分析商务英语的翻译原则

［摘 要］ 近年来，留学生论文题目商务英语作为一种交流语言，在国际贸易当中起着越来
越重要的作用 我们只有在了解商务英语的语言特点之后，才能把它翻译得更好 商务英语和
普通英语并没有本质的差别，但因为使用环境的不同，它也就有了自己的商务特征 商务英
语的语言特征包括它的专业性 规范性 词汇的构成风格 简洁紧凑和修辞特征 除了了解商
务英语的语言特征之外，还必须了解商务英语的翻译原则，即：忠实 准确 一致性
（faithfulness, exactness and consistency）
1. 商务英语的界说很多内行或者笔者对于商务英语都做了没有同的界说 作者比拟偏
偏向下面两位做的界说：Business English is the English variant of a social function,
is a branchof English for specific purpose, is English used in business occasions,
and is akind of Standard English containing a variety of business activities and
suitingthe need of commerce.（Fan Feiran and Zhoubin, 2006: 10）英国商务英语内行
Nick Brieger (1997)提出 Business English Areas实践：Business should include
language knowledge, communication skills,cultural awareness and other core content.
English used in technology imports,foreign trade, foreign - related insurance,
international transport, foreign laborservice contracts and other business
activities can be collectively referred to asbusiness English.
2. 商务英语的言语特性
2.1 The Specialization of Business English Vocabulary and Its ContentsMrs. Zhang
says: The biggest feature of business English in vocabularyuse is using precise
professional vocabulary, including a lot of professionalwords, compound words,
abbreviations with business meaning and so on.(ZhangXinhong， 2003： 25)Commonly
used terms of prices such as F O B, C I F have their specificprofessional content.
F O B (free on board)(离岸价) is the trading means thatthe seller delivery in the
original place but the buyer is responsible for thefreight. C I F (cost, insurance,
and freight) (利润费 安全费加运输费的到岸价格) is the tradingmeans that the seller
is responsible for the freight and insur-ance. Others such as C. W. O (cash with
order) (定货付款), BL (bill of lad-ing) (提货单), LC (letter of credit)(信誉证),
C. O. D (cash on delivery)(货到付现), W. P. A (with particular average)(水渍险)，
blue chip(蓝筹股，绩优股)， bad debt (呆帐) and so on. In international trade, there
are also a lot ofother terms, such as quotation and offer(报盘和发盘), terms of
payment(付款环境)， involvingmany ways such as MT(mail transfer)(汇款),
TT(telegraphictransfer)(电汇), DD (documents against payment)(付款交
单),DA(documentsagainst acceptance)(承兑交单) and so on. In business of export and
import,document is necessary, often including commercial invoice(生 意发单), bill
oflading (货票), insurance policy(安全单), draftbill of exchange(券别)， Perfor-ma
invoice(方式发单), customs invoice(偏关发单), certificate of origin(产地单据),
inspection certificate(检考证书), packing list(装箱单), license(答应证) and so on.
Besides, the terms are used to reflect the indicators of macroe-conomic development,
mainly including GDP (gross domestic product) (国际消费总值), GNP(gross national
product)(公民消费总值), NNP(net nationalproduct)(公民消费净值) and NI (national
income)(公民支出). Among these,GDP is the widely used. For example, Even when the
United States reaped apeace dividend of more than 2 percent of GDP in reduced defense
spendingafter 1990, it cut, rather than increased, foreign- assistance spending as
ashare of national income.(The EconomistJuly 14th 2001)(1990 年当前增添国防收入

给美国带来的战争花红高达GDP的百分之二 即便正在这种情况下，美国对于外支援收入正
在公民支出中的对比也没有进步，相同却降落了 ) If these professional terms aren t
known, it is impossible to translatebusiness English ss English
vocabulary not only has its basic meaning and specificprofessional content, but also
has different meanings in the different example, liquidity: basically,
this is the ability of a company to repay itsshort- termdebts. It is usually measured
by the current ratio (Current assets 3current liabilities).For companies with high
stock levels, the so- called quickratio may be more relevant since this excludes
stocks from the current assets.(活动性，实践上是指一个公司归 还短期债权的威力，一
般用活动比重(活动财产总额3活动欠债总额)来权衡 对于存货对比大的公司而 言，所谓的
速动比重能够更实用，由于速动比重是以活动财产总额减存货除以活动欠债而求得 ) In the
example, the stock does not refer to its basicmeaning, but in a newcontext, it has
another business English text, there are other examples of that the same
wordcan be interpreted in different meanings according to different contexts.
