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现代实用商务英语翻译
1.8.1 第一节 商务信函简介

第一节 商务信函简介

一、商务信函的格式

一封正式的商务信函,除了对语言文字有较高的要求以外,正确的格式也是不可或缺的。英文商务信函的格式有三种:

(一)齐头式(block style):是一种简便的商务书信格式,在齐头式中每一行都跟左首的边线平齐。

(二)改良齐头式(modified block style):结合了缩进式与齐头式的两种格式的特点:寄件人地址、寄件日期、结尾敬辞和签名都缩进,如同缩进式;收信人地址和信文用齐头式。

(三)缩进式(indented style):每个段落的首行要缩进,一般缩进5个英文字母,信件中某些其他部分也要缩进,要缩进的部分包括:

1.段落的第一行

2.寄件人地址(return address)

3.寄信日期

4.结尾敬辞(complimentary close)

5.签名

不管是什么格式,不同的部分以空行的方式隔开:

1.寄信人地址和收件人的地址之间空三行

2.称呼与信件正文的第一段之间空一行

3.信件正文的段落之间空一行

齐头式、改良齐头式、缩进式商务信函格式:

1.齐头式信函格式:

Eleanor Abe

15 Xinjinqiao Road,

Pudong New District,

Shanghai, PRC 201203

November 1, 2010

Ms.Nina Lin

Double Design

Room 205, Building 3

Lane 2498, Pudong Avenue

Shanghai, PRC

Dear Ms.Lin:

Thank you for your attention.I am writing to request an interview for Double Design’s opening for a graphic designer.

I am a recent graduate of the Academy of Art University with a degree in Graphic Design.For the past six months I have interned with Studio Design in Shanghai, learning to apply the skills I gained in school.I would be very happy to have an opportunity to learn more about the position and the possibility of working together.

I have enclosed my resume for your reference.Please feel free to contact me for any reason at (021) 5184-3155 or over email at cath.davies@yahoo.com.Thank you again for your attention.I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Eleanor Abe

Eleanor Abe

EA/jd

Enc (1)

2.改良齐头式信函格式:

Eleanor Abe

15 Xinjinqiao Road,

Pudong New District,

Shanghai, PRC 201203

November 1, 2010

Ms.Nina Lin Double Design

Room 205, Building 3

Lane 2498, Pudong Avenue

Shanghai, PRC

Dear Ms.Lin:

Thank you for your attention.I am writing to request an interview for Double Design’s opening for a graphic designer.

I am a recent graduate of the Academy of Art University with a degree in Graphic Design.For the past six months I have interned with Studio Design in Shanghai, learning to apply the skills I gained in school.I would be very happy to have an opportunity to learn more about the position and the possibility of working together.

I have enclosed my resume for your reference.Please feel free to contact me for any reason at (021) 5184-3155 or over email at cath.davies@yahoo.com.Thank you again for your attention.I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Eleanor Abe

Eleanor Abe

EA/jd

Enc (1)

3.缩进式信函格式:

Eleanor Abe

15 Xinjinqiao Road,

Pudong New District,

Shanghai, PRC 201203

November 1, 2010

Ms.Nina Lin

Double Design

Room 205, Building 3

Lane 2498, Pudong Avenue

Shanghai, PRC

Dear Ms.Lin:

Thank you for your attention.I am writing to request an interview for Double Design’s opening for a graphic designer.

I am a recent graduate of the Academy of Art University with a degree in Graphic Design.For the past six months I have interned with Studio Design in Shanghai, learning to apply the skills I gained in school.I would be very happy to have an opportunity to learn more about the position and the possibility of working together.

I have enclosed my resume for your reference.Please feel free to contact me for any reason at (021) 5184-3155 or over email at cath.davies@yahoo.com.Thank you again for your attention.I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Eleanor Abe

Eleanor Abe

EA/jd

Enc (1)

二、商务信函的基本要素

完整的英文商务信函可以包括四大部分,它们分别是:

(一)信头(Letterhead/Heading)

1.寄件人地址

写地址的次序与中文不同,应先写门牌号码街道,然后城市和国名。若写给经常往来的亲友,这项地址可以省略。如果信纸上印有信头,即公司专用信纸上印有公司名称、公司的电话、传真号码、E-mail地址、网址和日期,就不需要再打上这些信息。

2.写信日期

美国的日期写法:月—日—年,比如“November 12, 2011”。

英国的日期写法:日—月—年,比如“12th November 2011”。

3.邮寄记录(Special mailing notations)

