英作文、ビジネス英語のコツをご紹介
Aaron Writes Volume 13
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Aaron Writes
Volume 13
Task Overload in Writing
April 1, 2006
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Hello: This is the 13th issue of Aaron Writes, the writing newsletter of Aaron
Language Services (ALS) (http://www.aaronlanguage.com). We issue Aaron
Writes monthly. Each issue examines one writing topic and includes a section
on business English.
Our topic this month is task overload and what it means for writing. Our
business English section this month covers business English and the connection
between grammar and politeness. We hope it is helpful for you.
Aaron Writes is also happy to answer reader questions. If you have questions
about writing, please email director@aaronlanguage.com in English, and we
will answer your question in a future issue of Aaron Writes. Please specify how
you would like your name signed. If you would like the letter to be anonymous,
that is fine too.
Task Overload in Writing
Task overload is a common concept among Americans, writers and
non-writers. When we say we have task overload, we mean that we have
too much to do. We have too many tasks that have overloaded us. We all
know what happens when you overload something. It slows down, does not
work, and breaks much sooner that it should.
This is well known and understood in Japan, especially by people in business,
industry, and some segments of the academic and research related world.
My impression, however, is that Japanese culture expresses the idea
differently from American culture. Perhaps the most frequent way of
expressing this in Japanese is to state how busy you are. From an American
perspective, this means that many things get left to the last minute, and
at the last minute, they are completed in a rush.
This is a terrible thing from a writing perspective as it creates the potential
of double task overload. First, there is task overload regarding everything,
so there is not enough time to do everything right or on time. Unfortunately,
we cannot address that here as that is outside of our scope. We can only
address the issue of task overload and writing, but we do want to stress
that unless writing is given the time and attention it needs, it will not be
good. Hurried writing is poor writing.
Writing, as we have said over and over, is a process. If we look at processes
such as making wine, getting ready for baseball season, and washing your
face, we can see what happens if steps of the process are skipped. Looking
at wine making, wine must age. If it does not age, it will taste terrible. Many
baseball players are out of shape when they go to training camp. They must
exercise and train for a number of days or they will not get in shape. As for
face washing, if your face is very dirty, you really need to use soap to get it
clean. These are all necessary steps in the process.
Writing has necessary steps. Skipping or rushing these steps will negatively
impact your writing. Given the great number of Japanese people facing task
overload though, it is almost guaranteed that Japanese people writing in
English will skip or rush some steps of the process due to insufficient time.
Today, we would like to mention what can happen when writers do this.
We hope that bringing this to your conscious attention will help you to
avoid these problems.
Some problems that can result from task overload
1. Not enough time for planning
2. Not enough time to write the first draft
3. Not enough time to revise the first draft
4. Not enough time to revise additional drafts
5. Not enough time to do the necessary research
6. Not enough time to ask anyone to check your work
7. Not enough time to let your work sit between drafts
8. Not enough time to look at your work with fresh eyes
There are additional problems, but these eight problems are probably enough
to start with. It is our belief that most Japanese writers of English are not
conscious of all of this. Busy people do so much in Japan at the last moment
that it is a way of life.
We hope that you will remember writing is different. It needs time. Naturally,
a simple letter does not need that much time and is probably not deserving
of that much attention, but a serious report, research paper, or other writing
of equivalent importance does. We hope you will give your writing enough time.
