商務英語函電的七Ｃ’ｓ原則及其語言特點

七C’s原則指的是：Completeness ，Conciseness， Consideration， Concreteness， Clarity， Courtesy， Correctness

一、Completeness (完整)

一封商業信函應概括各項必需的事項，要寫清楚所有所需信息和反饋的信息。

Firstly， complete messages are more likely to bring the desired results without the expense of additional messages .Secondly， they can do a better job of building goodwill. Thirdly， complete messages can help avert costly lawsuits which may result if important information is missing. Finally， papers that seem inconsequential can be surprisingly important if the information they contains is complete and effectively.

二、Conciseness (簡潔)

簡潔明了的語言是現代商務英語的突出特點

1.首字母縮略語

例如：L／C (letter of credit)信用證，B／L(Bill of Lading)海運提單，POD(port of destination)目地港。

2.截短詞

例如：biz (=business)商業，Corp (=corporation)公司等。

3.避免廢話連篇例

(1)We wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter...可改為：We appreciate your letter...

(2)Enclosed herewith please find two copies of...可改為: We enclose two copies of...

4.短句、單詞的運用

(1)Enclosed herewith——>enclosed

(2)at this time——>now

三、Consideration （體諒）

書寫商務英語信函時要處處從對方的角度去考慮有什么需求，要尊重對方。例如：

“You earn 2 % discount when you pay cash. We will send you the brochure next month. ”就比 “We allow2 % discount for cash payment. We won't be able to send you the brochure this month.” 要好。

四、Concreteness（具體）

1.使用具體事實和數字

2.用主動語態敘述

3.選用形象、生動的詞匯

例如：

AbstractConcrete

Termination of theThe insurance contract ends in June.

insurance contract will be in June.

五、Clarity （清楚）

意思表達明確、清楚，要注意一下問題：

1.避免用詞錯誤：

例如：As to the steamers sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco， we have bimonthly direct services.

此處bimonthly有歧義：可以是twice a month or once two month.故讀信者就迷惑了，可以改寫為：

(1)We have semimonthly direct sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco.

(2)We have a direct sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco.

2.注意詞語所放的位置：

例如：

(1)We shall be able to supply 10 cases of the item only.

(2)We shall be able to supply 10 cases only of the item.

前者則有兩種商品以上的含義。

3.注意句子的結構：

例如：

(1)We sent you 5 samples yesterday of the goods which you requested in your letter of May 20 by air.

(2)We sent you， by air， 5 samples of the goods which you requested in your letter of May 20.

六、Courtesy （禮貌）

語言要有禮且謙虛，及時地回信也是禮貌的表現

例如：

We have received with many thanks your letter of 20 May， and we take the pleasure of sending you our latest catalog. We wish to draw your attention to a special offer which we have made in it.

You will be particularly interested in a special offer on page 5 of the latest catalog enclosed， which you requested in your letter of 20 May

七、Correctness （正確）

商務英語要求準確清楚。主要體現在以下幾個方面

1.盡量多使用語體較正式的詞語。

例如用inform替代te11，purchase替代buy等。

2.多使用單個動詞替代動詞詞組

例如：用continue替代keep on或go on，supplement替代add to等。

3.使用介詞短語來代替簡單的介詞和連詞

例如用inaccordancewith代替according to；用for the purpose of代替for等。

4.商務英語合同文本或協議中常使用古舊詞語以顯得莊重嚴肅

例如hereafter，herein，hereunder，thereto，where—by，wherein等。

5.選擇非性別歧視的詞語

總之，商務英語有其自己的原則和其獨特的語言特點，如果能掌握之，并通過大量的實踐，就會贏得更多的商機。

參考文獻：

[1]張春柏:商務英語寫作.北京:高等教育出版社

[2]莊學藝:外貿業務與函電.上海:上海教育出版社