指记录邮寄的方式与性质,如:挂号信件(Certified Mail)、限时专送(Special Delivery)、航空信件(Air Mail)。

4.内部记录(On-arrival notations)

指记录邮寄的性质,如私人信件(Personal)、机密文件(Confidential)、私人机密文件(Private and Confidential)、极机密文件(Strictly Confidential)。

(二)开头(Opening)

1.收件人及地址(Recipient’s address)

常见内容包含如下:收件人姓名;收件人职位;公司名称;号码与街名;城市、州、邮政编码;寄送国家名称,写在日期下一行的左上角。

2.经办人(Attention line;ATTN)

即“致某人”的意思,表示这封信的指定收件人。有多种写法:Attention: Ms.Jane Harper;ATTN: Ms.Jane Harper;ATTENTION: Ms.Jane Harper;Attention: The Sales Manager。如果收件人地址上已写明,就不用加写这一行。此外,Attention 的对象应与信封上的收信人相同。

3.参考文号(Reference;Ref.No.;Ref)

将信件分类和编码,以便日后参照,如:Our ref: WFX/SQ,Your ref: JS201/SD707。如果没有参考文号,最好能够提一下之前的通信记录,如:

Regarding your letter of November 12(您11月12日的来函)

In reference to your request of October 3rd, 2010(您2010 年10 月3 日的请求)

4.称谓(Salutation)

即写信人对收信人的称呼。称呼的写法有:“头衔+姓”,如“Dear Dr.Howard”;只知对方的性别,就写“Dear Sir”或“Dear Madam”;不知对方的性别,那就写“Ladies and Gentlemen”或“Dear Sir or Madam”;若跟对方很熟,可以直接写对方的名字,例如“Dear Jessica”;对未婚女子用Miss;对已婚女子用Mrs,对婚姻状况不明确的通常用Ms(后跟本人姓);对教授用Prof.;博士或医生用Dr.。

(三)正文(Body)

1.事由(Subject line)

用来说明写信的目的,信函加上主旨有助于读者立刻了解信件的主题。

2.信件正文(Body of letter)

指信件里最主要的部分,内容应有开头语、正文、结束语等。

(四)结尾(Closing)

1.结尾敬辞(Complimentary close)

在结尾敬辞后面加上逗号,并且只有第一个字母要大写。

当收信人的姓名不知道时,用下例格式:

Dear Sir/ Madam/ Sir or Madam ...Yours faithfully

当已知道收信人的姓名,用下例格式:

Dear Mr Hanson ...Yours sincerely/Sincerely yours/Yours truly/Very truly yours

当您写信给好朋友或同事:

Dear Jack ...Best wishes/Best regards/ Best/ Regards/Yours ever/Yours/Cordially/ Love/With love

2.亲笔签名(Signature (hand-written))

3.姓名(打字)(Name (typed))

4.公司或职位(打字)(Title (typed))

5.鉴别符号(写信人和打字者的姓名缩写)(Identification initials)

当写信人和打字者不是同一个人时使用,各取其姓名首字母缩写。写信人(在前) 和打字员(在后) 姓名首字母。格式如下:IS/jd或IS:jd(指写信人是Irina Safarova,打字者是Joe Davis)

6.附件(Enclosure;Enc.;Encl.)

可以在Enclosure写上附件的数目,如:Enclosures (3);Enc (3)。

7.抄送(Carbon Copy ; C.C.)

8.附言(Postscript; P.S.),商务信函应避免使用。

在以上商务信函的基本要素中,寄件人地址、日期、收件人及地址、称呼、正文、结尾敬辞和签名这七项是正式英文商务信函中必不可少的要素,其他部分则视具体情况而定。而汉语信函一般由称呼、正文、结束语、签名、日期这五项组成,有时还有附件、附言,寄件人地址及收件人地址写在信封上。

下面是一封英语商务信函实例:

ABC Computing Company

999 Wangjing Rd., Chaoyang

Beijing 100015 P.R.China

TEL: 800-810-0000 EMAIL: abc@abc.com.cn

April 25, 2010

Confidential

Hope Company

78 Maple Street

Vancouver, WI 95663-0032

Canada

Attention:Mr.Donald Williams

Ref.No.111210

Dear Sirs,

Subject:Price List

Thank you for your letter of April 8, 2011

As requested, we are sending you a copy of our latest price list on the computers listed in your letter…

Our prices are CIF American main ports, subject to our final confirmation…

We look forward to your early reply.

Yours faithfully,

Li Wei

Li Wei

Export Manager

Encl: Price list

Cc: Branch Office

P.S.