中英對照寫 email?
工作上的英文email要寫的易讀、易懂,有幾個條件,其中一個是避免字對字、中翻英的寫法。
英文若完全照著中文走,很容易造成讓困惑,甚至誤會。舉個台灣最熱門的句子,你寫信給國外客戶說你到現在都還沒收到他們的錢。你是不是寫成:
“We have not received your payment until now.”
這句的意思是說你現在收到他們的款子,剛好與中文意思相反,問題大吧! 這句的英文可以寫成:
“As of now, we have not received your payment.”
要避開中翻英,首先要大量縮減你的中文內容,我們的英文在怎麼強,都不及母語。再來,每一句中文盡量貼近英文"主詞+動詞+...”的句型。
假設你寫封email給專案經理,通知開會。其中,請南韓與中國地區負責人在會中說明專案進度與報告市場狀況。下面是劃線部分的英文:
"During the meeting, please people in charge of South Korea and China discuss current project status and report market conditions."
幾乎貼著中文,但中文裏的"請...",並非"please",除非主詞是"你"或"你們",例如: "Please (you) prepare to give a presentation."。看下面改寫:
“During the meeting, the managers in charge of the South Korean market and the Chinese market are expected to present project progress and market updates.”
若主詞是第三人稱,以”be expected”當動詞會較恰當。當然,你也可以嘗試其他寫法: (調整主詞)
“For the managers in charge of the South Korean market and the Chinese market,updating projects at hand and market conditions is expected during the meeting.”
如何從你的中文找出相對映的英文"主詞+動詞+...”,也許不容易,卻可以透過國外進來的郵件,反覆模仿、練習,你自然越寫越上手。
有任何問題,歡迎來信(editor@EnglishLab.tw)。
Chi