64
Cable is a synonym for "telegram", hence the word
cablegram. A telegram transmitted by
teletype is called a telex, or a telex message. Hence, the verb to telex. Fax is short tor facsimile and
is a method or device for electronically transmitting printed material, drawings, etc. as by telephone,
for reproduction at a different place. And the material which is transmitted is also called a fax and
the verb is to fax.
1. Some Rules for Drafting Telegrams
•
Telegrams are, as a rule, drafted concisely.
This is achieved by writing in the so-called telegraphese style typical of lexical and grammatical
specific features, for example: "PLANE ARRIVING TOMORROW flight BA 17." Here the aux-
iliary verb "to be" is omitted. The articles and prepositions are also left out. Another example:
"ACCEPT YOUR INVITATION TO CONFERENCE" = "I accept your invitation to participate in
the conference."
(Though it must be born in mind that clarity should never be sacrificed to brevity.)
• To avoid mistakes and misunderstandings, all words are spelt out, except those that are
abbreviated in normal correspondence. The words: "confidential" and "urgent" usually precede the
text.
• Punctuation in telegrams is kept to a minimum and omitted wherever possible.
Some punctuation marks are always indicated in words, as follows:
; SEMICOLON
& AND
QUOTE... UN-
% PERCENT
QUOTE
£ POUNDS
•
NUMBER
$
DOLLARS
• Other punctuation marks (as given below) are not indicated in words:
(full stop or period). Though sometimes abbreviations "st." or "stp." are also used.
, (comma) :
(colon) ? (question mark) ' (apostrophe) — (hyphen or dash) I (fraction bar, slant or oblique)
( ) (parentheses)
• Telegrams are written in block letters and, as a rule, do not contain more than 35 words.
• In telegrams complimentary beginnings and closings are as a rule not used and are often
substituted by the words: "please" and "kindly".
• Specific abbreviations which are widely used in telegrams are: ourlet = our letter; yrlet = your
letter; ourtel = our telegram; yrtel = your telegram; relet = referring to letter; recable = referring to
cable.
• Widely used are also such abbreviations as: ADV = advise; ARR = arrive; CFM = confirm;
asap = as soon as possible;
DEP = departure;
ETA = estimated time of arrival;
FL = flight;
GRP =
group; HTL = hotel; PLS = please; REF = reference; RGDS = regards; TKS = thanks; TLX= telex;
VIA = route to be followed;
YR = your;
MSC = Moscow;
NYC = New York City;
LON = London;
DUB = Dublin;
CBR = Canberra.
Examples:
1. YRTLX MAY 21 RE MR BROWN RESERVATIONS CANCELLED (Your telex of May 21
with reference to/concerning Mr. Brown's reservations cancellation.)
2. PLS CABLE SOONEST ETA (Please cable as soon as possible estimated time of arrival.)
3. RELET 21917 IVANOW ARRIVES TOMORROW FLIGHT 811 (With reference
to/concerning letter 21917 Ivanow arrives tomorrow on flight 811.)
4.
REF YR
57 (Referring to your message 57.)
5. MSC
450
OFFER
OF
APPOINTMENT
DISPATCHED
THIRTYONE
DECEMBER
STOP
AWAITING
DECISION
STEPANEC UNIDO
(Moscow, №450. Offer of appointment sent on December 31 is awaiting decision Stepanec
UNIDO) (UNIDO = United Nations Industrial Development Organization.)
6. ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT YOUR REPORT STOP MANY THANKS STOP.
65
7. COMPLYING WITH YOUR REQUEST SENDING LATEST ISSUE OF JOURNAL
CONFIRM RECEIPT STOP.
8. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE INFORMS YOUR PARTICIPATION AWAITING YOUR
ARRIVAL TENTH SEPTEMBER STOP.
9.
THANKS YR CABLE 16.
Достарыңызбен бөлісу: