① フォーマルなスタイルを活用した文書
Dear Mr. Smith
Thank you very much for providing me with a written estimate
for the product. I appreciate your quick actions and support for
the activity.
I would like to ask for your help in clarifying one thing. Could you
please provide your inputs to the questions below?
Are the prices for three accessories A, B, and C included in the
price you provided in the written estimate? If they are not
included, could you please provide the price for each of them?
Since we would like to make our decision as soon as possible,
could you please provide your inputs by 6PM Japan time
tomorrow? If this is not possible, could you please tell me when
you will be able to provide us with your inputs?
Thank you in advance for your support and understanding. If
you have any questions or need clarifications, please contact
me at any time.
I look forward hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Taro Yamada
② インフォーマルなスタイルを活用した文書
Hi Peter,
I hope all is going well for you. Thanks for the written estimate.
Is it ok to assume that the prices for accessories A, B, and C
included in the price you gave me? If not, can you tell me how
much each of them is?
Since we are in a hurry to make our decision on this, is it ok for
you to send your inputs by 6PM Japan time tomorrow? If this
isn’t realistic for you, let me know when you can give us your
inputs.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Take care,
Taro
③ 単刀直入なスタイルを用いた文書
Hello Peter-san,
I received a written estimate for the product from you yesterday.
Are the prices for accessories A, B, and C included in this
estimate? If they are not included, please provide the prices
by 6PM Japan time tomorrow. If 6PM tomorrow is
not possible, please notify when you will be able to send your
response.
Regards,
T. Yamada
同じ事柄を伝えるのにも、使うスタイルによって雰囲気が変化しているのがお分かり頂けたでしょうか。上の3つの文例は、ビジネス英語であるということと、最低限のビジネスマナーを守ることのみを条件に書かれています。また、それぞれのスタイルの特徴や、利点及び欠点を分かりやすく表現するために、なるべく極端になるようにして構成しています。実際のビジネスの場では、このように極端な形のまま活用されることがよいかどうかの判断が必要になってくると思います。
ビジネスにおいて活用される英語のスタイルは、これら3つのスタイルの要素を少しずつ取り入れたものになります。どのスタイルの要素をどれだけ取り入れるかで、セルフ・ポジショニングが築かれていきます。