《商務(wù)英語寫作》電子教案

PartThreeTheory&PracticeonBusinessLetterWritingUnit1

StructuralPartsandStylesofBusinessLetters1.StructuralPartsofBusinessLetters

Abusinessletterhaseightstructuralparts:(a)theheading(letter-head),(b)thedate,(c)theinsideaddress,(d)thesalutation,(e)thebodyoftheletter,(f)thecomplimentaryclose,(g)thesignature(handwrittenandthentyped),and(h)anyaddednotations.

1.1.Heading(信頭)

Theheadingtellswherethewriterwrotetheletter.Sincemostcompaniesusestationary(文具)withprintedletterhead:thecompanyname,address,telephone,telexorfaxnumbers,andlogo(thecompanysymbol,標(biāo)識(shí),商標(biāo)).

Sample:

GoldenTradingCompanyLtd.

34NorthernAvenue,NewYork,U.S.A.January20,19951.3.TheInsideAddress(封內(nèi)地址)

Theinsideaddresscontainsthenameandtheaddressoftheaddressee(收信人),thepersonorcompanyyouarewritingto.Itisonthelefttwospacesbelowthedateline.Ifyouknowthenameandtitleoftheperson,youshouldincludethem.Inaddressinganindividualinacompany,theinsideaddresscontainsboththeindividual'snameandthatofthecompany.Theaddressshouldbethesameastheoneontheenvelope.

Courtesytitlesareusedinbusinessletters."Mr.""Ms.""Mrs."orasubstituteformshouldneverbeomittedfromtheinsideaddress.Whenwritingtoawomanalwaysaddressherasshesignsherself.Itisconsideredcorrecttoaddressawoman"Ms."unlessshehassignedherself"Mrs."

EsquireorEsq.maybeusedinaddressingprominentattorneys(律師,商務(wù)或法律代理人)orotherhighrankingprofessionalmenwhodonothaveothertitles."Esq."alwaysfollowsthename,seperatedfromitbyacomma."Mr."doesnotprecedethenamewhenEsquireorEsq.isused.e.g.

Stone,Esq.

"Mr."or"Esq."isusedinEnglandforaddressingasingleman.

Othercommontitlesinclude"Prof","Dr","Rev(reverend)","Hon(honorable)"(usedforsenators,congressmen,ambassadors,governors,judges,mayors,andheadsofgovernmentdepartments),etc.

"Messrs"(PluralformofMr.)maybeusedinaddressingafirmofmen,ormenandwomen,whenthenameincludesapersonalelement.e.g.MessrsMarvin,TobinandSmart.

Examplesoftheinsideaddress:

(1)Toanindividualinacompany

Mr.GeorgeF.Moore

AdvertisingManager

Price&Patterson

234SeventhAvenue

NewYork5,NewYork

U.S.A.

(2)Toananonymousofficialinthecompany

SalesManager

OfficeSystemsPtyLtd

124OakStreet

Chatswood

NSW2067

Australia

(3)Toacompany

Messrs,Kato&Co.,Ltd

2Nichome,GinzaNishi

Chuo--ku,Tokyo

1.4.TheSalutation

Thesalutationisthegreetingtothereader.Itshouldbetypedflush(exactlyonthesamelevel)withtheleftmargin,thefirstlinetwospacesbelowthelastlineoftheinsideaddress.Themostcommonsalutationconsistsof:Dearplustherecipient'sname.

Herearesomewaystowritethesalutation.

DearSirs/Gentlementoacompany

DearSirtoamanifyoudonotknowhisname

DearMadamtoawomanifyoudonotknowher

DearMrSmithtoaman

DearMrsSmithtoamarriedwoman

DearMissSmithtoanunmarriedwoman

DearMsSmithtoamarriedorunmarriedwoman

DearJohntoafriendorsomeoneyouknowwell

Astheuseofthefirstnameinsalutationisaninformalpractice,itisnotrecommendedformoreformalcommercialcorrespondence.Wedonot,however,useboththefirstandthelastnameinthesalutation.Itiswrongtoopenaletterwith"DearMrJohn"or"DearMrJohnSmith".

