在一些商科留学专业当中,比如商务英语、商业分析等对写手们Business Writing能力要求是非常高的。毕竟毕业之后从事商业相关工作难免会遇到一些商务英语写作。那么写手们应该如何提高商务英语写作能力呢?魏剑锋老师建议:忘掉教科书上那些正确而无用的套话,从读者的角度出发以轻松、自然和友好的语言来完成沟通。以下是编根据《商务英语写作实例精解》艺术为大家整理的几条商务英语写作原则,希望能帮助大家提高Business Writing能力.
1.用现代商务语言去替代过时或陈旧的表达
商务邮件的目的在于传达信息或者说服对方,而不是参加作文竞赛评选,一定要让对方赞叹你的写作水平不可。为了达到沟通的目的,商务写作做到简洁自然,不说空话套话,用现代商务语言去替换过时或陈旧的表达。
举个例子:
(1)Kindly furnish us with this information soon.
(2)Please find enclosed herewith a copy of our new catalogue for your reference and perusal.
(3)The above-mentioned goods will be dispatched to you today.
我们可以将其替换为更为自然的说法:
(1)Please let us have this information soon.
(2)I’m pleased to enclose our new catalogue,and I hope you find it interesting.
(3)These goods will be sent to you today.
2.使用自然、口语化的方式写作
商务邮件虽然是书面体,但它与一般的书面体(比如学术论文)不同。现代商务邮件写作提倡语言自然、流畅,就像面对面的口语交谈一样。我们可以在写作中融入一些自己的想法、个性和情感,让读者感觉到作者是一个活生生的人,而不是一台毫无感情的公文机器。
我们在日常商务邮件中可能经常会见到类似下面的句子:
(1)Appreciate if you could help to process this claim at your earliest.
(2)Kindly advise which course of action you would like to take and we will proceed accordingly.
(3)Could I please request your kind assistance in filling out the below survey for us.
这样的句子过于正式,读起来也很费解。这实际上会给读者造成距离感,影响商务沟通的效果,它们可以改为更加自然的说法:
(1)Please process this claim soon.
(2)Please let us know what you would like to do.
(3)I hope you will take a few minutes to complete this survey for us.
值得注意的一点是,虽然商务邮件写作提倡口语化的写作方式,但这并不意味着我们可以使用俚语和非正式的口头语。因为这些俚语和口头语只用于非正式的社交场合,不适合出现在商业场景中,例如:Keep your shirt on.这样的非正式说法要改为Please be patient.
同时我们也要避免在商务邮件中出现非正式的缩写(例如把you缩写成u,把are缩写成r,把because缩写成cuz),因为这样会给人造成懒惰或者不够严谨认真的印象。
5个原则助力写手提高Business Writing能力
3.使用主动语态
一般情况下,在商务邮件中使用被动语态会显得语气生硬、官腔官调,使用主动语态则会更加有趣有力。试比较下面这几个例子:
(1)The new system was developed by our staff.
(2)Our staff developed the new system.
(3)These notes should be read carefully before completing the form.
(4)Please read these notes carefully before completing the form.
看得出来使用主动语态重点会更加突出,同时句子也会更为简洁。
当然,并不是所有的情形下都必须要使用主动语态。当动作发出的主语不明确或者不重要的情况下要使用被动语态。举个例子,某个岛上噪音很大,而我们要强调“噪音”本身,而不是“听到噪音的人”,这时候应该说:
The noise was heard all over the island.
而不是使用主动语态:
People all over the island heard the noise.
同时,由于在被动语态中看不出动作发出者是谁,有时候在商业中为了逃避责任或者含糊其辞,我们也会使用被动语态。例如:
An unfortunate mistake was made.
在这句话里面,错误是谁犯的并没有明说,但如果写成:
Our company made an unfortunate mistake.
这意味着责任都要由“我们公司”承担。
4.多使用动词而不是名词
动词名词化(例如将avoid写成the avoidance of)会拉长句子,而且会使写出来的句子不够生动,缺少人情味。我们在写作时要尽量使用动词而不是名词。类似下面的句子:
(1)His carelessness in driving caused a serious accident.
(2)We ensured the motivation of staff with the introduction of Learn at Lunch sessions.
要改为:
(1)His careless driving caused a serious accident.
(2)We motivated staff by introducing Learn at Lunch sessions.
5个原则助力写手提高Business Writing能力
5.多使用短句
研究表明,句子的长度与人们的理解程度有直接联系。当句子的长度在15至20个单词时,首次阅读就能理解的人所占的比例为75%,当句子单词长度在27个以上时,这一比例马上降到4%。由于商务邮件讲究沟通的效率和准确性,因此应该尽量使用短句。例如对于下面的长句:
Unfortunately,if we invest in new machinery,and the market falls again,as it has been predicted,we may possibly find ourselves with too much production capacity,and this may,therefore,result in even more serious problems.
我们可以将它拆分为几个短句,这样更加便于理解:
We must give serious consideration to the issue of investing in new machinery.If the market falls again,as has been predicted,we could find ourselves with increased production capacity.This may then result in even more difficulties.