商务英语函电语言特点及其在国际贸易中的应用

外贸英语函电的语言特点及其在国际贸易中的应用Linguisticfeatureofcorrespondenceforforeigntradeanditsapplicationininternationaltrade摘要:文章主要分为两个部分论述，第一部分主要解释外贸英语函电的意义并举例说明它的其语言特点，突出其是一种具有极强特殊性及实用性的行业英语的性质，接着阐述外贸英语函电的重要性，指出外贸英语函电已经成为在对外贸易中不可或缺的重要组成部分；第二部分阐述外贸英函电在国际贸易中的应用，指明它是成本最低、最常见、也最有效的通讯手段之一，主要从4个方面展开讨论，分别是可以搭建新的贸易关系、、可以快速高效传递信息和数据、可以作为责任划分的依据、可以维持贸易双方良好的合作关系。最后还提倡应选择性地使用外贸英语函电。Abstract:Thisarticleismainlydividedintotwopartfordiscussion,thefirstpartistalkingaboutthemeaningofforeigntradecorrespondenceanditslinguisticfeaturebyexamplesinwhichacharacteristicofprofessionalEnglishwithitsextremelystrongspecialtyandpracticalitywillbestoodout.Thiswillbefollowedbyadescriptionofimportanceofforeigntradecorrespondenceandpointoutithasbecomeaindispensablecomponentininternationaltrade;Thesecondpartonlyputsemphasisontheforeigntradecorrespondence’sapplicationininternationaltrade.itisoneofthemostcommon,themosteffectandthemostshortestcostmeansofcommunication.Thereare4pointssupportingthesecondpart:buildingnewtraderelationship;sendingorreceivinginformationanddocumentsinthefastandefficientway;becominganevidencetosplitresponsibility;maintainingabetterrelationshipbetweentwoparties.inthelast,theauthorsuggestsselectivelyusingforeigntradecorrespondence.关键词：外贸英语函电；国际贸易；电子邮件Keywords:foreigntradecorrespondence;internationaltrade;E-mail前言introduction随着全球经济一体化和高新技术的迅猛发展，世界经济体系的日益完善，中国对外贸易的活动也越来越频繁。现如今，各国进出口企业除了通过见面或打电话，工作越来越多地通过外贸信函来完成。这就要求我们掌握外贸英语函电的特点和写作技能，充分发挥他们在国际商务活动中的效用。另一方面，外贸英语函电特别是电子邮件以其价格低廉、使用方便、传递及时、功能多样等优势使得国际贸易的开展更加多元化、高效化、自由化。不仅如此，正确地使用外贸英语函电还可以提升可信度、增进贸易关系、影响他人，进而为企业赢得更多的贸易机会，实现自身的价值。为了适应新形势的发展和用人单位对从业人员的要求，我们不仅要懂得外贸英语函电的语言特点，更重要的是要准确熟练地加以运用。Inthebackgroundofeconomicglobalization，therapiddevelopmentofhightechnologyandincreasinglyimprovementofworldeconomicsystem,China’sforeigntradeactivitiesaremorefrequentthanever.Today,atrendofusingcorrespondenceismorepopularinglobalimportingorexportingenterprisesotherthanmeetingorcalling.Thereforewearerequestedtograspthecharacteristicandwritingskillofforeigntradecorrespondencetogainthefullbenefitsofusingthemintheinternationaltrade.Intheotherhand,foreigntradecorrespondence,especiallyEmail,havetheiradvantagesoflow-cost,convenience,timelytransmittingandmultifunctionwhichmadetheestablishmentofforeigntrademoremultipluralefficientandfree.Moreover,correctlyusingofcorrespondencecancatchmoretradeopportunityandrealizeoneselfvaluethroughitseffectsofupgradingcredibility,promotingbusinessrelationshipandinfluencingsurroundings.Ithastobecleartheimportanceofaccuratelyusingcorrespondenceaswellasunderstandingitsfeature,thatisexactlytherequestofemployersunderthenewinternationalbusinessenvironment.外贸英语函电的语言特点Linguisticfeaturesofforeigntradecorrespondence1.1外贸函电过去指的是国际贸易中往来的商业书信和电报、电传。随着科技的发展，特别是互联网技术的长足发展，电报已经成为历史，电传也已经很难寻觅踪迹。替而代之的是今天的传真和电子邮件。所以今天的的外贸英语函电是指在商务环境下不同文化背景的贸易双方通过信函、传真和电子邮件进行书面交流的行为。而函电中所使用的英语是一种带有浓重商务色彩的、应用性很强的行业英语。Foreignbusinesscorrespondencewasreferredtocommercialletters,telegramortelexwhichextensivelyusedinthepastinternationaltrade.Withthedevelopmentoftechnology,especiallyintheconsiderablefieldofinternet,telegramhavebecometheoldhistory,telexarealsobarelyusedandsubsequentlyfaxandemailstooktheirpositiontoday.Sonowadaysforeigntradecorrespondencecanbeseenasatoolofwrittencommunicationbylettes,faxesandemailsthattradepartieswiththedifferentculturalbackgroundadoptedinthebusinessenvironment.What’smore,foreigncorrespondenceEnglishistheprofessionalEnglishofdeepbusinesscolourandapplicability.1.2外贸英语函电作为商务英语的使用功能变体之一，不仅继承了商务英语所具有的一切特点，而且也因着其特殊的用途存在自身独有的语言特点。ForeignbusinesscorrespondencenotonlycopiesallofcharacteristicofbusinessEnglishbutalsoexistsitsownlanguagefeatureaccordingtoitsspecialusesbecauseofbeingoneofapplicableandfunctionalvariantofbusinessEnglish.1.2.1外贸函电实际上就是商务英语的写作。在撰写商务信函的时候，都应遵循“5C”原则，即意义明晰（clarity）、用词简洁（conciseness）、礼貌周到（courtesy）、信息完整（completeness）、语言正确（correctness）。宏观上来说任何一封出色的商务信函都会具备以上5个特点。举例说明如下：ForeigntradecorrespondenceactuallycanbedeemedasforeignbusinessEnglishwriting.Itiscalled“5C”rules——clarity，conciseness，courtesy，completenessandcorrectnessthatwritingaforeignbusinesslettershouldcomply.Sayfrommacroscopicthateveryexcellentforeignbusinessletterwillhavethese5characteristic.Forexamples:ABRenderGiveFinalizeFinishDemonstrateShow意义明晰（clarity）——撰写信函时，鉴于收信人的英文水平各不相同，为了避免造成收件人的误解，我们就要使用常见且通俗易懂的词语。上述B组的用词比A组用词更容易使读者理解。写信人使用清晰的表达和简单易懂的词汇是使他人明白自己意思的明智做法。Clarity——weneedtousecommonandeasytounderstandwordstoavoidtherecipient’smisunderstandingwhilecreatingacorrespondenceinviewofeachrecipient’sEnglishlevelarenotidentical.Astheabove-mentioned,groupB’swordsaremoreunderstandablethangroupA’s.Soitiswisetousesimpleexpressionandoralwordstobewellunderstoodbyothers.ABAtthistimeNowCometoadecisionDecideForthepurposeFor用词简洁（conciseness）——以上示例中B组的表达显然比A组的表达简短。通过这种简洁的交流方式可以直接减少写信人和收信人的时间和成本，所以在外贸函电中应尽量避免使用复杂难懂的商业术语。Consciseness——ItisnothardtofindgroupB’sexpressionareapparentlymoresimpleandshorterthangroupA’s.Adoptingconcisecommunicationformcoulddirectlysavetimeandcostofsendersandreceivers,Usingcomplicatedcommercialtermswillneverbec