Chapter 3 Translation of Practical English

1. Chapter 3 Translation of Practical English/ II. Characteristics of Business Letter/telex

2. In this section, we will look at two genres of Business English that are used all over the world-Business Letter and Business telex. Before we deal with these two genres, we should know some knowledge of Business English. *1.1 What is Business English? By �business�, we usually mean commerce or trade, though it can be used in a narrow sense to mean a particular form of money-making activity, such as banking. As a count noun it can mean a company or firm. However, �Business English� can be applied even more widely, since a letter applying for a visa, for example, would fall within the scope of Business Letter Writing. Business English is an exceptionally important style. If we take the first sense of Business English---�commerce or trade� --- we should not be surprised to find that there are many specialized terms, which constitute the �jargon� of business. As with most form of jargon, there is a continuum from those terms that most native speakers would know to those which even an

3. Educated non-expert could not define. Here are a few examples, with their Chinese equivalents: e.g. capital ?? tariff ?? quota ?? commission ??,?? intellectual property ???? exchange rate ?? spot transaction ???? letter of credit ??? force majeure ????, ?? cash flow ???? joint venture ???? brand image ???? In some cases in the financial end of Business English, even the definition of the term is difficult for the lay person to understand. There are also many standard business abbreviations, of which we will give only a tiny percentage as examples: e.g

4. @ at (borrowed by computer English) a/c account IOU I owe you Inc Incorporated (US) FOB free on board CAD cash against document (????, ????) MD managing director ??, ?????, ???? VAT value added tax Business English uses some French and Latin terms. Most of these are in general use, but some are peculiar to this style: e.g. ad valorem according to value ????????: (?????????????)????? VAT is an ad valorem tax. ??????????

5. per procurationem for and on behalf of (usually now abbreviated ( � pp�. If a secretary signs a letter for his/her boss, s/he will write �pp [boss�s name�]) or � per pro� ?��??/?,?? The letter was signed J.Smith and Sons Ltd., pp. ??????J.????????????? bon march� cheap � compte on account, in part payment (usually now abbreviated ��.c.�, is only used in written language) ?? The sum was paid �.c.???????? bona fide genuine,honest or having an honest intention

6. This is a bona fide reduction in price.?????????. The bona fide purchaser did not know that the seller was not the legal owner of the goods. ??????????????????. entrop�t ?????, ???? entrop�t trade ???? Rotterdam and Singapore are centers for entrop�t trade. ??????????????? loro account ?????, ???, ???????? ??????????????loro is an ltalian word,means �their�. Credit the loro account of the bank to which funds are being transported. ?????????????????? nostro account our account ????(nostro means �our�

7. The money is held in a nostro account. ????????. vostro account your account (vostro means �your�) ??,?? Business English uses some extended meaning transferred from other specialties. e.g. 1.Acid test: this word is originally a chemical term, means �????/?�. In business, it means � a test prove the true value of something/someone�.(?????????) The acid test is whether or not somebody will actually buy the product. ???????????????????? 2.acid test ratio: when this word is used in Business English, especially in International Finance/Accounting, it means � a

8. Measure of a company�s liquidity by comparing its liquid assets to its current liabilities�. (???????????; ????) The acid test ratio shows that the company is unable to pay its debts on time. ????????????????????????. 3. catch a cold: when this phrase used in Business English, it means �?/??�. The price of shares has fallen heavily today and many recent investers are likely to catch a cold. ????????, ??????????????. Business English is a Genre inclusive many subgenres. We shall divide it into the following types: a) The English of Business Letters b) The English of Business Telexes c) The English of Business Contracts

9. d) The English of Oral Presentation e) The English of Reports f) Managementspeak g) The English of Minutes 1.1.1 Some Words Concerning �??� In the translation of �??�, the most common-used words are �company/corporation�. As a matter of fact, many words can be rendered into Chinese �??�. We will discuss them in detail in the rest of the section. Firstly, let�s look at the difference between � company� and �corporation�. Now, there is a functional equivalent in Chinese with �??�. And the Chinese term �??� implies that the entity is �??�

10. Literally, a �legal person�. However, there is a substantial difference between �company� and �corporation� in terms of the legal person status. In the common law, the term for an entity with legal person status is corporation. The word company can refer to a partnership or association of people that is not incorporated. In common usage, however, the word company almost always refers to an incorporated company-i.e. a corporation. Therefore, under Chinese law, the nearest functional Chinese equivalent to corporation might be �??�. 1.1.1. company Company can be abbreviated �co./Co�, and there are two meanings in it: 1. A business enterprise; a firm ??, ?? 2. A partner or partners not specifically named in a firm�s title ???:?????????????????????. e.g. Lee Rogers and Company ?.????????

