2)甲方必须真实、完整地向律师叙述案情、提供证据。在
39、接受委托后,如发现甲方捏造事实、弄虚作假,乙方有权终止代理,依本合同所收费用不予退还。(The statement made and proofs provided by Party A shall be true and complete.Where Party A is founded fabricating fact,Party B is free to terminate this Agreement and retain payment already collected from Party A according to this Agreement.)4)介词转化为动词 Pref
40、erence shareholders are entitled to a priority in the assets if the company is wound up.(如果公司被解散,优先股东有优先分得公司资产的权利。)二、商务文本翻译的方法和技巧二、商务文本翻译的方法和技巧 在实践中,商务文本的翻译有一定的处理方法和技巧,分别可以概括为转换、颠倒、增补和省略等。(一)转换(一)转换 根据语言类型学,汉语属分析型语言,英语属分析综合参半型语言。在语序上汉语和英语均属“主谓宾”语言,但也存在殊异性。转换是指在商务文本的翻译中对语言的词性和表现方法做出改变。由于英语和汉语的表达习惯、句子
41、结构和词汇的搭配关系均有差异,在翻译中往往难以做到词性和表现方法的一致。为了适应译文语言的表达习惯和语法规则,在商务文本翻译中必须运用词类和表现方法的转换技巧。1.词性的转换词性的转换1)动词和名词转换(1)We regret to inform you that the result of examination was the emergence of disagreement between the shipment and the bill of lading.(遗憾地通知你方,检查的结果是出现了装运的货物与提单不一致的情况。)(2)美国与德国汽车制造商在欧洲市场竞争得异常激烈,迫使我
42、们不得不改变投资计划。(Extremely keen competition between American and German vehicle manufacturers in the European market has compelled us to change our investment plan.)2.词义的转换词义的转换 在一般的情况下做翻译,译者只需按照原文中各个词的词典含义就能准确而地道地把原文翻译成译文。然而,在一些特殊情况下,尽管按照词典含义对等地翻译,但译文还是让人觉得别扭。此时译者就必须按照译文的表达习惯改变词典含义,用地道的译文用词来表达原文作者的真正含义,
43、这就是词义转换。例如:(1)Each Party shall have the right to change its legal or authorized representative and shall promptly notify the other Party of such change and the name,position and nationality of its new legal or authorized representative.(双方有权撤换其各自的法定代表人或授权代表,并应将新法定代表人或授权代表的姓名、职位和国籍及时通知另一方。)分析:原文中的“ch
44、ange”的原意为“变化”,但为了符合中文的表达习惯,将它翻 译成“撤换”。(2)The Company may establish branch offices inside China and overseas with the consent of the Board and approval from the relevant governmental authorities.(合营公司经董事会决议并经有关政府机关批准可在国内外成立分支机构。)分析:原文中“consent”原意为“同意”,但为了中文商务语言的表达习惯,在译文 中将其翻译为“决议”。3.句型的转换句型的转换肯定句和否定句
45、的转换。由于英语和汉语表达思想、遣词造句的方式不同,我们在翻译时应按照中文的习惯用法决定是否改变表现方法。最为常用的方式是将英语中某些肯定和否定形式的句子在汉译时作句式转换处理。例如:1)They were very few,fewer than at the last meeting of the board of directors.The chairman didnt say much at the meeting,but every word was to the point.(他们没有几个人到会,比董事会上次到会的人还要少。董事长在会上说话不多,但每句话都很中肯。)2)It is n
46、ot rarely that they collect the feedback information of their products directly from the market from all angles.(他们常常从各种角度收集市场直接反馈的产品信息。)4.语态的转换语态的转换英语惯用被动语态,而汉语则多用主动语态。因此,英译汉时宜按照汉语的表达习惯作改变,这样的改变常见于那些以人的动作和活动为主语、而动作的执行者已被表明或暗示的句子里。例如:(1)Everything possible has been done to save their enterprise and
47、to carry on the entire reform of their management and control.(他们已采取了一切可能的措施,以便挽救他们的企业,并对他们的经营管理进行彻底的改革。)(2)Confidential Information must be kept by the receiving Party in a secure place with access only to both Parties employees or agents.(机密信息的接受方必须将其存放在安全地方,仅限合同双方雇员、代理人知晓。)(二)增补(二)增补 增补也是商务文本翻译中不
48、可忽视的重要技巧之一。所谓增补,“就是要根据上下文的意思、逻辑关系以及目的语的表达习惯,增加词量,以表达原文字面没有出现但已经包含的意思”。这种翻译方法主要是为了应对英汉两种语言在遣词造句以及思维方法上的不同特点而采用的。法律语言的表述常常是“失之毫厘,谬以千里”。某些商务英语的表述虽然简单,但丝毫不会影响其内容的准确性。因此,在翻译成汉语时,为避免引起误解,就需要根据汉语的习惯和语法规则对这些词或句子予以重述。增补的方法主要有以下几种。1.增加实义词汇增加实义词汇 鉴于商务语言的严谨性和规范性特点,在商务英语汉译过程中需要适当添加一定的词汇,以限定范围,提高表述的准确性。例如:(1)This
49、 Agreement is made by and between _ Company having its registered office in_(place)and _ Company,address of which is _(house number,street,city).译文:本协议由_公司(注册营业地)和_公司(法定地址是_市 _街_号)之间达成。分析:一般公司的办公地址有多处,在通常的法律语言环境下,“address”即表示“法 定地址”,因此翻译成汉语时,需在“地址”前增加“法定”一词。(2)The proposal indicates the offer or to
50、be bound by the proposal thereof in case of acceptance.译文:该意思表示表明经受盘人承诺,发盘人即受该意思表示的约束。分析:增加“受盘人”,表示不能是任何第三人的承诺,这是由合同的权利和义 务的相对性决定的。(3)The contract looks upon party A as having rights and duties thereof.译文:该合同视甲方为享有合同权利和承(负)担合同义务的主体。分析:“享有”和“承(负)担”虽然意思相反,但在商务英语中都可用“have”一 词表达,而汉语找不到一个能够准确表达双重含义的对等词,所