书城教材教辅大学英语写作理论与实务
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第41章 应用文写作(6)

English Department英文书信范文2

April 18, 2007

Julianne Li

Institute of International Politics and Law

Beijing International Studies University

1 Nanli, Dingfuzhuang, Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100024

Dear Julianne,

It has been a few months since I last wrote you and sent you a box of books, and as have not heard anything from you, I thought I would write again to make certain that you did, in fact, receive my letter and the books.

I am concerned about the books arriving there and would appreciate you letting me know if you have received them and if they were the kind of books that you could use.

Best wishes.

As ever,

Elizabeth

P. S. Mary and her boyfriend will come to visit me during Labor Day Holiday week. They will stay with me for about a week. I hope you could come too. Then we can have a happy gathering here.

英文书信中常用的短语和句型:

信首语

◆ How is everything these days?

◆ I am writing on behalf of all the members of our company.

◆ Pardon me, though a stranger to you personally, for taking liberty to address you these few lines.

◆ As I have not heard of you for long, I feel anxious.

◆ I must apologize for not having written to you before.

◆ Please pardon my not writing to you for a long time.

◆ Thank you very much for your letter of...

◆ Having mislaid your address, I have not been able to reply sooner.

◆ You have no idea how happy 1 was to receive your letter.

◆ Your letter of the 4th this month was duly received.

◆ I have the pleasure to tell you that...

◆ I have just received your kind letter.

◆ Your kind letter of Saturday arrived this morning.

结束语

◆ Your early reply will be greatly appreciated.

◆ Looking forward to a prompt reply.

◆ Please do not fail to write to me.

◆ I shall feel obliged by a reply at your earliest convenience.

◆ Let me hear if you receive the parcel safely.

◆ As the season grows colder, I hope you will take good care of yourself.

◆ With kind regards to your family.

◆ Please give my compliments to your family.

◆ Pray give my best remembrances to Mr. Brown.

◆ My parents also ask to add their best thanks to you.

◆ I thank you for the trouble you have taken.

◆ Hoping you will have a pleasant trip.

◆ Wishing you a pleasant journey.

◆ The help you sent is sincerely valued.

◆ Presenting the compliments of the season.

◆ Please accept my best and sincerest wishes for the New Year.

二、英文Email

随着电脑走进千家万户,一张无形的巨网也悄然织起,这就是Internet(因特网,国际互联网)。一旦连接了Internet,信息传递就成为一件非常轻松惬意的事情。在网上最常使用的服务就是Email(电子邮件,electronic mail,常缩略为Email,email 或email),这是因为电子邮件不但使用方便、传播快捷、可以一信多发,而且价格十分低廉,特别适合国际交流。

1.私人英文Email

私人英文Email有什么写作要领呢?首先,必须要在标题(Heading)栏的“收件人(To)”框中输入收信人的Email 地址。“主题(Subject)”框的内容应简明地概括信的内容,短的可以是一个单词,如greetings,长的可以是一个名词性短语,也可以是完整句,但长度一般不超过35个字母。“主题”框的内容切忌含糊不清。像News about the meeting 这样的表达,应改为Tomorrow"s meeting canceled.一般来说,只要将位于句首的单词和专有名词的首字母大写即可。另外一种较为正规的格式可将除了少于5个字母的介词、连接词或冠词之外的每一个单词的首字母大写,如New Email Address Notification。视信的内容是否重要,还可以开头加上URGENT或者FYI(For Your Information,供参考),如URGENT:Submit your report today!

私人Email一般使用非正式的文体,因此正文(Body)前的称呼(Salutation)通常无须使用诸如“Dear Mr. John”之类的表达。在同辈的亲朋好友或同事间可以直呼其名,但对长辈或上级最好使用头衔加上姓。如Tommy或者Mr. Smith。

Email文体的另外一个特点是简单明了,便于阅读,太长的内容可以以附件的方式发出。一个段落大多仅由一到三个句子组成。信尾客套话(Complimentary close)通常也很简明。常常只需一个词,如“Thanks”,“Best”,“Cheers”,不需要用一般信函中的“Sincerely yours”或“Best regards”。称呼和正文之间,段落之间,正文和信尾客套话之间一般空一行,开头无须空格。例如:

Jimmy,

I received your memo and will discuss it with Eric on Wednesday.

Best,

David

在电子邮件的使用者中还流行使用一些由首字母或读音组成的缩略词,如:

d u wnt 2 go out 2nite:Do you want to go out tonight?

lol:Laughing out loud

oic:Oh, I see.

mte:My thoughts exactly.

brb:I"ll be right back.

c u 2morrow:See you tomorrow.

fanx 4 ur elp:Thanks for your help.

gr8:great.

btw:By the way.

imho:In my humble opinion

asap:As soon as possible.