----------- 翻訳とライティングについてのエッセイ -----------
アーロン ランゲージ サービス ウェブサイトでは、法律文書、
科学文書、技術文書、日本文化に関する文書についてのエッセイおよび、
ライティング、編集、校正、翻訳についてのエッセイを英語で
掲載しています。また、ビジネス、科学技術、IT、情報セキュリティー、
医療分野の翻訳、科学論文の英文作成 ・ 翻訳などについての
日本語によるエッセイも掲載しています。これらのエッセイは内外を
問わず各種分野に精通した専門家や翻訳者による著述で、
広範囲にわたる文化的側面やあらゆる側面を反映したものです。
http://aaronlanguage.com/main_essay_page.htmにてご覧ください。
日本語のエッセイ
ビジネス翻訳における訳語の選択
マーケティング翻訳について
初めて英語で科学論文を書くとき
科学論文英訳者からお客様への助言
特許翻訳の特殊性
「 契約書英日 ・ 日英翻訳 」 の品質と生産性の向上を目指して
英文契約書の翻訳上達への対策
英文契約書の基本的な共通構成要素を体得する
国際取引と英文契約書の翻訳 （ 英日 ・ 日英 ）
法律 ・ 契約文書の翻訳は英語構文と日本語構文を考えて訳出
日本語と英文契約書 ： 日米間の契約スタイルの違い
法律文書の翻訳過程について
英日技術翻訳の問題点
技術翻訳の特徴と難しさ
技術翻訳との出会い
分かりやすい技術翻訳 （ 社内翻訳編 ）
翻訳における知識と IT翻訳の特徴について
情報セキュリティと責任 ( 翻訳の観点から )
脅迫警報？
これまで翻訳業務に携わって思ったこと （ PCマニュアル翻訳の観点から ）
翻訳メモリツールの長所と短所
翻訳ツールとしてのWordと一太郎 （ ATOK ）
医薬、医療翻訳の品質を高めるために必要なことは何か
行政翻訳 ( bureaucratic translation ) は役所言葉の解読作業
翻訳における諸問題
技術翻訳者のメモ帳からー日本語独特の曖昧さの表現
ネイティブスピーカーから学んだ外国語の書き方 ー 17年の翻訳経験から言えること
英文校正について
翻訳クラスの窓から
スペイン語翻訳—スペイン系それともラテンアメリカ系か
団塊の世代の大量定年時代と翻訳熱の高まりに想う
英語のエッセイ
下記英文エッセイのうちの幾つかは既に和訳版も掲載しておりますが、
現在英文のみ掲載しているものも、今後和訳を掲載する予定です。
Write, Edit, Proof
Translate, Edit, Proof: The Process of Changing a Thesis from Japanese to English
Four Elements of Good Legal Writing
What is Good English Science Writing?
Two Approaches to Improving Technical Writing
Ten Fundamentals of Technical Writing
Watson and Crick and Good Science Writing
Japanese to English Translations with English Type Logic and
Japanese to English Translations with Japanese Type Logic
Japanese and English Resumes: 13 Key Differences
Writing About Japanese Food for Tourists and People Interested in Japanese Culture
From English to German: Anglicisms
英語のエッセイの和訳
英文執筆、英文編集、英文校正
和英翻訳、英文編集、英文校正 ： 日本語論文の英訳プロセス
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Business English - Grammar and Politeness
Business frequently requires making suggestions to people. Japanese writers
of English often use language that can be overly direct and offend some
people. We have heard suggestions made in the following ways:
Why don't you try the restaurant on the corner for a business lunch?
You should try the restaurant on the corner for a business lunch.
How about trying the restaurant on the corner for a business lunch?
Here, we would like to present some ways to suggest things. These are
acceptable for making suggestions:
1) Have you tried the new restaurant on the corner for business lunches?
2) The new restaurant on the corner is very good for business lunches.
3) The new restaurant on the corner has great business lunches.
These three ways to suggest a new restaurant mean exactly the same as
the three above.
Native English business speakers will often use suggestions like the first
three or their equivalents as well as the last three in both speaking and
writing. Native Japanese speakers who are not fluent in English are normally
more direct. The first three often sound much smoother. Using them can be
good for improving your English.
----------- Essays on Translation and Writing -----------
Aaron Language Services now has essays in English at our web site on
English legal writing, English science writing, English technical writing, and
writing in English about Japanese culture as well as essays about writing,
editing, proofreading, and translation. We also have essays in Japanese
about business, scientific, technical, IT, information security, medical
translation, and more including writing scientific articles. We will be putting
up still more essays in the future too on other topics related to writing,
proofreading, and translation. These essays were written by a wide
variety of Japanese, American, and European writers and translators
living in Japan and overseas, including a native German speaker, reflecting
a wide variety of cultural views and different approaches. We think you
will find them of interest. Please take a look at
http://aaronlanguage.com/main_essay_page.htm
-----------------------Our Writing Program-----------------------
Aaron Language Services is now working online to help writers improve
their writing skills. If your goal is to improve your writing for work or
pleasure -- business, academic, or creative -- please contact Aaron
Language Services for information about the Aaron writing program.
