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委婉表达在商务英语中的运用摘要 商务英语的委婉表达形式多样,手法巧妙。本文结合国际商务沟通实例,初步探讨委婉语在商务英语中的运用手段及作用。关键词 商务英语沟通 委婉表达一、引言语言是表达思想的工具,修辞则是表达语言的艺术。商务英语作为国际商务活动中重要工具,除本身具有的缜密严禁、凝练规范的专业性、规范性、实用性特点外,同样需要提高语言表达效果的修辞艺术手段。正所谓“话有三说,巧说为妙。”“巧说”就是“适合语境的修辞选择”(胡曙中 2004:8)。“商务英语交流交往可能更加需要修辞艺术,来加强商贸关系,扩大业务范围,增加商贸机会,拓宽业务渠道,来最大限度地提高经济效益。”(李太志 2006:3)国际经贸合作的日益频繁,促使我们在商务活动中更要注重使用得体的语言进行交际与谈判,以便创造良好的商务环境,达到预期目的。copyright dedecms二、委婉语在商务英语中的运用英语修辞学中,委婉语一词来自希腊语euphemism 。eu=good, well; pheme=saying, speech。意思是“the substitution of agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.”即“以令人愉快和无刺激的词语来替代恼人的或引起不快联想的词语”。在商务活动中,委婉含蓄的表达可避免直接表达带来的尴尬或矛盾,避免冲突。在实际商务交流中,委婉语的运用灵活多样,可粗略归纳为以下几点:1.温和言辞代替激烈言辞在商务沟通中,如果言辞咄咄逼人,会给对方带来过于自信不留余地的印象,引起对方的反感。善用委婉、含蓄的词语弱化激烈的言辞,可使紧张关系得到缓和。常用的表达方式有: “I am afraid that”(恐怕) “We would think” (我们考虑到) “It seems (would seem) to me that”(在我看来) “we regret our inability to”(很遗憾我们不能) “We would suggest that/May we suggest”(我们建议/我们是否可建议)。比较: copyright dedecms(1)You have evidently sent us the wrong goods. Such trouble should be not repeated in future delivery.( 很明显你发错了货。不要再出现类似情况。)We would say that you have sent us the wrong goods. We wish such trouble will not be repeated in future delivery.( 我们考虑到贵方发错了货,希望类似问题再今后的送货中能够避免。)(2)The quality of your Art Paper is not in conformity with the technical analysis and the samples. We must refuse your offer.( 画纸质量的技术分析结果与样品不符,我们必须退货。)We regret the the quality of your Art Paper is not in conformity with the technical analysis and the samples. Im afraid we unable to accept your offer.( 很遗憾画纸质量与技术分析结果与样品不符,我们不能接受您的供货。)(3)You are taking advantage of our leniency in this matter.( 贵方在趁机利用我公司的宽容态度。)As you seem to take advantage of our leniency in this matter. 贵方似乎在趁机利用我公司的宽容态度。) 内容来自dedecms2.善用被动语态英语中主动语态强调的是动作的执行者,而被动语态强调的是动作的承受者。商务沟通中若发生命令或请求,提出建议或批评时,弱化执行者,强调按合同、协议、所承诺或规定的义务和职责,更符合国际商业惯例。如:(1)For the past three years, you did not place any order from us.(三年来你方未向我方订货。)For the past three years, no order has been placed from us.(三年来,我方没有收到订货单。)(2)According to the contract, you should ship the total quantity of the goods before the end of this month .(根据合同你方应于本月底之前完成全部货物装运。)According to the contract, the total quantity goods should be shipped before the end of this month .(根据合同全部货物应于本月底之前装运。)(3)You made no allowance for inflation in this estimate. (Kitty O. Locker 2000:36) copyright dedecms(你在预算中没有考虑到通货膨胀。)No allowance for inflation has been made in this estimate.( 通货膨胀没被考虑在预算中。)3.运用感情移入法感情移入法即使用隐型对方态度 (invisible your attitude) 在表达具有消极含义,传达令人不愉快的信息或内容时,将自己置身于对方立场,考虑其要求、利益、切实体谅尊重对方,顾及对方的处境可更让人理解和符合实际,使其心服口服。积极或中性表达避免不必要的矛盾。所以,多加同情达理,少加指责质问无疑能够更加奠定良好的合作基础。比较:(1)Apparently you miss understood our order. Anyway you shipped the wrong thing. (很明显你方错误的理解了我方的定单。你方装错了船)Apparently our instructions are not clear, with the result that the wrong articlewas shipped.(很明显由于我们没能提供清楚的指示,导致货物被错装。) 本文来自织梦(2)We thank you for your participation , but we are sorry to say we couldnt use your services. (感谢您的参与但很遗憾我们不能接受您的服务)We thank you for your participation and hope we will be able to use your services at some time in the future.( 感谢您的参与希望今后我们能够享受您的服务。)(3)Is there anything you dont understand?( 你还有什么不明白的吗?)Is there anything I have not made clear?( 我还有什么没讲清楚的吗?)4.保留对方的“面子”Brown 和Levinson 曾在“面子论”提出“威胁面子的行为” (face threatening acts, FTAs)。 即不同程度的使对方或自己的面子受损的因素。从言语修辞角度讲,商务沟通中交流应避免涉及到FTAs,给对方留有“台阶”。在和平友好多气氛中达到双赢的目的。如:(1)It was a very difficult choice of candidates as there were many qualified applicants. Unfortunately, we can hire only one, and we chose someone more familiar with our line of products. 本文来自织梦就事论事,不涉及具体人,只用 “someone more familiar with” 作出暗示。(2)We know where you are about your after-sale service. (关于贵方的售后服务我们心里有数) 暗指服务不怎么样,但是没有直接指出。而是用了 “where you are”做暗示。(3)Im not sure we can ever conclude a transaction if we still bargain like this. “like this”暗指对如此谈判条件我们是不能接受的。三、结语灵活多变的委婉表达在吸引客户,捕捉商机,加强国际合作,拓展市场中起着不可忽视的语用功能。但是委婉语的使用也要有“度”的原则,即把握好委婉的分寸。一味“卑恭”“低声下气”,甚至用“乞求”的语气,不仅降低自身的身份,而且还会让对方抓住弱点,造成对己极为不利的后果。因此,如何作到充分考虑语境,有进有退,得体委婉,才是商务人员应该仔细研究学习的。 本文来自织梦参考文献:1李太志:商务英语言语修辞艺术 M.北京:国防工业出版社,20062陈亚丽:英文商务写作案例分析与实践M.天津:天津大学出版社,2004
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