另外,网友们为了给枯燥的文字加入感情色彩,还创造了一种表示感情的小符号,如:-)代表“I"m smiling at this”, :-(代表“I"m sad about this”.

上述缩略词和小符号要视具体情况而定,不宜滥用。

Email的非正式的文体特点并不意味它的撰写可以马虎行事,特别是给长辈或上级写信,或者撰写业务信函更是如此。写完信后,一定要认真检查有无拼写、语法和标点符号的错误。当然Outlook Express等软件的“拼写检查”功能可以助你一臂之力。

范文:

假设你叫高迪,昨天收到了笔友David的Email,得知他不久要到北京来学习中文。他想了解如何学好中文。请你用英文给他回复一封Email,介绍学习中文的体会和方法,提出你的建议,以及表达你帮助他学好中文的愿望。

Dear David,

I"m glad you"ll come to Beijing to learn Chinese. Chinese is very useful, and many foreigners are learning it now. It"s difficult for you because it"s quite different from English. You have to remember as many Chinese words as possible. It"s also important to do some reading and writing. You can watch TV and listen to the radio to practise your listening. Do your best to talk with people in Chinese. You can learn Chinese not only from books but also from people around you. If you have any questions, please ask me. I"m sure you"ll learn Chinese well.

Hope to see you soon in Beijing.

Yours,

Gao Di

2.商务英文Email

商务英文Email以其方便快捷,在现代商务活动中起着重要作用。商务往来中的电子邮件代表着公司的形象,显示着公司的水平和实力,直接影响客户对公司的评估。所以,商务电子邮件的写作在业务往来中占据着举足轻重的地位。据调查,约有88%的互联网用户使用电子邮件,而在商务领域中约有90% 的员工通过电子邮件的形式来联系公务。随着全球经济一体化的发展,商务英文Email的写作越来越受到重视。

(1)商务英文Email的格式。

常见的商务英文Email包括以下五部分:①写信人Email地址、收信人Email地址、抄送收信人Email地址、密送收信人Email地址。②标题(Subject)。③称呼(Salutation)、开头(Beginning)、正文(Body)、结尾句(Ending)。④礼貌结束语(Complimentary Close)。⑤写信人全名(Writer"s Full Name)、写信人职务及所属部门(Writer"s Title and Department)、地址(Address)、电话号码(Tel)、传真(Fax)等。

其中邮件主题应体现邮件主旨,要引人注目、意思明确,最好为名词或动名词短语;称呼礼貌得体,符合商务英语写作习惯,如不知对方姓名只知头衔,可用“Dear + Title”作为称呼,如只知对方姓名不知性别,可用“Dear + 全名”,如邮件为一封通函,则用“Dear All”作为邮件称呼;正文应结构清晰,便于阅读,如正文内容较长,可使用小标题、小段落,或利用星号、下划线及段落间空行等方式使邮件眉目清楚、一目了然。

(2)商务英文Email写作应遵循的五C原则。

商务英语电子邮件的正文写作应该遵循五C原则,即Correctness(准确)、Conciseness(简洁)、Complete(完整)、Clarity(清晰)和Courtesy(礼貌)原则。

①准确原则。

由于商务英语电子邮件涉及的是商务活动双方的权利、义务关系,其准确性对商务管理与沟通至关重要。具体而言,不仅电子邮件的英语语法、标点符号和拼写要做到准确无误,电子邮件内容还要叙述准确,以免引起误会纠纷。

②简洁原则。

简洁原则是商务英语写作最重要的原则,是指在不影响完整性和礼貌性的前提下,尽量使用简单句子和简短词语。一封拖沓冗长、措词复杂的电子邮件既浪费写作者的时间,也会给阅读者带来不必要的麻烦,故商务英语电子邮件应以简明扼要为第一要务。

在具体写作中,商务英语电子邮件呈现出的句法特征是句子结构简单明了,有大量省略句和不完整句。其词汇特征是用语简洁,语言简明扼要。

另外,为了节约时间和空间,电子邮件中可使用缩略语,如U表示you,Pls表示please,Info表示information,Qty表示quantity,P\C 表示piece,L\C表示Letter of Credit(信用证),FOB 表示Free on Board(离岸价格)。

例1.It is very difficult to sell manhole covers in France. This product must have the quality certificate issued in France.

例2.Price: FOB Shanghai USD 1.96\PC.

例3.Hope you can accept it.