11. 1.1.2. Corporation Corporation, as defined in OXFORD BUSINESS ENGLISH, means: a) (UK) an organization that has legal recognition and is made up of people whose rights and responsibilities within the corporation are separate from their rights as individuals; a large group of companies ????( ????, ????????????????????????????); ??,?? the British Broadcasting Corporation ?????? The city corporation is responsible for parks and gardens within its boundaries. ??????????????????. b) (US) a limited company ??????; ?? General Motor Corporation ?????? corporation law [?] ??? corporation layer (attorney) [?] ??????

12. Corporation, as defined in LONGMAN DICTIONARY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE, is interpreted as follows: (law ) An association or entity created by persons under the authority of the laws of a particular jurisdiction. A corporation is treated as distinct from the persons (referred to as shareholders) who created it, and therefore the shareholders enjoy limited liability and the corporation has the right to own property, enter contracts, and bring suit, similar to those given to individuals. ??: [??] ???????????????????????????????????????????,????????,????????????,?????????,????????????,???????????? Ltd abbr. limited ???? Ltd company: a company whose members are only responsible for its debts up to a limited amount, usually the amount of unpaid shares. ??????/??????: ??????????????, ?????????. Limited partnership: A partnership in which at least one partner

13. has general liability and at least one of the other partner has limited liability ????, ??????, ?????: ??????, ???????????????,????????????????????? Exercises 1. export trading company: a corporation or other business unit organized and operated principally for the purpose of exporting goods and services, or of providing export related services to other companies. An ETC can be owned by foreigners and can import, barter, and arrange sales between third countries, as well as exports. 2. mutual insurance company: a type of life insurance company in which there are no shareholders and apart from the money used for running expenses, all profits are distributed to policyholders.

14. Closely held corporation: a corporation with a small number of shareholders, who usually directly operate the corporation and have limited liability. A maximum number of shareholders is usually fixed by law. The minimum capitalization for a closely held corporation is less than that for a public corporation, and fewer formalities are required for managing it. The requirements for closely held corporations vary among jurisdictions. 1.??????: ?????????????????????, ????????????????.????????????????,????????????????????????????. 2.??????, ????????????,???????????????????. 3.?????????: ??????????????????????????. ?????????????????,??????????????????, ??????????????.?????????????.

15. 1.1.3 Other types of �??� *Agency ????,???? a market research agency ???????? a recruitment/employment agency ????? a commercial property agency ??????? real estate agent ?????? real estate company ????? Real Estate Investment Trust ????????? * Incorporated:1)Formed into or organized and maintained as a legal corporation ?????;????????????????;(????)?????,??????? e.g an incorporated company ?????? 2) (US) Designation for a corporation with limited liability to shareholders

16. ??????,?????????,?????????. abbr. Inc. (inc.) *Operator ???? This is an operator offering corporate hospitality services. ?????????? /?????????. *Service ??????? an office design service ???????? a travel service ??? a translation service ???? * firm: two or more people in business to make a profit by selling goods or services ??/? *line: A passenger or cargo system of public or private transportation, as by ship, aircraft, or bus, usually over a definite route. (?????) ????: ????????????????????,???,?????; A company owning

17. or managing such a system (?????) ????: ?????????????? e.g Shipping lines, airlines, trucking companies and railroad companies are all carriers. ????????????????????????? * syndicate:a group of people or companies who work together on a project to make money ???:??????;?? e.g An international syndicate will be responsible for building the dam. ??????????????. * trust: A combination of firm or corporations for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or an industry ????: ???????????????????? ??????????; ???: ?????????. holding trust ????? motor manufactory trust ???????

18. Conglomerate: a number of companies, sometimes involved with different products, joined together and run as one large company ????; ????; ????? Multinational/transnational :a very large organization that owns companies in more than one country in order to obtain cheap raw materials and make efficient use of a local workforce ????/??: ???????????,???????????????????. Business: a person or group of people making, distributing, buying or selling goods or providing services; a firm or company ??, ???? e.g In a business the workers take orders from the entrepreneur. He is the leader, and the employees follow his direction. ??/???, ???????????.????????, ????????.

19. A proprietor is a person who owns or owns and manages a business or other such establish. ????????????????????????????. (???proprietress) There are three main types of business ownership in the United States: single proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. ??? ????????????: ??, ??, ??????. Single proprietorships are business owned and operated by one person; partnerships consist of two or more owners who share the responsibilities and profits of a business; most corporations are larger than business owned by individuals or partners. ???????????????; ????????????? ??,??????,????; ???????????????????. Establishment: A place of residence or business with its

20. Possessions and staff ??; ??, ????? e.g Gas/ Service / Filling station is a retail establishment at which motor vehicles are refueled, serviced, and sometimes repaired. ??????????????,??????????. * House: 1. a commercial firm ???? e.g a brokerage house ?????? 2. a publishing company ???? e.g a house that specialized in cookbooks ???????????

