关于商务英语书信的格式和称谓差异
商务英语书信是指交易时所使用的通信。在美国,常用Business writing,它包括书信、电报、电话、电传、报告书、明信片等。英语和美语在书信体例方面存在着一定的差异,比如信头和称呼、书信格式、遣词、结尾客套语等均有所不同。接下来,小编给大家准备了关于商务英语书信的格式和称谓差异,欢迎大家参考与借鉴。
关于商务英语书信的格式和称谓差异
一般来说,英国书信较为保守,许多英国人喜欢用老式书信体,用词较为正式刻板,而美国书信语言非常生气、有活力,格式也较为简便。因此当我们写信的对象是英国或其旧殖民地国家时,要使用标准式英语Queen's English;如果写信的对象是美国或美国势力范围的地区时,就要用美国英语。当然,英国式的语言文化近年来也有变化,但总体来说,两者间的差异是很明显的。
商业英文书信,一般都要求用打字机或电脑整齐地打印,左边各行开头垂直的,称为垂直式或齐头式(Block style),美国常用这种格式;每段的第一个词缩进去,称为缩进式或锯齿式(indented style),英国常用此格式。垂直式的职务及签名都在左边的边栏界线,这种格式,在极度尊重工作效率的美国公司,已普遍采用。正式的商业英语书信要在称呼的上方写上收信公司名称和地址或收信人的名字全称、职务及地址,称为信内地址(Inside address)。信内地址的写法也有垂直式和缩进式之分,垂直式和称美国式将各行并列,缩进式或称英国式将各行依次退缩。
不过,近来英国商业书信信内地址并未依次缩进,似乎与美国式相同。此外,在美国还流行一种普通收信人地址的写法,就是在书信的Inside Address中,把门牌号和街名都省略掉。在英文书信中要使用敬语,最普遍的敬语是Mr, Mrs和Miss(用于未婚女性)。英国人常在男性的姓名之后用Esq. (Esquire的缩写),不过在商业上也在慢慢地改用Mr. Mmes. (Madam的复数形式),用于二个女士以上。Messrs(Mr的复数形式)用于二个以上的男人,或用于二个以上的男人组成的公司或团体。
在英国式英文信里,Mr,Mrs,Messrs,均不加缩写句点,相反地趋向于进步自由的美语反而加缩写句点如Mr.,Mrs.,Messrs.。在称呼方面,商业上最普遍的有Gentlemen(美国式)与Dear Sirs(英国式)二种,相当于我国的“敬启者”或“谨启者”。如果信是写给革个公司单位的,不是写给某个具体人的,美语用Gentlemen(复数形式),英语用Dear Sirs。如果对方公司只一人时,必须使用Sir/Dear Sir。称呼后一般要使用标点符号,英国式采用逗号(comma),美国式用分号(colon)。书信结尾客套语(complimentary1 close)有多种,相当于我国书信在结尾时使用的“敬礼”、“致敬”、“顺安”等句。最为典型的美国式写法是Sincerely和Best regards,典型的英国式表达有Yours sincerely(熟人或知道对方姓名),Best wishes, kind regards 和yours faithfully(不知姓名)。此外,英国式的客套语还有特别礼貌的格式,但除了特殊情况外,现在不再使用。
扩展:销售人员常用电话用语
Using the Telephone
Making telephone calls is an important part a secretary''s work. When Mr Shelli wants to speak to someone on the telephone, Maria gets the call for him. Today Mr Shelli wants to talk to. Mr Kola of the National Bank. Here he is asking Maria to get the call for him.
MR SHELLI: I''d like to speak to Mr Kola of the National Bank, would you get him on the phone,please?
MARIA: Certainly, I''ll do it at once, Mr Shelli. (TO HERSELF) Now what''s Mr Kola''s number? Ah,here it is ... five, three, zero,double six. (LIFTS PHONE)
ROSE: Switchboard, can I help you?
MARIA: Good morning, Rose. Maria here.Could I have an outside line,please?
Good morning, Rose. Maria here.Could I have an outside line,please?
ROSE: Oh, hello, Maria. Hold the line a moment.
(DIALLING)There you are, you''ve an outside line now, you can hear the dialling tone1.
MARIA: Thank you. (TO HERSELF) Five, three, zero, six, six.
(RINGING)
Thank you. (TO HERSELF) Five, three, zero, six, six.
(RINGING)
2ND OPERATOR2: National Bank.Good morning,can I help you?
MARIA: Good morning, would you put me through to Mr Kola please?
Good morning, would you put me through to Mr Kola please?
2ND OPERATOR: MR Kola? Certainly. Who''s calling him?
MARIA:Mr Shelli of Modern Office Limited would like to speak to him.
2ND OPERATOR: Thank you. Hold the line, please.
(PHONE)
MR KOLA: Kola speaking.
2ND OPERATOR: Good morning, Mr Kola. I have a call for you from Mr Shelli of Modern Office Limited.
MR KOLA: Thank you, Operator, put him through, please.
MARIA: Mr Kola?
Mr Kola?
MR KOLA: Kola speaking.
MARIA:Oh, good morning, Mr Kola. Mr Shelli is calling you. Would you hold the line a moment please. I''ll hand you over. Mr Shelli?
MR SHELLI: Yes?
Yes?
MARIA: Mr Kola''s on the line now, Mr Shelli. Will you take it in here please?
Mr Kola''s on the line now, Mr Shelli. Will you take it in here please?
MR SHELLI:Thank you Maria. Hello, is that Mr Kola?
MR KOLA: Good morning, Mr Shelli.
MR SHELLI: Ah, good morning, Mr Kola, how are you?
Ah, good morning, Mr Kola, how are you?
MR KOLA: Fine, thanks, and you?
MR SHELLI: Very well, thank you.
Very well, thank you.
MR KOLA: I''m glad to hear it. Well, what can I do for you, Mr Shelli?
MR SHELLI: Well, I''m going to Europe next week and I''d like some travellers3 cheques. 7,000 dollars say…
Well, I''m going to Europe next week and I''d like some travellers cheques. 7,000 dollars say…
MR KOLA: 7,000 dollars. Yes certainly I can fix that for you. So you''re going to Europe, are you?
注释:
☆switchboard 交换机、总机
☆an outside line 外线
☆dialling tone 电话的拨号音
☆travellers''cheques 旅行支票
☆to fix 办理、解决
☆to book a call 预约电话
☆international operator 国际电话话务员
☆a personal call 受话人直接通话的电话
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