Study the following topical vocabulary to help you read and translate the text below

to speed up		прискорювати
letters of inquiry		листи-запити
cover letters		супровідні листи
letters of complaints		листи-скарги
inflection		модуляція, зміна інформації
to such an extent		до таких меж
to rely on		покладатися (на щось)
facial gestures		вираз обличчя
letterhead		друкований фірмовий бланк
subject heading		заголовок тексту
body of the letter		текст листа
hard-and-fast rules		стійкі правила
indent		абзац
diction		манера висловлювання
arrogant		самовпевнений
complimentary closing		заключна формула ввічливості

With the development of industry, technology, trade, and economic ties among the countries and ordinary people a great number of letters are mailed daily. Though the telephone, telegraph, E-mail and fax speed up transactions, but they also increase expenses to such an extent that practical businessmen and economic people use these modern means of communication only for matters requiring immediate action or for messages which can be expressed briefly.

People write business letters in many situations: conducting negotiations; signing contracts; reserving hotel accommodation, writing order-letters, letters of inquiry, payment letters, letters of complaints and others. All business letters aren’t regarded as a form of literature and do not require a literary mind. But as you write you must remember that how you sound on the page is different from how you sound in person. When you speak face to face with someone, your voice inflection, facial gestures, and even hand movements help get your message across the way you intend it. The words are important, but they are only part of the vehicle for communicating your meaning. On paper, you have to rely on written words alone. Their effect can be uninternationally negative if you don’t pay attention to how tone may come across to readers. A good trick is to read your prose aloud at least once to see if it sounds natural to you. If it doesn’t go back and edit it some more.

Business letters are usually written on printed company-forms (letter paper). The letterhead (the heading) gives the name of the company, the postal and telegraphic addresses, the telephone number, the numbers of the telefaxes. Company letterheads usually appear at the top of the page. If you are not using letterhead stationary, type your address at top of the page.

The layout and parts of a business letter.

The ordinary business letter comprises the following principle parts:

1. The Date

2. The Inside Address

3. The Salutation

4. The Body of the Letter

5. The Complimentary Closing

6. The Signature

7. Enclosures, Postscripts and Copies sent