NotethatGentlemen,istheAmericanandDearSirs,istheBritishwayofopeningalettertoacompanywhenyouwritetoafirm,nottoaparticularperson.

1.5.TheBody

Thebodyoftheletteristhemessagethatthewriterhastoconveytotherecipient.Itbeginstwospacesbelowthesalutation.Thebodyofthelettermayconsistofoneparagraphonly,orofasmanyparagraphsasneeded.

Thereshouldbemarginatleastoneinchonbothsidesofthepaper,atthetop,andatthebottom.Ifyourletterisveryshort,youshouldmakeyourmarginslarger.

Thereissinglespacebetweenlinesunlesstheletterisveryshort.Doublespacesarebetweenparagraphs.

Whentheindentedstyle,ormodifiedblockstylewithindentedparagraphsisused,indentthefirstlineofeachparagraphfivetotenspaces.

1.6.TheClosing

Theclosingendstheletter.Thecomplimentarycloseistwospacesbelowthelastlineofthebody.Capitalizeonlythefirstword.Beginitslightlytotherightofthecenterofthepage,exceptinfullblock(完全平頭式)andblockstyle(平頭式).

Therearemanywaystowritethecomplimentaryclose."Yourssincerely”ismostcommonlyused."Sincerely"isthemostpopularcomplimentarycloseinAmerica."Yoursfaithfully"isBritishusageinaletterwith"DearSir"or"DearSirs"assalutation.

Thewayyouclosealetterdependsonhowyouopenit.Noticethefollowingchart,whichgivestheappropriatecomplimentaryclosetousewithvarioussalutations.

1.7.Signature

Thesignatureisthesignednameormarkofthepersonwhowritestheletterorthefirmwhichheorsherepresents.Itiswrittenininkimmediatelybelowthecomplimentaryclose.Tosignwitharubberstampisaformofdiscourtesy.

1.8.Notations(記號(hào),注釋)

Anumberofnotationsmaybeincludedincommercialcorrespondence.Theyarespecialpartsofaletterthatsupplydataforthebenefitofthewriterorfortheinformationoftheaddressee,orfortheuseofthemboth.Somenotationsareplacednearthetopoftheletterandsomenearitsbottom.

1.8.1.ReferenceNumbers(文號(hào))

Referencenumbersenablerepliestobelinkedwithearliercorrespondenceandensurethattheyreachtherightpersonordepartmentwithoutdelay.InBritishstylemanyletterheadsprovidespacesforreferences.INTERCITYBANKPlc

58JalanThamrin,Jakarta,Mr.SBasukiYourref:

JakartaFurnishingsOurref:PL/fh/246

7JalanArjuna

Jakarta

12January1987DearMrBasuki

Officefurniture

WeareexpandingourofficesinJakartaandwewillneedextradesks,lights,chairsandfilingcabinets.

Pleasesendusyourcataloguewithyourprices,sizesandcolorsfortheseitems.Yourssincerely

(Signature)

PP.MrPeterLong

Manager

1.8.2.TheAttentionLine

Theattentionlineisusedwhenthewriteroftheletteraddressedtoacompanywishestogetitdeliveredtotheproperdepartmentoraparticularperson.

Theattentionlinealwaysfollowstheinsideaddressandprecedesthesalutation,whichforsuchaletteris:GentlemenorDearSirs.Itmaybetypedflushwiththeleftmargin,indentedfivespaces,orcenteredonthepage.Itiswritteneitherinallcapitallettersorunderlined.

1.8.3.TheSubjectLine

Thisspecialpartofaletterisusedwhenthewriterwantstomagnifytheimportanceofthesubject.Thesubjectlinealwaysfollowsthesalutationandprecedesthebodyofaletter.Itmaybetypedflushwiththeleftmarginindentedfivespaces,orcenteredonthepage.Whenbothanattentionlineandasubjectlineareincludedinaletter,followthesametypingstyleforeach.Theintroductorywordorphrase(subjectorre)isalwaysfollowedbyacolon.

