一封好的电子邮件应该在词法、句法、语态、语言风格、篇章结构等方面措辞拖沓冗长、累赘重复;
使用简单词汇;避免使用有性别歧视的词汇;尽量少用陈词滥调及商业行话;避免使用意思模糊的表达;
避免使用否定的表达;措辞礼貌得体;为对方着想;多使用主动语态;多使用短句;使用现代商务英语;
风格自然、口语化;缩短或删除寒暄及不切题的段落;开头表明写作目的;结尾避免画蛇添足;使用小段
落。
一、避免措辞拖沓冗长、累赘重复(Avoid wordy and redundant phrases)
商务电子邮件的措辞应简洁明了,若用过多词汇来表达一个或两个词就能表达的意思,显然会使写作的内容拖沓冗长,观点模糊,更会浪费读者的时间。以下分别从“wordy”(拖沓冗长)和“redundant”(累赘重复)两方面举例说明。
Wordy(冗长)
at this point in time
in compliance with your request
Concise(简洁)
now
at your request
if
以上例子说明,商务电子邮件中应尽量多用简洁的语言,使传达的信息直接、一目了然。此外,诸如“free
gift”,“foreign imports”等词汇也过于累赘,有重复感。“gift”本身就是免费的,不需再加“free”,
同样“imports”也是来自国外的,无须再加上“foreign”。请看以下例子,左边有累赘重复感,右边简洁
明了,符合现代商务电子邮件标准:
Redundancy(重复)
actual experience
basic essentials
final outcome Concise(简洁)
experience
basics
outcome
二、使用小词汇(Use small words)
初学商务邮件写作时,一般人会认为用词越难越好,越正式越好。殊不知现代商务邮件写作要求多使用简
单的小词。一封措辞复杂、晦涩难懂的商务电子邮件只会浪费对方的更多时间,结果适得其反,因为对方
看不懂或没有太多时间来欣赏你的文采,很可能会将你的邮件扔到垃圾箱。在商务活动中,商务电子邮件
的目的是为了沟通,传达信息并尽量说服对方,并不是向对方展示自己的文采。请看以下例子,右边的小
词短小精悍,词义清晰易懂。
Big words(用词过大)
commencement
currently
facilitate Small words(短小精悍)
start
now
help
三、避免使用有性别歧视的词汇(Avoid sexist language)
现代社会中,随着女性的地位不断上升,越来越多的女性,尤其是女权运动主义者对含有性别歧视的字眼
很敏感。如今女性在商界所起的作用并不亚于男性,在商务沟通中,承认这一事实是一明智的选择。商务
邮件中尽量避免使用有性别歧视的词语,这对沟通双方都有利。以下例子中,左边不可取,右边符合现代
商务电子邮件的趋势:
Improper(不妥)
businessman
chairman
salesman
Proper(恰当)
businessperson (businesspeople)
chairperson
salesperson
在实际商务电子邮件中,可采取多种办法来避免性别歧视,如:
1) 使用具体名词,不用代词。如:“Typically, a manager will call a meeting.”
2) 使用名词的复数形式。如:“Employees must decide for themselves.” 而句子“Each employee must
decide for himself.”则含有性别歧视。
3) 用第二人称代词“you”代替有性别歧视的词语。如:“You must sell three cars every month.”而
“All salesmen must sell three cars every month.”有性别歧视。
4) 采用“he or she”的形式。如:“A manager must make sure that he or she do the right job."
四、尽量少用陈词滥调及商业行话(Use less clichés and jargon)
陈词滥调(clichés)指的是那些由于使用过于频繁而失去原来新鲜感和魅力的词语。如:“first and
foremost”,“last but not least”等,虽然这些表达不会太陈旧,但由于用的太频繁而成为陈词滥调。类
似的表达还有:“bottom line,beyond the shadow of a doubt,bury the hatchet,state of the art,hit the
nail on the head,take the ball and run with it”。
商业行话(jargon)指某一特定行业人群使用的语言。几乎每一行业都有自己的行话。在商务电子邮件中,
应尽可能使用同义词来取代商业行话,避免产生误解。以下是一些常见的商业行话(左边)及其同义表达
(右边)。
Jargon(行话)
deplane
in-service
interface
Synonymous expressions(同义表达)
get off the plane
provide on-the-job training
talk with
五、避免使用意思模糊的表达(Avoid vague expressions)
商务邮件写作中,有时会出现一些模棱两可的词或短语,这种表达无疑会使读者产生误解,影响商务沟通。
因此,商务邮件写作的措辞应具体化,结构清晰,内容清楚。使用特定、具体的表达能让读者在大脑中形
成一副形象、生动的画面;而含糊其词只会使读者不识庐山真面目。有些商人由于图方便常使用一些笼统、
模糊的词语,导致商务沟通障碍。譬如:“Our contract will be finalized next week?”中的“finalized”
意思不够明确,合同下周签好,还是合同书下周将拟定好,或是下周同意签约,读者不知其解。商务电子
邮件中,类似表达应予以杜绝。以下还列举了一些模糊表达(左边)及其修改(右边)。
Vague(模糊)
- Does wholesale have a positive impact?
2.This will give us enough time to reach some meaningful conclusions.
Concrete(具体)
- Does wholesale increase our profits.
2.This will give us enough time to determine our budget.