21. issuing house: a financial institution, usually a merchant bank, that sells the shares of a new company to the public ????/????: ?????????????????,?????/???? The new issue of share was marketed through an issuing house. ???????????????. acceptance house ???;????? commercial paper house ?????, ??????

22. 1.2 Business Letters Business letter writing is an even clearer example of a style becoming less distinct. It is a strange fact about manuals on Business Letter Writing that for the last twenty years they have warned against using a style which in fact hardly anyone can write any more. The traditional business letter style This has been described by Bailey as � an overly formal style designed more to impress than simply to communicate clearly to the reader�. Here is an example, adapted form Goodworth: Dear Sir or Madam In reply to your esteemed favour [i.e. �letter�] of the 12th inst. [i.e. �this month�], we thank you for your interest in our products and have the greatest pleasure in enclosing herewith our brochures for same [i.e. � the products�]. On receipt of your valued instructions, we shall have

23. pleasure in arranging for our representative to call on you at your convenience [this would never be used in these more flippant days, as �convenience� can mean � a lavatory�]� Assuring you of our very best attention of all times, We remain Your faithfully (Name of Company) Such business letters contained many other set phrases which were unnecessarily wordy: It will be our earnest endeavour = we shall try Enclosed please find = we enclose It is to hand = we have it In view of the fact that = because Your good selves =you At your earliest convenience = as soon as possible

24. Such a style of writing is now wholly unacceptable, although remnants of it can still be detected occasionally. Let us look at a typical 1998 business letter. It is from an insurance company: General Accident 5 Swinegate Court East, York, YO1 2AJ Telephone: (01904) 643333 Facsimile: (01904) 623469 Your ref: Our ref: Pers. claims/RET 7 January 1998

25. Mr P Livesey 3 Bridge End Billington Clitheroe BB7 9NU Dear Mr Livesey Claim No: 077M 982000025D Our insured: JN Fishpool Date of Accident: 29/12/97 Your Vehicle: Rover-J188 AUG We are sorry to hear that you were unfortunately involved in an accident with our insured on the above date. We confirm that liability is not in dispute.

26. Please contract the writer on extension 3541 to discuss your claim. We will, if necessary, arrange to inspect your vehicle and, if appropriate, authorize repairs to any damage resulting from the accident. If your insurers are already dealing with this matter on your behalf, we would ask that you still telephone us to discuss any other losses you may incur. We would, however, remind you that you have a responsibility to ensure any losses or expenses resulting from the accident are minimized. Your sincerely [hand-written signature] Miss R E Thompson

27. 1.3 Business of Telex (telegram and fax) The English Telegram is charged by the type, number of letters and the distance. In the sending of telexes, there are always some uses of skills. 1) Ellipsis (??); 2) Transformation (??); 3) Combination (????); 4) Abbreviation (???) 1.3.1 Ellipsis In the writing of telex, we can usually ellipse aux.v, link v, Article, pronoun, prep, conj. Here are some example. We confirm having received your order No. 10 dated Nov. 4. ? YOUR ORDER NO10 ACCEPTED. Referring to your cable of Jan.10, we have opened L/C today. ? RYC10TH L/C OPENED TODAY.

28. Please reduce your price by U.S.$889. ?PLSREDUCE PRICE BY USD889. The quality of your goods is satisfactory. ?GOODS QUALITY UNSATISFATORY We are desirous to know further details. ?DESIROUS TOKNOW DETAILS 1.3.2 Transformation By �Transformation�, we mean the transformation between tenses, voices. Here are some examples. The ship have/had completed discharging. ?SHIP COMPLETED DISCHARGING We have airmailed the sample you required.

29. ?AIRMAILED SAMPLE REQUIRED The ship will leave tomorrow. ?SHIP LEAVING TOMMORROW We cannot accept her offer. ?HER/OFFER UNACCEPTABLE It is possible to do business on the basis of this price. ?PRICE WORKABLE We have received your L/C and shipped the goods. ?YRL/C RECEIVED GOODS SHIPPED 1.3.3 Combination at sight: ATSIGHT ???? by airmail: BYAIRMAIL????

30. Per sample: PERSAMPLE???? Ex factory: EXFACTORY ???? Per metric ton: PERM/T ??? In favor of :INFAVOROF ?? Contract No:CONTRACTNO ??? Import licence:IMPLICENCE??? Cable confirmation:CABLECFM???? 1.3.4 Abbreviation