商務(wù)信函寫(xiě)作3
Courtesy譯成“禮貌”。但是根據(jù)西方國(guó)家函電書(shū)籍作者普遍的看法,所謂Courtesy是“客氣而又體諒人”的意思。有的人還把Courtesy和Politeness這兩個(gè)同義詞做了比較,認(rèn)為:Politeness的客氣只是表現(xiàn)在文章的語(yǔ)句上,而Courtesy則表現(xiàn)在對(duì)對(duì)方的“體諒”,例如:
Polite
a) We have received with many thanks for your letter of Oct.7, and we take the pleasure of sending you latest catalog. We wish to draw your attention to a special offer, which we have made in it.
Courtesy
b) You will be particularly interested in a special offer on page 5 of the latest catalog enclosed, which you requested in your letter of Oct. 7.
怎樣通過(guò)各種語(yǔ)言形式來(lái)表達(dá)Courtesy呢?這樣的形式很多,現(xiàn)在提供一些常見(jiàn)的供參考:
(一) 把命令變成請(qǐng)求的常用形式:
Please, Will you…….., Will you please……..,如:
a) Will you give us more detailed information on your requirement?
b) Will you please (kindly) let us hear from you on these two points?
(二) 虛擬式(Past Subjunctive From)如:
a) Would you compare our sample with the goods of other firms?
b) We would ask you to ship the goods by the first available vessel.
c) We wish you would let us have your reply soon.
d) This would seem to confirm our opinion.
e) We should be grateful if you would help us with your suggestion.
f) We think if advisable that you should accept this offer at this price.
g) We should(would) like you to let us know the exact amount.
h) Perhaps you might like to have a look at the actual goods.
i) We might be of some service to you in a similar case.
以上的b, f, g, 也可用 will, shall, may, 但是用Past Subjunctive Form則表示更客氣和婉轉(zhuǎn)些。
(三) 緩和用法(Mitigation)
為了緩和過(guò)分強(qiáng)調(diào)或刺激對(duì)方,常用:We are afraid, we would say, we may(or, might) say, we(would) think, it seems(or would seem) to us, we(would) suggest, as you are (or: may be) aware, as we need hardly point out等等表達(dá)法來(lái)緩和語(yǔ)氣,如:
a) It was unwise of you to have done that.
We would say that it was unwise of you to have done that.
b) You ought to have done it.
It seems to us that you ought to have done it.
c) We cannot comply with your request.
We are afraid we cannot comply with your request.
d) Our products are the very best on the market.
We might say that our products are the very best on the market.
e) You must keep the matter to yourselves.
You must, we would add, keep the matter to yourselves.
f) You must cut off your order in half
We would suggest that you cut your order in half.
g) We have not yet had your reply.
It appears that we have not yet had your reply.
(四) 運(yùn)用被動(dòng)語(yǔ)氣
有時(shí),運(yùn)用被動(dòng)語(yǔ)氣,比主動(dòng)語(yǔ)氣客氣,如:
a) You made a very careless mistake.
A very careless mistake was made
b) You did not enclose the check with your order.
The check was not enclosed with your order.
c) For the past two years, you did not give us any order.
For the past two years, no order has been given us. Or:
For the past two years, no business has been materialized between us.
(五) 避免(或力爭(zhēng)避免)使用語(yǔ)氣強(qiáng)烈或容易引起不快的詞匯
a) we demand immediate payment from you
demand的意思是ask for(sth) as if ordering, or as if one has a right to, 即帶有命令意味的要求。應(yīng)盡可能避免使用demand而改用request如:
We request your immediate payment.
b) We are disgusted with your manner of doing business.
disguste意味hate而且有strong feeling of dislike or distasted, 既“厭惡”的意思, 因此,還是婉轉(zhuǎn)或含蓄一些為宜,如:
We are not completely satisfied with your manner of doing business.
c) We must refuse your offer.
Must………帶有威脅性的意味(minatory tone),不如改為:
We regret that we are unable to accept your offer.
Or: We regret that we are not in a position to accept your offer.
d) We want you to assist us
帶有傲慢或長(zhǎng)者的口吻(superior tone),不如改為:
Your assistance would be appreciated.
(六) 使用高興,遺憾,感謝等詞匯及表達(dá)法
(1)、 We have pleasure of -ing…….
We have pleasure in -ing…….
It is with pleasure that we do so
It gives us(great, much) pleasure to do so
We are pleased for us to do so
It''s a pleasure for us to do so.
We are glad(or: delighted) that you do so
We shall gladly do so
We shall feel happy if you will do so
We are happy to do so
(2) 、表示感謝的表達(dá)法有:
We are (very, most) appreciative of your doing so
We are gratified to learn that you do so
We shall be (or: feel) obliged by your doing so
We shall be obliged if you will do so
You will oblige us by doing so
We shall be grateful to you if you will do so
We shall appreciate your doing so
We shall appreciate it if you will do so
We shall thank you to do so
It will be appreciated if…….
We are thankful that you do so
(3)、表示遺憾的表達(dá)法有:
It is a matter for regret that we cannot do so
It is with regret that we must do so
We express our regret at -ing…..
To our regret we cannot do so
It is regrettable that we must do so
We regret that we cannot do so
We regret to do so
It is to be regretted that you do so
We are regretful that we must do so
It is a pity that you cannot do so
We are sorry we cannot do so
We are sorry to do so
注:以上的表達(dá)法只是常用的一部分。
寫(xiě)信要做到Courtesy,但要注意
(1)、不要使用已經(jīng)過(guò)時(shí)的毫無(wú)意義的老套子,如:
our esteemed clients;
your esteemed letter;
your respectable house;
your good self(or good selves);
your valued order;
your esteemed reply等等
(2)、要分清“禮貌”與“卑恭”的界限,如:
(a) We are extremely and sincerely sorry for the error and ask that you accept our humble and sincere apology for the undue inconvenience suffered by you.
(b)We beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 11th December.
(c) We beg to enclose herewith our invoice.
這三例不是“禮貌”,而是“卑恭”。寫(xiě)商業(yè)書(shū)信既不要盛氣凌人,也沒(méi)有必要低三下四,更應(yīng)該注意在商業(yè)信中把we beg一類(lèi)的表達(dá)法完全去掉。
以上三例可考慮改為:
(a) We are concerned about the inconvenience you have suffered, and apologize sincerely.
(b) We have received your letter od Dec. 11.
(c) We enclose(herewith) our Invoice.
Or: We are pleased to enclose our Invoice.
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