(1) 使用交談式語言，盡量避免業務術語。

不用：

Re your letter of the 21st inst. , in connection with our account, we are remitting our check herewith, as per your request, in the amount of $100.00.

而用：

As requested in your letter of the 21th June, we are enclosing our check for $100.00.

(2) 在保持交談式語句簡明特點的同時，又要避免俚語或結構欠佳的語句。

不用：

Hello,This is Charles Fonda. I'm writing about the contract. Mr. Wu asked us to explain the new clause.

而用：

We received a letter from Mr.Wu today asking us to explain the new clause in the contract.

(3) 使用讀者詞匯量范圍以內的詞語。有許多專門術語對普通讀者來講是不能理解的。因此，如果你覺得你的讀者可能不明白，那就要加以解釋，但是要巧妙，萬萬不得使用以恩人自居的語氣。請比較下列兩段中哪一段的詞匯水平適當，而且解釋得體。

a. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors of this Corporation has decided to award common shareholders a stock dividend. One hundred fifty thousand shares will be distributed pro rata. Since you own three hundred shares, you will receive three additional shares as your stock dividend.

b. Each year we declare cash dividends. Cash dividends are sums of money which the Board of Directors of this Corporation distributes to every shareholder of common stock. This year, in addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors has decided to declare a stock dividend. A stock dividend is like a cash dividend except that payment is in shares instead of cash.

c. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of directors of this Corporation has decided to declare a stock dividend to holders of common stock. One hundred fifty thousand shares will be distributed pro rata. This means that each stockholder will receive one additional share for each one hundred shares that he or she owns. Since you own three hundred shares, you will receive three additional shares as your stock dividend.



英語函電的語氣-恰當語氣的特點


一封商業函電的語氣反映了筆者對待讀者的態度。如果函電中有一種親切而充滿合作之意的語氣，它在建立令人滿意的關系時就會起到很大作用，而這種關系在開展業務時十分重要。

如果筆者想達到自己的目的，除了用簡潔明了的語言提供一切必要的情況之外，還要采取適當的語氣。筆者的語氣必要既切合實際情況，又切合自己的目的。一封語氣不當的函電會產生意想不到的不良效果。請參看下列例證。

On the 6th Maarch last we ordered 100 cartons of socks. We stressed the importance of delivery by the 30th April at the latest. The socks have not yet been delivered nor has there been an acknowledgment of our order.

Please look into the matter at once and let us know when you expect to fill the order.

例文中使用的是一種命令式的語氣，這種語氣暗示了讀者做錯了事，這很難使讀者配合。對這種不當的語氣可以做如下的改進。

On the 6th March last we placed with you an order for 100 cartons of socks,stressing the importance of delivery by the 30th April.

We have not received the socks,nor have we received an acknowledgment of our order. Delay in receiving the socks is creating difficulties. Since the matter is urgent, we will appreciate your advising us when we many expect to receive the shipment.

(1) 自然：如果筆者使用讀者熟悉的詞語，函電就會顯得自然，這樣的函電才能收到良好的效果。一般來講，交談式的語言在寫業務函電時是最理想的，因為這顯得很自然。簡而言之，像說話那樣寫。

比較：

Its operational deficiencies were attributed by the agency to a lack of personnel resulting form budget limitations.

The agency said that it could not do a good job because it did not have enough money to hire enough peple.

(2) 友好：函電中對讀者的問題表示關心，讓讀者感到函電中充滿同情心，讀后頗有裨益，覺得心中熱乎乎。這樣做十分重要。冷漠的語氣可能會令人感到筆者對讀者的利益漠不關心。請注意下列兩句的區別。

We are obliged to inform you that the completion of processing your application has been postponed until the end of next week.

We are sorry to have kept you waiting, but it has taken us more time than expected to process your application. We will have it completed by next Friday.

(3) 禮貌：寫業務函電時務必注意禮貌。即使收到一封態度粗魯、蠻不講理的信時，也要以諒解的態度做出彬彬有禮的回答。提出批評，表示不贊同時一定要謹慎小心，讓自己的語氣充滿關心和體諒，即使向對方提出責備時，也不要冒犯對方。

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