Thesearenotationsnearthetopoftheletter.Thefollowingarenotationsnearitsbottom.

1.8.4.IdentificationInitials

Identificationinitialsareincludedonalmostallbusinessletters,althoughtheyarenotrequired.Theseinitialsidentifythewriteroftheletterandthepersonwhotypedit.Theyaremainlyforthebenefitofthewriterandusedforadministrativepurposes.Theinitialsofthesignercomesfirst,inallcapitalletters,followedbytheinitialsofthetypist,seperatedeitherbyaslash(/)oracolon.

InAmericanstyle,identificationinitialsaretypedflushwiththeleftmarginandfollowthesignatureblock.

1.8.5.Enclosure

Thetermenclosureisself-descriptive.Itmeansthematerialotherthantheletteritselfisenclosed.Awriterwhoisenclosinganythinginthelettershouldindicatethisbyusingthewordenclosureortheabbreviation"Enc”or"Encl”.Itfollowstheidentificationinitials.

1.8.6.CarbonCopy

Copiesofthelettermaybesenttovariouspeople,whoneedtoknowaboutthemessageeventhoughitdoesn'tpertaintothemdirectly.Thesemaybecarboncopies,butmostlikelytheywillbe

photocopied.Thenotations(標(biāo)識(shí),標(biāo)記)Copiesto,C(copy),CC(carboncopy),PC(photo-copy),orXC(Xeroxcopy)designatethatothersarereceivingcopies.

1.8.7.“PerPro”Signature

PerProorPPistheabbreviationofperprocurationem,whichisaLatinphrasedenotingagency.Strictlyspeaking,onlythepartnerisentitledtosignthenameofhisfirm,butforconvenienceauthoritytosignisoftengiventoaresponsibleemployeebyadocumentknownasapowerofattorney,thoughtheauthoritytosignmayalsoarisefromcustom.

1.8.8.Postscript(附言)

Apostscript(P.S.)isanafterthought,andinformalletteritisusuallyasignofpoorplanning.Butasaspecialadvice,ithastwolegitimatefunctions.

1/.Someexecutives,toaddapersonaltouchtotheirtypewrittenletter,occasionallyaddapostscriptinpenandink.

2/.Writersofsalesletteroftenwithholdonelastconvincingargumentforemphaticinclusioninapostscript.Example:

P.S.???toseeyouattheAnnualSalesMeetingattheHillsideUnit2

SkillsforWritingforEstablishingBusinessRelationsSection1:HowtoWriteLettersforEstablishingBusinessRelationsHowtoFindNewCustomersandEstablishBusinessRelations

Thedevelopmentandexpansionofabusinessdependsoncustomers.Needlesstosaythatnocustomer,nobusiness.Theestablishmentofbusinessrelationsisthefundamentalstepinforeigntradeandininternationalexchangebecausetransactioncanonlybemadeafterthebusinessconnectionshavebeensetup.

Toseekprospectiveclientsandestablishbusinessrelationsisoneofthemostimportantmeasuresforanewlyestablishedfirmoranoldonethatwishestoexpanditsmarketandenlargeitsbusinessscopeandturnover(營業(yè)額，銷售額).Usuallyafirmmayapproachitsnewbusinesscounterparts(對(duì)應(yīng)或?qū)Φ鹊娜嘶蛭?abroadorobtainnecessaryinformationthroughthefollowingchannels:1.banks;2.attendanceatallkindsofcommoditiesfairs;3.contactattheexhibitionsheldathomeandabroad;4.mutualvisitsbytradegroupsanddelegations;5.ChambersofCommerceinforeigncountries;6.tradedirectories(貿(mào)易商業(yè)目錄，工商行名錄);7.ChineseCommercialCounselor’sOfficeinforeigncountries;8.BusinessHousesofthesametrade(商行，商號(hào)).Ofallthesechannels,communicationinwritingisthemostcommonlyusedmeansforsettingupbusinessrelations.Buthowcanyouobtainallthenecessaryinformationaboutanewclientwhenyouaregoingtowritealettertoestablishbusinessrelations?Maybeyoucanseekthehelpofmanysourcessuchasperiodicals,advertisementsinnewspapers,marketinvestigations,self-introductionbymerchantsthemselves,etc.

