淺析商務(wù)英語(yǔ)信函中的典型錯(cuò)誤

[摘要] 文章結(jié)合對(duì)外貿(mào)易業(yè)務(wù)的一般程序，給出了商務(wù)英語(yǔ)信函中最常見的一些錯(cuò)誤實(shí)例并作了具體的剖析，提出了成功擬寫商務(wù)英文信函的幾點(diǎn)建議。

[關(guān)鍵詞] 詢盤 報(bào)盤 索賠 仲裁

隨著世界貿(mào)易的發(fā)展，商務(wù)英語(yǔ)的應(yīng)用越來(lái)越廣泛，其中信函的使用貫穿于整個(gè)外貿(mào)業(yè)務(wù)的始終。因此，對(duì)于商務(wù)英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者來(lái)說(shuō)，不僅要掌握一般的基礎(chǔ)英語(yǔ)，而且要進(jìn)一步提高外貿(mào)英語(yǔ)水平，尤其是順利地?cái)M寫英文信函。本文按照開展對(duì)外貿(mào)易業(yè)務(wù)的一般程序?qū)⑸虅?wù)英語(yǔ)信函中最典型的錯(cuò)誤加以列舉并作相應(yīng)的分析。

一、開始業(yè)務(wù)

1.From our market survey we learn that you are for the market of Audio and Electronic Equipment.[誤]

From our market survey we learn that you are in the market for Audio and Electronic Equipment.[正]

[分析]“for the market of”并非固定短語(yǔ)，也無(wú)“有意購(gòu)買”的意思，應(yīng)改用“in the market for ”。如：We are in the market for bitter apricot kernels from China.

2.Some copies of latest catalogues are being airmailed to you on a separate cover.[誤]

Some copies of latest catalogues are being airmailed to you under a separate cover. [正]

[分析]“under separate cover”是經(jīng)貿(mào)英語(yǔ)函電中常用的固定短語(yǔ)，表示“另函郵寄”，也可用“by separate post”來(lái)表示。

二、詢盤與報(bào)盤

1.Thank you for your letter ofJuly 15， enquiring our products and to request terms for bulk buying.[誤]

Thank you for your letter ofJuly 15， enquiring about our products and to request terms for bulk buying.[正]

[分析]在經(jīng)貿(mào)英語(yǔ)函電中“enquire”常與“about”連用，表示“詢問”之意，與介詞“for”連用表示“詢盤”，“詢價(jià)”之意。要表示“向某人詢問”，應(yīng)是“enquire of someone”.

2.The representative of the British Company has made an enquiry with the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation. [誤]

The representative of the British Company has made an enquiry to/of the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation.[正]

[分析]“就某物向某人詢價(jià)”是“make an enquiry/enquiries to/of sb. on/for sth.”.如：

Yesterday our manager flied to Shanghai to make an enquiry of the company for carpet.

三、訂貨及裝運(yùn)、包裝

1.We want to buy 1，000 tons of coal with you because your price is attractive.[誤]

We want to buy 1，000 tons of coalfrom you because your price is attractive.[正]

[分析]“向某人訂貨”，可用“buy sth. from sb. / purchase from sb. sth./ book (place ) sth. with sb./place an order with sb.”等詞組來(lái)表示，但是要注意其中的介詞搭配。

2.The catalogue is enclosed hereto.[誤]

The catalogue is enclosed herewith(herein).[正]

[分析]hereto， herewith， herein 等用作副詞，用于經(jīng)貿(mào)英語(yǔ)中表示“在此中”，與此一道”等意，習(xí)慣上hereto 跟在動(dòng)詞attach 之后，表示“隨函附上”之意，

四、支付、索賠與仲裁

1.The L/C is opened for your favour.[誤]

The L/C is opened in your favour.[正]

[分析]經(jīng)貿(mào)術(shù)語(yǔ)“以…為受益人”，“以…為抬頭”，“對(duì)…有利”等用in one’s favour 或 in favour of sb.來(lái)表示。如：The market situation is in favour of the importers.

2.The payment in arrear amounts to RMB one million.[誤]

The payment in arrears amounts to RMB one million.[正]

[分析]arrears 在經(jīng)貿(mào)英語(yǔ)中指“欠款”，“尚未完成的工作”，習(xí)慣上不用單數(shù)形式arrear. In arrears 表示“拖欠”“拖延”。

3.Disputes may be submitted arbitration in case no settlement can be reached through negotiations.[誤]

Disputes may be submitted for arbitration in case no settlement can be reached through negotiations.[正]

[分析]to submit sth. for arbitration 之中的介詞for 無(wú)論是在主動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)還是在被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)中都不能省略?！爸鞒只蜻M(jìn)行仲裁”用to conduct arbitration， “解決爭(zhēng)議”用“to settle /handle the dispute.

4.The Japanese side agreed to compensate us the defective watches with 4% of the total value.[誤]

The Japanese side agreed to compensate us for the defective watches by 4% of the total value.[正]

[分析]“因…向某人賠償”通常用to compensate sb. for sth.這一詞組，若省略for，原句為“把質(zhì)量低的手表賠給我們”，不合常理。所賠數(shù)量或金額應(yīng)接在介詞by的后面。如：

I’m afraid you should compensate us by 5% of the total amount of the contract as well as the inspection fee.

以上所述是商務(wù)英語(yǔ)信函中最典型的一些錯(cuò)誤，要避免類似錯(cuò)誤在實(shí)際工作中出現(xiàn)，需要熟悉相關(guān)的專門術(shù)語(yǔ)及習(xí)慣表達(dá)，同時(shí)要注意商務(wù)英語(yǔ)中常用詞語(yǔ)的使用， 還應(yīng)該在平時(shí)不斷積累商務(wù)方面的業(yè)務(wù)常識(shí)，力求寫出最精煉，準(zhǔn)確的英文信函。

參考文獻(xiàn)：

[1]尹小瑩郭黎光:外貿(mào)英語(yǔ)函電[M].西安交通大學(xué)出版社，1998

[2]吳建明尚吉慶:現(xiàn)代實(shí)用商貿(mào)英語(yǔ)[M]．汕頭大學(xué)出版社， 1995