formulaic language正式版

1.IntroductionSystemic functional grammar theory proposed by M.A.K.Halliday illustrates that the three contextual factors which decide the feature of a language are field of discourse, tenor of discourse and mode of discourse.Alteration of any factor can incur the transformation of the purpose of communication.（Halliday,1973）As a result,there extends different types of fields of discourse with the variance of languge of the variation of style.In accordance with this, business English can be classified in two types: specialized business English and commmon business English.This essay focuses on the application of the specialized business English, namely the formulaic language of business English.Business English covers a wide range of fields, thus its diversity and complexity entangle the business English translation. Business English likes a cultural code, by choosing specific words to communicate, you signal that you are a member of a particular culture. However, your language imposes its own barriers on your message.(John, 2004:77) As a result, acquainted with the formulaic language of business English, the translator can accomplish his translation practices with ease. This essay argues formulaic language features in business English and their application tactics on business English translation include words translation,sentences translation and texts translation. By introducing these tactics, this essay can provide translators with a referential theory for standardized business English translation.2 Overview of Formulaic Language2.1 Definition of Formulaic LanguageWhen people speaking different languages come together for a common purpose, say business, education or international affairs,they may need to agree on speaking a common language so that they could understand each other.The language chosen is called a lingua franca. The formulaic language hereby exists as a lingua franca for special purpose. Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics(Richards.J.C.2005:270)defines formulaic language as “The memorized words sequence that is store d in the form of units and collected in the form of units from memory instead of being completey produced in resource site by using grammar of the language.”Lewis(1993) marks it as lexical chunks while Nattinger & DeCarrico(1992) represents it as lexical phrases and Sinclair(1991) identifies it as prefabricated phrases. Although the terminologies of formulaic language vary, they have resemblance in the pragmatical facet:the language consists of fixed phrases,semi- fixed phrases, sentence or word patterns so that they can be memorized, preserved and applied in their entirety.2.2Classification of Formulaic LanguageNattinger & Decarrico(1992) divides the chunks into four types:(1) PolywordsThis kind of chunks are fixed phrases which generally consist of more than one word among which no words can be replaced. For instance, for the most part , by and large, by the way etc.( 2 ) Institutionalize dexpressionsThey are words associations fixed in patterns and pragmatical functions like jargons, proverbs or some social formulas.(3) Phrasal constraintsThis kind refers to some semi-phrases like a year/day/month ago. yours sincerely/truly etc.(4)Sentence buildersThey usually serve as complete sentence frames for expressing some concept. For instance, not only X, but also Y, as is known to all and so on.3.Formulaic Language Features of Business EnglishBusiness English is the English variant of a social function, is a branch of English for specific purpose, is English used in business occasions, and is a kind of Standard English containing a variety of besiness activities and suiting the need of commerce. It is the variety and multiplicity of Business English activities that generate such overwhelming sums of terms in Business English.As English for Special Purpose, the major function of business English is to provide the participant in business activities with information, help them communicate and interact and spur the relevant parties to react correspondingly. (Pan,2004:8) After expierencing a long time of evolution, business English had been developed to be a lingua franca for international commercial affairs. This special language includes a great deal of professional and functional chunks as formulas in math. As a result, the lingua franca for business is labeled as formulaic language. It appears in business English in various patterns:3.1W ords：words are the most representive formulaic languge in business English. They are professional, half- professional, general words and fixed phrases related tonumerous fields such as international trade, international finance, accounting, international trade law. Most of them cannot be precisely explained by consulting a dictionary for they are either polysemous words or words sharing one meaning. Professional words, generally speaking, refer to words applied for different subjects whose concepts must be accurately expressed. They possess abundant connotations and extentions, characterized by univocality and exclusion of equivocality. Thus they cannot be replaced at discretion.Misapprehension is prone to be made in the International business activities. Consequently, professional words contibute to the avoidance of ambiguity and misunderstanding by precisely representing all kinds of links in business interaction related to varied documents, correspondences, contracts and negociations, etc.(Li,2009) On account of providing the guarantee for the success of international business, they had been accepted as the fixed and standarized expressions, in another word, as formulaic language of business English such as FOB, CIF. Nevertheless, many common words are used as professional business English in which their meanings are changed. For instance, “reference”means “something to consult”in common English but “warrantor” in business English.3.2 Sentences：As a standarised language, formulaic languge of business English is characterised by concise, normative and complicated sentences. Language style of business English vary in different fields of discourse. Accuracy and efficiency are required in business English correspondence. Hence there are a large amount of simple sentences in it, which indicates the conciseness of business English.According to statistics, the sums of words in a sentence in business English correspondence are approximately 10 to 20, less than 30.(Zhang, 2006)In a business English contract, the main sentence style is long and compound sentences whose structures are quit complicated, which reflects the preciseness and formality of business English. It is the clear statement and accurate representation that compose the efficienct communication in business practices.3.3 T extsDue to the quick rhythm in business environment, texts under such pressure should be effective, brief and to the point, especially in the business correcepondence. The formulaic texts of business English thereby must be logical in their structures, resonable in meanings and rigorous in styles.They have the features of 7Cs: completeness, conciseness, concreteness, correctness, clearness, courtesy and consideration. According to the different functions of business English in a variety of business scenes, the genre of business English texts can be divided into: daily affairs letter, note and notice, memo, business letter, minute, report, advertisement, contract, bill and document. To conclude, the formulaic texts of business English have three types:(1)the Formal Style, include report, contract, bill and document.(2)the Consultive Style, include business letter and daily affairs letter.(3)the Casual Style, include note and notice, memo and minute.Generally, the formulaic texts are mainly applied in the first two types.The business English translation can be identical with all sorts of specific business scenes when the translators are practiced in the formulaic patterns inbusiness English so as to smoothly and perfectly achieve the expected object of a transaction.(li, 2010)4. Application T actics of Formulaic Language in Business English Translation4.1 Words TranslationWords are the critical elements of translation and the core of formulaic language. An excellent translation cannot be accomplished without a keen awareness of vocanbulary. In business English, there are a large quantity of terms and fixed expressions related to varied fields which are involved in international business. Irretrievable loss or even a lawsuit may be engendered provided that the choice of words are inappropriate. The fomulaic words of business English lay the foundation for a successful translation.4.1.1 Words FormationFor convenient and efficient purposes, words formation is applied in business English translation in a high frequency. Since Chinese and English belong to two family of language, they differ in the form of phraseology and the habit of language using. It is impossible to entirely preserve the word class of the source language. Consequently, in many instances, words formation leads to a smooth and natural translation.(1)备忘录中已写明，我方乐意向贵方的用户提供技术服务。