TheMainContentoftheLettersforEstablishingBusinessRelations

1)Refertothewaystoobtaintheaddressee’snameandaddress

2)Indicateclearlytheintentionoftheletter

3)Introducethescopeofbusinessbriefly

4)Expressthehopeforfuturebusinessrelations

Sample1:ALetterforEstablishingBusinessRelations

DearSirs,

WehaveyournameandaddressthroughtheintroductionofMr.A.G.TopWorthofSwanson&Bros.,ofHamburg,whoisoneofouroldclients.Wewishtoinformyouthatwespecializeinexportingchinawareandshallbepleasedtoenterintobusinessrelationswithyou.

Ifourabovedesirecoincideswithyours,pleaseletusknowandalsokeepusinformedofyourspecificenquiriessothatwecansendourillustratedcatalogueandpricelistforyourreferencewithoutdelay.

Inthemeantime,weshallappreciateitverymuchifyouwillfurnishuswiththenameofyourbankpriortotheconclusionofaninitialtransactionbetweenus.

Wearelookingforwardtoreceivingyourfirstenquiry.

YourssincerelyAnswertheFollowingQuestions

1.Whatdoesthewritersayinthefirstparagraphofthemessage?

2.Whatdoesthewriterasktheaddresseetodo?WordsandPhrases

1.client:apersonwhopaysforhelporadviceortogetsomeservice

e.g.Theenquiryagencyhasalotofclients.

2.enterinto:startupon,begintotakepartin

e.g.WehaveenteredintoacontractwithafirminAmerica.

3.enquiry:arequestforinformationonthesupplyofcertaingoods

e.g.Wehavereceivedanumberofenquiriesfromourtradeconnectionshereforyournewproducts.

4.catalogue:acompletelistofarticles,usuallyinalphabeticalorderandoftenwithdescriptionsofthearticles

e.g.WeareenclosingacopyofourcatalogueasrequestedinyourletterofJanuary20.

5.transaction:apieceofbusiness

e.g.Wehavefinallyconcludedthetransactionaftersomanynegotiations.Sample2:AReplytoALetterforAskingtoEstablishBusinessRelations

DearSirs,

WithreferencetoyourletterofJune27,wearegladtolearnthatyouwishtoenterintotraderelationswithus,whichalsomeetsourinterest.

Togiveyouageneralideaofourproducts,wearesendingyoubyairacatalogueshowingvariousproductsbeinghandledbythiscorporationwithdetailedspecificationsandmeansofpacking.Quotationsandsampleswillbesentuponreceiptofyourspecificenquiries.

Aswehavenothadthepleasureofdoingbusinesswithyouinthepast,wewouldliketoinformyouthatourgoodsforexportaretobeinspectedbytheShanghaiCommodityInspectionBureaubeforeshipment,andnecessarycertificatesinregardtothequalityandquantityoftheshipmentwillbeprovided.

Wearelookingforwardtoyourearlyreply.

YoursfaithfullyAnswertheFollowingQuestions

1.Whatdoesthewritersayinthefirstparagraph?

2.Whatdoesthewriterdointhebodyoftheletter?WordsandExpressions

1.learn:receiveinstructions,becomeinformedof

e.g.WehavelearnedfromouragentinLondonaboutyourrangeofelectrictypewriters.

2.corporation:company

e,g,Herhusbandworksforaverybigcorporation.

3.shipment:aloadofgoodssenttogether

e.g.Theshipmentisready,sopleaseopentherelevantL/Cassoonaspossible.

4.handle:use(goods)inbusiness,esp.forsale

e.g.Wedon’thandlethatsortofbook.

