[Paper Keywords] Business English international poor translation
Abstract: Business English translation is quite different from general English translation, so special attention should be paid to professional vocabulary and translation methods. With the deepening of globalization in China, business English translation has become more and more important. The author of this paper summarizes the key points and difficulties in business English translation from several aspects.
With the further development of economy, finance and globalization in China, more and more international trade is going on. In addition, other forms of contact with overseas markets are also increasing, such as: Chinese-foreign business negotiations, investment promotion, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, international bidding, etc. As an international language, English is inseparable in these affairs. Now, China has realized this, and set off waves of English learning frenzy. Explain the importance attached by the state and society to English education. But all the aspects mentioned above belong to a more subdivided part of English learning-business English. Although business English is a hot word now, many schools have offered courses similar to business English, but the social attention to business English is still low, which is far from enough. There are very few professional business English talents and systematic business English courses. Besides, the translation of business English is quite different from that of general English. Many people think that even graduates majoring in general English can do business English translation as long as they have a business English dictionary. Besides, this is exactly what is happening now. Many business English translators are not business English majors, because there was no such major earlier. In fact, this view is quite wrong. The translation of business English, whether vocabulary or translation methods, should be studied and studied specially. The author summarizes some of them below.
I. Translation of abbreviations
In the international business English environment, many newspaper articles, news reports or research works generally use abbreviations for some specific or commonly used English words. These words usually include the name of the organization, international organizations, internationally recognized business practices, common forms of investment, frequent business activities and so on. This makes business English translation more difficult. Because abbreviations can develop into many different forms, and these abbreviations often occupy a very important position in the full text, once mistranslated, it will affect the understanding of the whole article. Here are a few examples:
IMF = International Monetary Fund
World Trade Organization
EU = European Union
North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
foreign direct investment (FDI)
Letter of credit = letter of credit
Bill of lading = bill of lading
These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. In the real international environment, abbreviations are used frequently and in great numbers. And all aspects of international business. We can find that some very common ones, such as WTO, are familiar to everyone. Others are knowledge that English learners don't have, and they need professional business English training and long-term contact and recitation to play a role in the future work.
Second, the translation of contract terms.
Another problem is the translation of contracts. A contract is the ultimate legal basis for both parties to perform their responsibilities and obligations and enjoy their rights, and it has legal effect. No matter what kind of transaction, conflicts and frictions will inevitably occur. Whether it can be solved most effectively in the shortest time with the least human and financial resources depends on the conclusion of the contract. Therefore, in the contract, every word is required to be the most rigorous and reasonable. Therefore, the requirements of contract translation are far higher than those of ordinary documents. In contract translation, some specific words and methods also need systematic study and long-term experience accumulation.
1.here, there, where and after, by, in, of, on, to, under, upon and with can express some meanings in the contract more concisely and accurately:
This contract shall come into effect as of the date of signing.
Signed by the buyer and the builder.
This contract shall come into effect as of the date of signature by the buyer and the builder.
The undersigned hereby agrees that the new product is made in China, and the trade name is more appropriate.
The undersigned agrees to manufacture a new product in China, and its brand is suitable.
Compliance and compliance express different compliance:
Both parties should abide by the contract.
Both parties should abide by the contract.
All activities of both parties shall abide by the contract.
All activities of both parties shall abide by the contract.
It can be seen that when the subject of the sentence is "human", observe is used, and when the subject of the sentence is "non-human", compliant o is used.
3. Change A into B, and change A into B.
The two sides agreed to change the shipment date to August and exchange US dollars into RMB.
Both parties agreed to change the delivery date to August and exchange US dollars into RMB. It can be seen that the former is "change" and the latter is translated into "fold".
4. In the usage of ex/per/by, ex means that the goods are shipped by a certain ship, per means that the goods are taken by a certain ship, and by means that the goods are carried by a certain ship.
The last batch of goods shipped by "Victoria" will arrive in London in October. (ship, ship, ship)
The last batch of goods shipped by Victoria will arrive in Lunsoft in June+10, 5438. (The Victoria departs from the port of departure, but it is not necessarily the Victoria that arrives at the port of destination. ).
The last goods shipped by "Victoria" will arrive in London on 1 October1day.
The last batch of goods shipped by S.S. Victoria will arrive in London in June+10, 5438. It is not known which ship set sail from the port of departure, but the "Victoria" was sent to the destination port of London.
5. Before
The seller shall deliver the goods to the buyer before June 30th.
