|
|
|
|
The Language of Diplomacy |
|
Examples of Diplomatic Discourse |
 |
Finally, here is a small collection of fairly random and
run-of-the-mill examples from diplomatic correspondence. Al of them
are authentic and demonstrate how the French influence of the two
kinds (conceptual apparatus plus French turns of phrase) is even
further enhanced against the formal background of the register of
diplomatic discourse with its natural predilection for polysyllabic
Romance words:
|
|
|
Your
Majesty
will also have found his
conduct deserving
of Your
approbation
and
esteem,
and in this
pleasing confidence
I
avail
myself of the
present opportunity
to renew to You the
assurances
of the
invariable
friendship and
cordial esteem...
(from Recredentials in the form of a Lettre de Cabinet) |
|
|
I should like to
assure
you that we fully
reciprocate
the
desire expressed
by you for the
establishment
of
relations beneficial
to our two
secretariats.
|
|
|
The
Council
should
authorize
the
Secretary-General
to
propose
from time to time, as
appropriate,
that
certain
other
inter-governmental organisations
might be
invited
to be
represented
by
observers
at
individual sessions
when the
Council
discusses questions
of
direct concern
to them. These
organisations
should
participate,
with the
approval
of the
Council
and without the right to
vote
in
connexion
with
particular agenda items.
|
|
|
I am
pleased
to
inform
you that these
proposals
are
acceptable
to the
Commission.
In
consequence,
in
accordance
with the
suggestion
in the
final
paragraph of you
letter,
that
letter
and my
reply
shall be
considered
as
constituting
the
Agreement
governing
the
relationship
between the
Commission
of the European
Communities
and YMCO, the said
Agreement
will come into
force
as from today. |
|
|
When this
proposal
is
approved
by beneficiary countries
or organisations
the Commission
will submit
the project
to the competent financing authorities.
In case
of a positive decision appropriate administrative
and financial arrangements
will be agreed
between the beneficiary country
or organisation,
the Commission
and, if the beneficiary country
so desires,
IMO, in accordance
with the relevant procedures. |
|
|
The
provision
of
assistance
and
advice
to
developing countries
has been
assigned
highest
importance
by this
Organisation
as
part
both of its
Technical Cooperation Programme
and in the
context
of IMO’s
priority programme
for
promoting effective
and
global implementation
of the
international standards
and
regulations
adopted
under its
auspices.
It is, therefore, a
source
of great
satisfaction
to me that the
arrangements
you
propose
are
especially intended
to
benefit developing countries.
|
|
|
Periodic consultations
will take
place
between the
Commission
and the
Organisation
in
order
to
determine
in
advance
the meetings of
mutual interest
in which each may
participate
upon the
invitation
of the other.
|
To conclude this article, we would like to give an example of
diplomatic English with its French translation to show how
closely the two versions of the same content converge on the
common stock of lexical items and similar phraseological and
syntactical constructions. The diplomatic register may be
linguistically described as the variety of the English language,
which came very short of becoming French:
|
It is understood that any participation of the European
Communities in the negotiation of treaties or other
international instruments taking place in diplomatic
conferences convened by the Organisation will be the subject
of appropriate decisions taken by the competent bodies of
the Organisation or of the Unions administered by the
Organisation or of the said conferences. |
Il est entendu que tout participation des Communautés
européennes aux négociations de Traités ou autres
instruments internationaux se déroulant dans les conférences
diplomatiques convoquées par l’Organisation fera l’objet de
decisions appropriées des instances compétentes de
l’Organisation ou des unions administrées
par l'Organisation ou des
dites conférences. |
|
 |
Copyrighted material |
 |
|
|
|
|