5.quotation:amountstatedascurrentpriceofstocksorcommoditiesonsale

e.g.Yourquotationsforleatherjacketsaretoohightobeacceptable.Section2:SkillsforWritingforAskingtoEstablishBusinessRelations&RepliesWriteFriendlyandHelpfulLetters

Yourfirstlettertoopenupamarketorenlargeyourbusinessscopeisveryimportant,becauseitisknownthatfirstimpressionwillcountheavily.Lettersforestablishingbusinessrelationsmustbefriendlyandhelpful.Beforeyouwriteyouropening,itisadvisableforyoutoconsider:1.Whatareyourobjectives?2.Whoisyourreader?3.Whatkindofpresentationshouldyouuse?

Therefore,thefirststepistowritedownyourobjective(s)inasimpleopeningsentence,expressingyourdesireorinterestinhavingaconnectiontoopenupbusiness.Thesecondstepistoanalyzeyourreader.Inyourcorrespondence,youneedtoputyourselfintheshoesofthepeoplewhowillbereadingyourmessage.Generallyspeaking,usethelanguagethatyouthinkthereaderunderstandsclearly.Thethirdstepistoselectappropriateplannedpresentation.Youcanaskyourself:1.Willthereaderwelcomeyourletter?2.Willthebasicmessagedispleaseyourreader?3.Doesyourletterrequestactionthatyourreaderisnotwillingtotake?

WhattoIncludeintheLetters

ThistypeoflettermayalsobecalledaFirstEnquiry.Generallyspeaking,thistypeofletterbeginsbytellingtheaddresseehowhisnameisknown.Then,somegeneralinformationshouldbegivenastothelinesofbusinessbeinghandled.Thewritershouldstatesimply,clearlyandconciselywhathecansellorwhatheexpectstobuy.Thefollowingwritingsuggestionsshouldbekeptinmind:

Opening:Whereandfromwhomyougetthenewcustomer.

Body:selfintroduction(scope,conditionandproductorcommodity),financialpositionandreference

Closing:wish,hopetokeeptherelationsI.ConventionalitiesforWritingforEstablishingBusinessRelations

1)WehaveyournameandaddressfromtheCommercialCounselor’sOfficeofyourEmbassyinBeijingandarenowwritingtoyoufortheestablishmentofbusinessrelations.我們從貴國駐京使館商務(wù)參贊處得悉貴公司行名和地址，現(xiàn)特致函與貴公司建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系。

2)WehavelearnedbycourtesyofMr．GreenhowthatyouareoneoftheleadingimportersofChinesechemicalsandpharmaceuticsinyourcountry．承蒙格林豪先生介紹，我們得知你們是貴國中國化工產(chǎn)品和藥品的主要進(jìn)口商之一。

3)YourfirmhasbeenrecommendedtousbyBankofChinainBeijing.在北京的中國銀行已把貴公司介紹給我們。

4)Wehavethepleasureofintroducingourselvestoyouasastate-operatedcorporationdealingexclusivelyinlightindustrialgoods.我們有幸自薦，我們是一家專營輕工產(chǎn)品的國有公司。

5)WearethechiefcigarettepackingmaterialsexporterinAustriaandarethankfultotheChineseEmbassyinViennaforgivingyourname.我們是奧地利主要的香煙原輔材料出口商，并感謝駐維也納的中國使館向我們提供了你們的行名。

6)SpecializingintheexportofChinesearts&craftsgoods,weexpressourdesiretotradewithyouinthisline.我們專營中國工藝美術(shù)品出口，愿與貴方進(jìn)行交易。

7)Wearewillingtoenterintobusinessrelationswithyourcompanyonthebasisofequalityandmutualbenefit.我們?cè)冈谄降然ダ幕A(chǔ)上與貴公司建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系。

8)Beingcloselyconnectedwithreliablesuppliershere,weshallbeabletodoconsiderableexportbusinesswithyou.我公司與本地可靠的供應(yīng)商聯(lián)系密切，能與貴公司做可觀的出口生意。

9)Itishopedthatbyourjointeffortswecanpromotebusinessaswellasfriendship.希望通過共同努力，我們既可促進(jìn)貿(mào)易又能增進(jìn)友誼。

