英语函电的语气-使语气自然的方法

      (1)使用交谈式语言，尽量避免业务术语。

    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）在保持交谈式语句简明特点的同时，又要避免俚语或结构欠佳的语句。

      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）使用读者词汇量范围以内的词语。有许多专门术语对普通读者来讲是不能理解的。因此，如果你觉得你的读者可能不明白，那就要加以解释，但是要巧妙，万万不得使用以恩人自居的语气。请比较下列两段中哪一段的词汇水平适当，而且解释得体。

      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.