15.
The seller must deliver the goods to the buyer before June 65438, 2005.
The seller shall deliver the goods to the buyer before June 20th.
15.
The seller must deliver the goods to the buyer before June 15 (including that day).
It can be seen that when translating a contract, using a wrong word will make the whole contract ambiguous, affect the normal and smooth transactions in the future, produce trade frictions and conflicts, and waste time, manpower and financial resources. Thirdly, the translation of advertising terms.
In business English translation, there is another difficult field, which is also the most interesting and surprising one, and that is the translation of advertising terms. In international business English, advertising words are often cross-cultural and cross-linguistic, so it is difficult to translate them. Due to the differences in cultural background, growth environment, life attitude and way of thinking, some advertisements are brilliant in the host country, but they are boring after being translated into foreign languages. Therefore, for this kind of translation, we often use four-character idioms and life proverbs to continue its persuasiveness and appeal, and more importantly, the inspiration and experience in translation.
It's so good that the last drop is fragrant, and the meaning is still unfinished.
Hi-fi, high fun and high fashion, only from Sony.
Hi-fi, high fun and high fashion, only from Sony.
Where there is road, there is Toyota.
Finally, there will be a road and a Toyota.
Intelligence is everywhere, intelligent deduction, everywhere.
Make something out of nothing. Everything has a root, and everything has a root.
For the road ahead. A wide road
Looking at the translation of these classic advertisements, the translated language is more powerful, innovative and infectious. This is the realm of successful translation, which can only be achieved through constant trial and training and systematic study and research. It is not enough to learn English only by a few dictionaries and basic knowledge.
Fourthly, the translation of professional words.
Secondly, one of the difficulties in business English translation is the translation of professional vocabulary. This is a task that requires professional business English learning to be competent. In business English, there are a large number of professional words covering a wide range. It also depends on systematic study and bit by bit accumulation in work and life. On the surface, these words are simple and easy to translate, but in fact, their meanings are very different from those of ordinary English, and some of them are slightly different. If the translation is wrong, it will be unprofessional and too popular, and some meanings will be quite different. If the translation is wrong, the meaning of the whole article will be distorted. It is these words that can reflect whether a translator is professional or not. Let me give you a few examples to make you understand why business English should be subdivided.
1. In the letter of credit transaction, the letter of credit that the buyer's bank needs to open should indicate the payment method of the paying bank, which is usually expressed in two words: through negotiation and through payment. The former means that no matter what happens after the negotiating bank advances the payment, it can no longer recover the paid payment from the seller, while the latter means that if the negotiating bank cannot get the payment from the buyer after advancing the payment, it can. However, just looking at the literal negotiation and payment, you can't see this difference.
Shipper and carrier are not very different in general English, but they are completely different in business English, especially in international trade. The shipper refers to the person who transports the goods, that is, the person who handed over the goods, and is the seller or the person entrusted by the seller; Carrier refers to the carrier, that is, the delivery company, which is the intermediary between the buyer and the seller to undertake the delivery of goods and get paid.
3. incoterms itself does not exist in general English, but in the long-term use and change of business English, people will change familiar abbreviations of some common words into new English words. Incoterms is the abbreviation of internal-international commercial terms, that is, the general rules for interpreting international trade terms. This trade term is used very frequently in international trade, so all people engaged in international trade are familiar with it. Therefore, people simplified it into general rules for the interpretation of international trade terms and handed it down.
Among thousands of business English words, professional learners may not know them, let alone non-professionals. Therefore, it is a big mistake to use non-business English majors to translate business English, unless they have received professional training or have many years of relevant work experience.
Translation of polysemous words in verbs (abbreviation of verb)
Many simple English words should be translated in business English, not just casually. For example, document can be translated into documents, official documents, document, etc. There are many meanings, but they are all similar; In international trade, it is often translated into documents; Posi-lion is usually translated as position, orientation, position, etc. In finance, it is translated into. Position ",matching with long position, short position, liquidation and so on.
Conclusion of intransitive verbs
Business English is a more specialized subdivision of English teaching, so business English translation also puts forward higher requirements for English application ability. Today, with more and more international exchanges, we need more and more business English talents, and the professional requirements are getting stronger and stronger. However, the author's article only talks about several problems or difficulties in business English translation from several aspects, which will inevitably be incomplete. Relevant scholars can do further research. I also hope that the society can pay more attention to the major of business English and train enough business English talents to cope with the development of globalization.