10)Welookforwardtoyourfavorablereply.等候佳音。

11)Weshallbegratefulifyouwouldreplyatanearlydate.敬請(qǐng)?jiān)缛沾饛?fù)，將不勝感激。

12)Yourearlyreplywillbehighlyappreciated.如蒙早日答復(fù)，將不勝感激。

II.ConventionalitiesforWritingRepliesforEstablishingBusinessRelations

1)WelearnfromyourletterofApril1thatyouareinterestedinestablishingbusinessrelationswithusforthepurchaseofourtools.我們從貴方四月一日來函獲悉，貴方欲購我們工具，愿與我們建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系。

2)Yourletterexpressingthehopeofenteringintobusinessconnectionwithushasbeenreceivedwiththanks.貴方希望與我方建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系的信函已經(jīng)收悉，特致謝意。

3)WithreferencetoyourletterofJune27,wearegladtolearnthatyouwishtoenterintotraderelationswithus,whichalsomeetsourinterest.關(guān)于貴方六月二十七日來函，我方很高興獲知，貴方欲與我方建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系。此事也和我意。

4)Wethankyouforyourletterofferingyourservicesandshouldliketodiscussthepossibilityofexpandingtradewithyou.謝謝你方來函表示愿提供服務(wù)，我方愿與你方就擴(kuò)大貿(mào)易的可能性進(jìn)行討論。

5)Wearewillingtoenterintobusinessrelationswithyourfirmonthebasisofequality,mutualbenefitandexchangingwhatonehasforwhatoneneeds.我們?cè)冈谄降然ダ?、互通有無的基礎(chǔ)上與貴公司建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系。

6)Yourdesiretoestablishdirectbusinessrelationswithuscoincideswithours.貴方欲與我方建立業(yè)務(wù)關(guān)系的愿望與我方不謀而合。

Unit3

SkillsforWritingStatusInquiriesandRepliesSection1:HowtoWriteStatusInquiries&RepliesHowtoMakeStatusInquiries

Therearevariouswaysofgettinginformationontheotherfirms’financialposition,credit,reputationandbusinessmethods.Tradersmayapplytoabusinessfriend,banks,chambersofcommerce,orenquiryagencies.Theinformationobtainedfromabankorfromachamberofcommerceisgenerallymostreliable.It’softenbestfortraderstogetthenecessaryinformationfromabankthroughyourownbank.

TheMainContentofStatusInquiries&Replies

1)Indicateclearlytheintentionoftheletter

2)Refertoaccessofthefinancialenquiry

3)Expressthanksforthehelp

4)Assuretheaddresseethateverythingwillbekeptinconfidence.

Sample1:StatusInquiries

DearSir,

TheMarylandInc.

ThesubjectcompanyisnowofferingtorepresentusinthesaleofourSewingMachines,andhasreferredustoyourbankfordetailedinformationaboutitscreditstanding,businesscapacityandcharacter.Weshallappreciateitifyouwillgiveusyourfrankopiniononthesepointsregardingthecompany.

Anyinformationyoumaygiveuswillbetreatedstrictlyinconfidence.

Weassureyouofourreciprocatingyourcourtesyatanytime.

Yoursrespectfully,AnswertheFollowingQuestions

1.Whatdoesthewritersayinthefirstparagraph?

2.Whatpromisesdoesthewritermakeabouttheinformationtheaddresseemightgive?WordsandExpressions

1.offer:propose

e.g.Sheofferedafewideastoimprovetheplan.

2.represent:actinplaceof...asanagentdoes

e.g.DoyouhaveanybodyrepresentyouinthesaleofthatproductinEurope?

3.refersbtosbelse:asksbtogotosbelseforinformation

e.g.Iamhappytoreferyoutothefollowingpeoplewhocantellyouaboutmyworkandcharacter.

4.standing:position,status,reputation

e.g.Thiscompany’sfinancialstandingisknown.