Writing is speaking to the eyes rather than the ears. We know when we
express our thoughts well in English because people respond positively.
They listen to us. If you think others see your words, but your ideas are
sometimes not clear enough, you might consider our Short Four/Five
Paper Course, which is one of our ten-week Aaron writing modules.
Every other week for eight weeks, you will write a short paper. Aaron
will read your writing. After the Aaron reading, you and Aaron will have
an online dialogue about your writing. Aaron will correct grammar
problems. More importantly though, we will make suggestions for writing
improvements: going deeper into the writing: expressing yourself better,
using key words that convey your meaning, sounding more natural in
English. For the finale -- the ninth week, you will choose the short paper
that you like best and turn it into a longer paper. Naturally, guidance in
proofreading and editing your own writing is a key component in our
writing program.
Aaron now offers a variety of writing modules. If you would like to discuss
the possibility of an individualized writing program, please email
englishplus@aaronlanguage.com.
You can also visit our new site at http://www.aaroncoaches.com
where you can see a wide variety of writing courses listed. We will soon
be listing new courses in addition to those listed below:
初級 レッスン
初級 Ｅメール レッスン
初級 映画 レッスン
初級 動物 レッスン
中級 Ｅメール レッスン
中級 ビジネス Ｅメール レッスン
中級 映画 レッスン
中級 動物 レッスン
上級 ビジネス
上級 人生経験
上級 映画 ー エッセイの構成
上級 動物 ー エッセイの構成
ライティング 中級 翻訳 - 一般翻訳
ライティング 上級 翻訳 - 一般翻訳
ライティング 上級 翻訳 - ビジネス翻訳
ライティング 上級 翻訳 - 技術翻訳
********************************* PR *********************************
ALSでは英文ライティングに興味を持っている方々を対象に、
英文ライティングオンライン通信講座を開講し、随時受付中です。
講師は全員北米出身で、言語学などの博士課程修了者。
すべて英語による直接指導なので高い効果が期待できます。
ALSサイトhttp://www.aaronlanguage.com/writing.htmをご覧ください。
日本語でのお問合せは、englishplus@aaronlanguage.comまで。
**********************************************************************
ALS also issues Aaron Says every month. Each regular issue contains three
sections on different topics, and each special issue focuses on one topic.
We hope these topics will help you with your translation, English writing,
and knowledge of America and the Western world.
Some issues also include special sections on translation in the news;
where we cover translation to and from Spanish, French, German, Italian,
Portuguese, Dutch, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and other languages
in Europe and around the world. Other issues will include sections about
culture and life in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Holland,
Greece, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and other countries.
For more information on Aaron Language Services please visit our site at
http://www.aaronlanguage.com. If you click on 英文ライティングお役立ち,
you will find more help at our site. Our site also shows the proofreading,
writing, translation, and web design services that we offer.
If you would like to ask any English related questions, please send them to
english@aaronlanguage.com
Let us know if you would like to see your questions answered with a lengthy
response in Aaron Says. We can publish your questions anonymously or with
your name. Please let us know which you would prefer.
------------------------------------------------ PR ------------------------------------------
英文ライティング指導
英文ライティングの指導も行なっています。
ALSディレクター、インダ・S・シャーリー博士が、
文法的に正しいことはもちろん、自然で魅力的な英文が書けるよう指導します。
日本語でのお問合せはenglishplus@aaronlanguage.com まで。
***************** Business Writing Questions Wanted *****************
Do you have a question about business writing in the English speaking world?
If so, we would appreciate your sending the question to
director@aaronlanguage.com and we will be happy to put it in our next issue.
We might want to edit your English so it looks more natural. We can use your
name or not as you like. Please let us know.
Aaron Writes is a publication of Aaron Language Services.
日本における英語翻訳、英文校正、他言語翻訳、他言語校正などの代表者連絡先 ： honyaku@aaronlanguage.com
アメリカのカリフォルニア州サンフランシスコに拠点を置く翻訳 （ 英語、和英、英和、日英、英日、論文翻訳等 ）、英文校正、多言語翻訳、多言語校正、ネットスクールの英文ライティング指導等の総合サービス。
ALSはグローバル体制で24時間対応。
（ なお、お支払いには日本国内の銀行口座をご利用いただけます ）。
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