Cultural differences and countermeasures in business English translation in international trade
I. Overview of Business English Translation
Business English, as a cross-cultural communicative English based on international business, has its unique characteristics. As a kind of English, business English has the same basic grammar, sentence patterns and vocabulary as English, but it is also applied English for international business and trade, with its own unique language expression and content, which is different from general English. In business English translation, we must fully grasp the characteristics of business English in order to ensure the smooth translation.
Business English translation is mainly used in formal business communication occasions, so the formal specification of terms and formats is its main feature. Various styles of business English are generally more formal, and this language is often used internationally to avoid colloquialism and ensure the accurate exchange of business information through standardized language. The sentence structure of business English is often more complicated than daily language, and standard formats are often used, especially in business documents such as contracts. For example, in contract documents, we often see "according to the relevant provisions of this contract", among which there is a relatively fixed translation of "according to the provisions here".
The translation of business English often has fixed formats and routines according to the text, and ensures the formality of business communication through fixed terms. For example, when we reply to an inquiry, we usually say "We are glad to receive your inquiry about us&; "hellip& amphellip" politely indicates that it has received an inquiry from the other party for a certain commodity; At the end, we often use "Thank you for your attention. We look forward to receiving your order. " Express our pleasure at the other party's inquiry and our expectation of receiving the other party's order.
Secondly, because business English involves all fields of business activities, there are many technical terms in products, trade and law. Such as inquiry, FOB, premium and so on. The language is concise and there are many special nouns. The use of business English language is often concise, without too much politeness and complicated language. Moreover, abbreviations and special terms are widely used in business English, such as e-business, e-mail, Nike, FOB and so on. In addition, business English is accurate in expression, unambiguous in expression, clear in reference, objective and true in content expression, polite in language and appropriate in words.
Second, the factors leading to cultural differences
English, as the mother tongue, is the second largest language in the world, which is the embodiment of the profound accumulation of western national culture. Different nationalities have different languages, cultural characteristics and living areas. Therefore, there are many factors that lead to cultural differences, both natural and humanistic.
First of all, from the perspective of natural factors, it is mainly manifested in the differences in geographical location, natural environment and life proverbs. The origin and development of English is represented by Britain, which faces the Atlantic Ocean and blows the west wind. So the west wind in the west, especially in Britain, has the meaning of warmth. In China, the west wind means cold, but the east wind brings warmth. In addition, proverbs, as idioms reflecting the practical experience of working people, are closely related to the natural environment and are also one of the important natural factors leading to cultural differences. For example, "love me, love my dog" should be translated into English as "love me, love my dog". The word "dog" here accords with westerners' love for dogs.
Secondly, from the perspective of human factors, including customs and psychological characteristics, ways of thinking, concepts, religious beliefs and many other aspects. From the perspective of customs and psychological characteristics, psychological feelings about things, colors, numbers, etc. There are great differences between China and the West. For example, the dragon symbolizes auspiciousness in China, but it is regarded as a monster in the west. China regards red as a symbol of happiness, while English regards red as a synonym for cruel bloodshed. Blue means melancholy in English-speaking countries, green means vitality and tranquility in China, but it means "jealousy" in English. White is unlucky in China, but it means purity and beauty in English-speaking countries. In the west, "13" is regarded as unlucky, while "4" is regarded as unlucky in China. Western countries like "7" and think it represents positive progress, so "7-up" is translated into English, and so on. In western countries, personal privacy is respected and women's age and salary are taboo, but in China, these topics are often open and common.
In the way of thinking, people in English-speaking countries are more direct and like to get to the point, while people in China are used to being polite and humble and discussing problems in a roundabout way. Influenced by history, people in English-speaking countries are more open and extroverted, while people in China are relatively conservative and introverted. In terms of religious belief, different religions have different influences on people's life and language habits. English-speaking countries believe in _ _, so their language and culture reveal the meaning and belief of Christ. "God helps those who help themselves" is translated into English as "God helps those who help themselves", which embodies the belief of Christ the Great. China's "don't burn incense at ordinary times, cram for Buddha's feet temporarily" and "offer flowers to Buddha" reflect the influence of Buddhist belief on China culture.
Cultural differences increase the difficulty of business English translation and have an important impact on business English translation. First of all, it requires translators to have the ability and awareness of cross-cultural translation, fully understand the knowledge of Chinese and Western cultures, accurately grasp the cultural factors in business English, and avoid the improper translation from affecting normal business cooperation. Secondly, cultural differences affect the accuracy of business English translation. Business English, as a formal technical English applied to business activities, is related to business communication and economic communication to a great extent. Especially in business activities, trademarks, product names, advertisements, contract documents and other important specific business applications, we should pay attention to the accuracy of translation.
Third, business English translation strategies to deal with cultural differences
In view of the characteristics of business English, cultural differences in business English translation and their influence, we must take effective countermeasures to ensure the accuracy of translation and the effective transmission of information, and provide a good communication platform for business activities.
First of all, we should fully grasp different cultural knowledge, understand different cultural backgrounds and cultivate the ability of cross-cultural translation. In business English translation, we should have a deep grasp of words and syntax with cultural differences, especially words with multiple meanings and idioms with specific meanings. Understand different cultural backgrounds, customs and characteristics, avoid misunderstandings in the process of translation, and solve possible cultural conflicts in the process of translation in combination with actual conditions. Cultivate sensitivity to cultural differences, accurately identify cultural differences in business English, and improve the ability to master cross-cultural translation.
Second, use translation skills flexibly to show the artistry of translation work. Business English translation should not only ensure the complete transmission of information in the translation process, but also ensure that translation can effectively promote the smooth development of business activities. Therefore, in the process of translation, we should use all kinds of skills flexibly, combine the cultural characteristics of both sides, give full play to the artistry of translation, and lay the foundation for the smooth progress of business activities. In the process of translation, literal translation, transliteration and free translation should be combined to reflect the artistry of translation and promote in-depth cooperation between the two sides. For example, the translation of "Goldlion" into "Goldlion" not only combines the meaning of English names, but also fully takes into account the cultural characteristics of China people seeking luck. In addition, we should also pay attention to the flexible use of translation techniques such as abstract extension, stylistic sentence transformation and rhetorical extension in the process of translation, so as to fully embody the semantics of the original text and improve the artistry and aesthetics of translation.
Thirdly, the business characteristics of business English translation are reproduced through standardized terms, sentence patterns and formats. Rhetoric and fixed sentence patterns are often used in business English translation, and there are many fixed sentence patterns in the format. Therefore, rhetoric and common fixed forms should be used as much as possible in the translation process to avoid mistranslation caused by cultural differences, and at the same time, it can reproduce the formal, accurate and standardized characteristics of business English.
To sum up, there are many cultural differences in business English translation, which puts higher demands on our business English translation. Therefore, we must constantly improve the accumulation of cultural knowledge and the application of translation skills and theories, cultivate the awareness and ability of cross-cultural translation, provide accurate and smooth translation for business communication and ensure the smooth development of economic activities.