5.credit:trustinone’sintegrityinmoneymattersandone’sabilitytomeetpaymentswhendue

e.g.Theircreditisgood.Sample2:RepliestoStatusInquiriesPrivate&Confidential

DearSirs

Uponreceiptofyourletterof30thOctober,wemadeinquiriesrespectingthefirmyoumentionedandhaveobtainedthefollowinginformation:

"Messrs.Willing&Co.madeanarrangementwiththeircreditorsinDecember19...Theirliabilitieswere￡5,000,withassets￡4,000.Thecreditorsagreedtoacompositionof60pinthepound.Afirstdividendof20pwaspaidaftersixmonthsandaseconddividendof20pthreemonthlater,butnothingfurther.Thebusinessissaidtobemakingnoprogressatthepresenttime,andwewouldadviseyoutoexerciseextremecautioninyourdealingswiththisfirm.”

Wehavealsomadeindependentinquiriesrespectingthefirm,andtheresultwaspracticallyacorroborationofouragent'sreport.

Itwould,therefore,appearinadvisabletoenterintoanycredittransactionwiththesepeople.

Youarewelcometothisinformationfreeofcharge,andwearepleasedtohavebeenofservicetoyouinthematter.

Yourssincerely.

AnswertheFollowingQuestions

1.Whatdoesthewritersayintheopening?

2.Whatdoesthewritersayintheclosing?WordsandExpressions

1.arrangement:settlement

e.g.Theyhavemadeanarrangementwiththeircreditors.

2.liabilities:debts

e.g.TheirliabilitiesareUS$1,ooo,ooo.oo.whiletheirassetsarelessthanthatsum.

3.dividend:apartpayment

e.g.Theyonlygetadividendof40penceinthepound.

4.credit:transactiondealoncredit

e.g.Doyoudocredittransactions?

5.freeofcharge:withoutbeingcharged

e.g.Thesampleisfreeofcharge.Exercise

1.TranslatethefollowingletterintoChinese.

Confidential

DearSirs

WewouldlikeyoutoenquireintothefinancialandcreditstatusofafirminMilanonourbehalf.

ThefirmisSantoDomino&Co.,distributorsofsparepartsforcars.TheirbankistheBancodiItalino,of73ViaMilano.Wewouldliketoknowtheirgeneralfinancialreliability.Inparticular,theirtradewithuswillinvolveasumofUSD50,000initially,andperhapsamonthlycreditofUSD5,000willberequired.

Weshouldbepleasedifyouwouldletusknowwhetherthiscreditisjustifiedinviewoftheirrecordinmeetingpaymentdates.Istherearecordofbaddebts?Weneedtoknowthisifwearetoextendcredittothem.

2.TranslatethefollowingletterintoEnglish.

先生們：

有關(guān)資信情況

8月3日來函收到，貴方要求我們談?wù)勑胖刑岬降墓举Y信情況。

我們很高興有這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)向你們保證：我們對(duì)上述公司信心十足。該公司在本市開業(yè)多年，在業(yè)務(wù)能力和可靠履行職責(zé)方面受到高度敬重。

我公司和這家企業(yè)業(yè)務(wù)往來已超過六年，賬目款項(xiàng)都是在規(guī)定日期及時(shí)結(jié)清?？偟恼f來，這家公司信譽(yù)良好。

我們希望提供的這些信息會(huì)對(duì)你們有所幫助，并請(qǐng)嚴(yán)加保密。

此致

敬禮

2001年8月21日

Section2:SkillsforWritingStatusInquiriesandRepliesHowtoWriteStatusInquiries

Statusinquiriesaregenerallyheaded“Confidential”or“PrivateandConfidential”.Tradersaskingforinformationmustrememberthattheyareaskingforafavorandthereforeshouldwriteinpoliteandappreciativeterms.Whentheinformationisreceived,nomatterwhetheritisfavorableorunfavorable,asuitableletterofacknowledgementandthanksmustbesent.Thisisnomorethancommoncourtesy.I.ConventionalitiesforWritingStatusInquiries

1.Willyoupleasebesokindastofurnishuswithdetails,asexactaspossible,astothecreditwhichmaybesafelyallowedtothefirmwhosenameisgivenontheattachedslip.請(qǐng)你們給我們提供有關(guān)所附紙條上注明的公司的信用情況，越準(zhǔn)確越好。