六、避免使用否定的表达(Avoid negative wording)
人们经常在生气时或抱怨时使用否定的词或短语,这种表达常隐含对读者批评或责备,因此不利于商务沟
通。商务邮件中应采用具有积极肯定的意义的词语,尽量避免使用否定的表达。即便是想批评对方,也不
应在措辞上表露出来,应采用委婉或积极的语气和语言,以便对方更好的接受。因为商务沟通的目的不是
为了批评或责备对方,也不是故意让对方感到内疚,真正的目的是为了提供信息或劝说对方采取有益的行
动,解决问题。
譬如:“You did not send us your L/C by the end of the month.”一句中的“did not”就含有责备的语气,
暗示对方无能。再如:“Your lack of carefulness is the cause of the problem.”中的“lack of”则传达了
对对方的严重不满。这两个例句可分别修改为:“Could you please send us your L/C by the end of this
month?”和“We would appreciate it if you could solve the problem for us.” 下列句子分别是否定(左
边)与肯定(右边)表达的对比:
Negative(否定)
- This email is concerning your inability to remit payment on our invoice.
- The pricing scheme you suggested for this product is not practical.
Positive(肯定)
- Did you receive our invoice?
- If we can increase the profit by 10 percent, the pricing scheme you suggested could work.
七、措辞礼貌得体(Use courteous expressions)
礼貌是商务邮件写作中的基本原则,无论何时,只要有必要,别忘了说“Thank you”、“Would you
please…”、“We would appreciate it…”等。但是,邮件写作中的礼貌不仅仅是对以上所列举之词的适
时运用,还应注意其他有碍礼貌的几个弊病,如:避免不信任;避免指责;避免居高临下等。以下分别举
例说明。
(一)避免不信任(Avoid suspicion)
诸如“If what you said is correct…”、“If that is as you claimed…”等之类语句往往让人觉得你是在怀
疑对方的可信度。这样不利于激发对方为你做出有益的举动。试比较下列例句,右边比左边更妥当:
Improper(不妥)
- We received the email of 7 May in which you claimed that the robot was faulty at the time of purchase.
- If the commodities were damaged in transit, as you allege, we will be responsible for them.
Proper(恰当)
- We have noticed in your email of 7 May that the machine was faulty at the time of purchase.
- As you mentioned the commodities were damaged in transit, we will be responsible for them.
(二)避免指责(Avoid blaming)
无论何时,若想激发对方为你采取有益的行动,切忌指责对方。诸如“you neglected”、“you forgot”、
“you omitted”等语句都会给对方带来不愉快,甚至冒犯对方。设想你是读者,你会对下面左边的句自有
何反映:
Improper(不妥)
- Obviously, you forgot to send us the report by registered mail.
- Why didn‘t you read the instruction before using the machine? Proper(恰当)
- We did request that you send us by registered mail.
- You are requested to read the instruction before using the machine.
(三)避免居高临下(Avoid talking down)
商务沟通中,合作双方是在平等互利的基础上进行合作,任何一方凌驾于对方往往都会遭到失败,失去商
业良机。试比较下列例子:
Improper(不妥)
- In a company as large as ours, we seldom take an order of less than 2000 items.
- You must visit our office next week. Proper(恰当)
- Please notice that it is not our common practice to take an order of less than 2000 items.
- Please visit our office next Tuesday.
八、为对方着想(Use your attitude)
商务邮件撰写中,切记要考虑读者或收件人的态度。“生意”(Business)这个词包括“U”和“I”,即
“你”和“我”,但一般要把“你”放在“我”前面。所以,在商务邮件写作中,要时刻考虑对方的需求,
应淡化“we”而强调“you”,要暂时忘掉自己,为对方着想。如果不充分显示出对对方的重视,对方可
能不会感兴趣。比较以下例句,显然右边比左边更符合商务文体。
Our attitude(我方态度)
- We want you to process the order by the end of this month.
- Our savings accounts pay 6% interest. Your attitude(贵方态读)
- Your prompt process of this order will certainly help us to serve you better.
- You will earn 6% interest form your savings accounts here.
虽说商务电子邮件中应使用“Your attitude”,但并非千篇一律,有时在指出对方的过失或答复对方抱怨
信时,为了不惹怒、冒犯对方,尽量少用“Your attitude”,这样也是为对方着想。如以下几例:
Improper(不妥)
- You did not send your payment on time.
- You must visit our office next week. Proper(恰当)
- We did not receive the payment on time.
- Please visit our office next Tuesday.
从这些写作原则中我们可以看出, 现代商务英语写作趋于简洁,尤其是电子邮件写作。笔者希望通这八条
建议能给商务英语学习者有所启发,能给他们带来耳目一新、豁然开朗的感觉。在商务电子邮件写作过程
中,应不仅要注意措词造句,还要注意的表达语气。
正式的商务信函可以用到下列词句,
(1)信的开头:
Referring to previous contact 提及之前联系
Thank you for your interest… 感谢您…的兴趣
With reference to your letter of/dated …in which… 关于您某月某日的来信……,其中谈到……
Further to our conversation of … 关于我们某月某日的谈话……
(2)接着要陈述写这封mail的原因:
I am writing to confirm/apply for/ outline… 我写此信是为了确认/申请/简略地说明……
I‘d like to thank/complain/comment on… 我想对……表示感谢/投诉/发表自己的看法
I am writing concerning… 我写此信是关于……
(3) 附件的写法:
Please fine enclosed… 附上……
As requested, I enclosed… 应您要求,随信附上……
(4) 最后要提出“保持联系”:
I look forward to hearing from you/meeting you/seeing you/working with you. 我希望收到您的回信/与您见面/与您共事。
I hope to hear from you soon. 希望尽快收到您的回信
原文地址:https://blog.51cto.com/14262936/2389948