With the development of the globalization and China’s entry to the WTO, the international business has been going through a booming period. Business English becomes more and more important. Business English correspondence as one of the manifestations of English has gradually become the important means of communication in the economy field. Through it people can exchange information, contact business, bargain trade, negotiate, transact the issue, set up the friendship and so on. It can be said that it generates and serves all kinds of business trade. Business correspondence as a written language has formed its own language style, which makes it different from other normal English, it comports on its wording, syntax, expression style, significance and meaning etc.
This paper will illustrate business correspondence with many examples, and offer three principles and skills of translation, so as to improve the quality of our correspondence and acquire more translation techniques. Lastly, I sincerely hope that the thesis will help more and more practitioners in this area.
Key Words: Business English, linguistic features, translation techniques
CONTENTS
Chapter One General Introduction…………………………………………....... 1
Chapter Two Features of Business English Correspondence………….…..…. 2
2.1 Definition of Business Correspondence………………………….……….. 2
2.2 The Importance and Functions of Business Correspondence………….…. 2
2.3 The Development and Types of Business Correspondence………….…… 3
2.4. The Seven Cs of Business Correspondence Writing………….………… 3
2.4.1. Courtesy ………………………….…………………….……….... 4
2.4.2. Consideration…………………………… ….. …………….…….. 4
2.4.3. Completeness…………………….…………………….……… .... 5
2.4.4. Clarity…………………………….…………………….……….... 6
2.4.5 Conciseness……………………….…………………….……….... 7
2.4.6. Concreteness……………………….…………………….…….... 7
2.4.7. Correctness……………………….……… …. …………….…... 7
Chapter Three Difference between Business English and Normal English ... 11
3.1 Use of Terminologies and Jargons…………………….…………….……… 11
3.2 Use of Abbreviations……………………….……………………...…….… 11
Chapter Four Translation Techniques of Business English……........................ 13
4.1 Definition of Translation…………………….……………………...… 13
4.2 The Principles on the Translation of Business Correspondence………...... 13
4.3 Translation of the Terminologies……………………….. ………………. 14
4.3.1 Identifying the Normal Meaning and Technical Meaning................…14
4.3.2. Translation of the Polysemy………………............................. 15
4.3.3. Translation of the Synonyms………………..............................…… 15
4.3.3. Translation of Courtesy Phraseology……….............................…… 16
4.4. Pay Attention to the Structures and Format of Business Correspondence….................... 17
4.5. Requirements for Translators……………………...................…. 18
Chapter Five Conclusion ……………………………............................………... 19