2.Messrs.Schneider&Kernhavegivenusyournameasareferencerespectingtheirfinancialstanding.Willyoupleaseinformus,inconfidence,oftheextentoftheirresourcesandalsoastotheirreputation.Schneider&Kern公司推薦我方向貴方了解他們的金融財(cái)務(wù)狀況。請(qǐng)貴方告知他們的資金財(cái)力和信譽(yù)情況，一切保密。

3.Anyinformationyoucanfurnishastotheircapitalandreputationwouldbegreatlyvaluedandtreatedinconfidencebyus.你們能夠提供有關(guān)他們資金信譽(yù)的任何情況，我們都將十分珍視，并保密。

4.Weshouldbegladtoknow:a)whethertheyareinthewholesaletrade;b)iftheirfinancialpositionisconsideredstrong;c)iftheyareamongleadingwholesalefirmsinyourcity;d)whethertheyhavethereputationofpayingpromptly;e)whethertheyhavethereputationofkeepingtheirengagementspromptlyandfully;f)whatcredititwouldbesafetoallowthem;g)whethertheircreditisatalldoubtful;h)whethertheyappeartohavesufferedverymuchfromthestrikeinyourdistrict.我們很樂意了解他們是否經(jīng)營批發(fā)，他們的財(cái)務(wù)狀況是否很好，他們是否是貴市的主要批發(fā)商，他們是否付款及時(shí)，他們是否及時(shí)徹底地守約，他們的信用貸款是否充足，他們的信用是否可靠，他們是否在貴地有工人罷工的麻煩。

5.Thefirmwithwhomweintendtodealhasreferredustoyouforparticularsrespectingtheirbusinessstandingandtrustworthiness.我們將與之進(jìn)行業(yè)務(wù)往來的那家商行要我們向貴行了解有關(guān)他們的商業(yè)地位與信譽(yù)。

6.Wecanassureyouanyinformationyoumaygiveuswillbetreatedinabsoluteconfidence.我們可以向你方保證，你方給我們提供的任何信息，我們一定予以絕對(duì)保密。

7.Weshallmostgratefulforanyinformationyoucanobtainforus.你們?nèi)裟転槲覀儷@得任何情況，我們將不勝感激。

8.Anyinformationyoumaybeabletopassontouswillbetreatedasconfidential.對(duì)你提供的任何資料，我們都予以保密。

9.Youmayrestassuredthatanyinformationyoumayprovidewillbetreatedasstrictlyconfidential.你們盡可放心，對(duì)你們提供的任何信息，我們一定予以絕對(duì)保密。

II.ConventionalitiesforWritingRepliestoStatusInquiries

1.TheAutoEngineeringCo.,Ltd.youmentionedisaprivatecompanyrunasafamilyconcernbythreebrothersandwasfounded15yearsago.你們提到的那家汽車工程有限公司是十五年前開設(shè)的一家由三兄弟經(jīng)營的私營家族企業(yè)。

2.Wehavecompletedourenquiriesconcerningthefirmmentionedinyourletterof4thAprilandregretthatwemustadviseyoutoregardtheirrequestforcreditwithcaution.我們已經(jīng)調(diào)查了你方四月四日信中提到的那家商行。遺憾的是我們必須奉勸你方要謹(jǐn)慎對(duì)待該行提出的貸款要求。

3.Asfarasweknow,theirfinancialstandingissound.就我們所知，他們的財(cái)務(wù)情況良好。

4.Thefirmyouinquireaboutisoneofthemostreliableimportersinourdistrictandhasformanyyearsenjoyedagoodreputationamongthetraders.你們所問訊的那家商號(hào)是我地區(qū)一家最可靠的進(jìn)口商。多年來在同行中享有良好聲譽(yù)。

5．Theyareafirmofhighreputationandhavelargefinancialreserves.該公司聲譽(yù)好，資金儲(chǔ)備雄厚。

6.Weadviseyoutoproceedwitheverypossiblecautionindealingwiththefirminquestion.我們勸你方與該商行進(jìn)行業(yè)務(wù)往來時(shí)務(wù)必謹(jǐn)慎。

7.