Suchas:(1) Just as in that year, when those catastrophes were followed by
sub-stantial increases in insurance premiums, insures are already lobbying for
raterelief.就像 那年的状况一样，大灾以后安全金大宽度进步，现正在安全公司曾经正在
游说指望减轻中央税Here, insures means insurance company . (安全公司)(2) During the
1980 s the large premiums paid in acquisition often re-sulted in prices that greatly
exceeded the value of tangible asset.
20百年80时代，并购中领取的大额溢价往往招 致价钱远远超越有形财产的价格Here,
large premium in Chinese means 大额溢价 .(3) Liquidity refers to the ability of
investors to exchange a financial asset,such as a bond or a share, for cash.财产
折现力是指注资者将公债券或者股票等金融财产转换为现金的能力Here, financial asset
means the ability of cash . (现金的威力)(4) Place goods in bond.将（未完税的）产
品取出关栈Here, bond in Chinese means 关栈 .In addition, it is common for
businessmen to use slang in oral ators should pay more attention to
slang and to clarify them so as to e-liminate obstacles during communicating. Such
as:(5) As I was about to say, I move that we table the discussion until ournext meeting
when everyone is present. 我提议将议论推早退下次每集体都加入宴会时再停止Here,
move means suggest（提议） , table the discussion meansto postpone the meeting
（推延议论） .(6) Can you come down a little?你能再升高小半价钱吗？Here, come down
means knock down the price（抬高价钱） .
2.2 The Standardization and Formalization of Business English Vocabu-lary in
Language Style商人总是把频率放正在首位，因为，为了到达某个手段，容易易懂的语汇
就被少量地使用 另一个缘由就是生意运动中消息的流传形式没有断被以为是最主要的 因
为容易易懂的单纯词也就能协助单方更好地交流 相似：Complex or RareWords
SimpleWordsaccount for by the fact that caused byadd the point that add thatat a
price of $$10 at $$10attempts trydeliberation thoughtin the majority of cases
mosttangible realvisualize see商务英语使用正在没有同的国内商务运动中 商业交换的
单方没有只仅要表现对于等互惠的准则，异样也蕴含很好的竞争联系 因而，有多余保证商
务英语的国内通用性，要被大众承受，没有要太书面语化 它的言语风格也该当介于正式和
征询之间 因为有些过火容易化和书面语化的介词和副词，比方： because, about, if, like,
for and so on 将被匡正式的介词短语接替 比方： on the grounds that, with reference

to, in the eventcase of, inthe nature of, for the purpose of and so on. 书面语
中罕用的名词短语，比方：go on, add to,将会被匡正式的单个名词取代 比方： continue,
supplement.商务英语的言语格调正在没有同的场所有没有同的变迁 没有如生意函件，归于
书面英语，因为也就匡正式些 但眼前的停滞趋向是更容易的 更活 泼的单纯词被少量运用，
手段是使信函中的语气听兴起更敌对于 更自然 For example, use We try to choose our
trading partners carefully. in-stead of We endeavor to choose our trading partners
with discretion. 然而正在生意合约中，一些匡正式并且没有罕见的单纯词被运用，使合
约显示更规范 更有束缚力 For example, using expiry but not end , using certifybut
not prove and so on 生意合约归于纪律资料 标准性言语的使它存正在了那种纪律上的特
色 相似： WHEREAS(由于), NOWTHEREFORE(特此，兹特), INWITNESSTHWHERE OF (兹证实)
之类(1)WHEREAS, A desires to export to B the goods as specified in ExhibitA therefore
(hereinafter called the Goods ); and whereas, B desires to importthe Goods from A.
Now, THEREFORE, A and B hereby agree a follows... （鉴于本方乐意向乙方入口本合约
备件A中规则的物件（以次职称 产品 ）；且由于乙方乐意从本方出口上述产品，因而，本
方和乙方特赞成订立下列条目： ）(2) INWITNESSWHREROF, the parties hereto have caused
this agree-ment to be executed by their respective representatives on the date first
abovewritten. (兹证实，本协定由单方各自专人正在上述协商日子签定 )2.3 The
Conciseness and Tightness of Business English Sentence简明表现正在容易句式 排偶
句式和短的化合句式的运用上 Forexample, We are delighted to receive your letter of
November 18 askingwhether we can supply you with Art. No 6120. (很庆幸收到你方 11
月 28日来信讯问我方可否供给6120货号货物 )于是，简明也表现正在缩略字母的运用上
千万，这种缩略必需为单方所肯定 such as AC (account),ENCL (enclosure), FYI (for
your information) and I. R. O. (in respect of).简明的句子无助于于生意消息的流传，
因为正在生意信函中起着主要的作用 它便当 快速，更主要的是，它无效地防止了曲解We
are a dealership chain specializing in personal computers. We werefirst established
in Hong Kong in 1980. We now have a steady clientele inboth the business and
educational sectors.本公司是一家主营计算 的特许经售连锁商 本公司于1980年缔造于
香港 本公司现部分流动存户触及生意和文化畛域下面的这三个句子，每个都有它金鸡独立
的意义 经过防止运用长句，它所抒发的意义更间接，了解兴起更易明确商务英语的论理松
散性次要表现正在长句 化合句 排偶句的运用上 再有其余纪律资料，比方合约(1)Force
Majeure ( Expected Risks ) shall mean an occurrence beyondcontrol and without the
fault or negligence of the party affected including, butnot limited to war,
hostilities (whether war to be declared or not), invasion, actof foreign enemies,
rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurpedpower, civil war, strikes,
riots, commotion or disorder, earthquakes, or anysimilar operation of forces of
nature as are not within the control of the partyaffected and which, by the exercise
of reasonable diligence the said party isunable to prevent or provide against.(译
文：没有可抗力(除危险外)是指当事人没有能掌握和没有差错 或者差错的偶尔事情，囊括但
没有只仅只限和平 战争行止(没有管能否宣战) 骚扰 内奸的言论 叛乱 反动 举事或者军
事或者篡权行止 内乱 复工 战乱 动乱或者紊乱 地动或者相似的做作力气惹起的事情 该
署事是当事者没有能掌握或者虽经过恰当奋力亦无奈预防或者拥护的 )
(2) All disputes arising out of the performance of, or relating to the Con-tract,
shall be settled amicably through negotiation. In case no settlement canbe submitted
to the Foreign Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission ofthe China Council for

the Promotion of International Trade, Beijing, China, forarbitration in accordance
with its provisional Rules of Procedure. The arbitralaward is final and binding upon
both parties. (凡是因施行本合约相关的所有争议，单方应经过敌对于商量处理，应提交
北京 中国国内贸易推进委员会对于外经济贸易仲裁委员会，依据该会 仲裁顺序暂行规定
停止仲裁 仲裁是结局性的，对于单方都有束缚力 )The logic expression is prominently
featured in business English docu- ments and contracts, especially in the expression
about time and number. e.g.(1) The goods shall be shipped per M.V. Dong Feng on
November 10and are due to arrive at Rotterdamin 140 days.产品须于 11 月 10 日装
上 西风 号货轮，并正在 140 天内到达鹿特丹港Here, it must use the preposition in
to express the meaning about sev-eral days later rather than the preposition after .
Because the prepositionafter can not exactly define the day on which day the good
s will arrive.(2) Party A shall be unauthorized to accept any orders or to collect
anyaccount on and after September 20.一经答应，正在 9 月 20 号以后（含 20 号），
A方无权承受任何订单或者者募集任何资金(3)Our terms are cash within three months,
i.e. on or before May 1.请正在三个月之内（正在 5 月 1 日事先囊括 5 月 1 日）付讫
咱们的货款(4) Party A shall pay Party B a monthly salary of US $$ 500 (SAY FIVEHUNDRED
US DOLLARS ONLY)A方每月须向B方领取500美元的报酬In business English letters and
other documents, we should use preposi- tion and other words accurately. Only by this,
can we express the exact mean-ing and do not mislead the readers. These fully show
the conciseness andtightness of business English sentences.
2.4 The Rhetoric Features of Business English总的来讲，留学生论文题目商务英语的
格调容易 分明 易于了解 润饰语贫乏 很少运用比喻 拟人夸大之类 然而正在商求 实践和
实践性的钻研中，笔者也会运用活泼的比喻手法，把力点和难题表述分明The rhetoric
means of business English is widely used in commercial ad-vertisement, such as simile,
metaphor, personification, pun, repetition, paral-lelism, rhyme, hyperbole,
contrast, synecdoche, metonymy, analogy and so e1. Making a bigworld
smaller. (Hyperbole)Example2. Make Time For Time. (Pun)Example3. Tide s in. Dirt
s out. (Contrast) (Yu Fulin， 2003： 149)All kinds of rhetoric means can be used
in business advertisement inge-niously.2.5 SummaryCompared with common English,
business English is rich in vocabulary,professional terms and so on. If we want to
go on with business English trans-lation, we should master the professional content
and completely understandthe specific features of business English.