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extinción, incompatibilidad o inhabilitación del ADQUIRENTE
Jul 18, 2015 16:24
8 yrs ago
30 viewers *
Spanish term

Sirva la presente para saludarles

Spanish to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Introduction of a business letter.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 Leave it out
5 Greetings.
4 We are/I am writing to ...
3 I am writing to send you (firstly) my greetings/whishes....

Discussion

neilmac Jul 19, 2015:
Google schmoogle: "Greetings, earthlings" gets 266,000 Google hits... still doesn't make it suitable for anything remotely businesslike IMHO.
Muriel Vasconcellos Jul 18, 2015:
Not to belabor the point ... The difference would be whether it's a letter on letterhead addressed to the client (incoming) or a text the client has drafted to send to another party (outgoing).

Quite often I get letters drafted by the client containing or attaching some kind of a proposal. In such cases I tend to ditch the flowery language.
Ray Ables Jul 18, 2015:
sender, recipient, or 3rd parties I usually translate for third parties.

(And for the record Patinba, the official language of Nigeria is English).
Henry Hinds Jul 18, 2015:
Phil So it depends on whether you're translating it for the sender or the recipient, right, Phil? It sure is a "meaningful distinction". In fact the same is true whether it is a letter or any other kind of material.
philgoddard Jul 18, 2015:
Not a meaningful distinction. All letters are incoming and outgoing, depending on whether you're the sender or the recipient.
Muriel Vasconcellos Jul 18, 2015:
Agree with Henry He makes a good point.
Ray Ables Jul 18, 2015:
I agree with Henry. And I assumed it was incoming. When I translate correspondence it's usually for clients who need the translation for legal reasons and so I translate everything. (i.e. Presente = Hand-delivered) There is almost never a time I would conclude that something is irrelevant just because it is not customary in English.
Henry Hinds Jul 18, 2015:
CONTEXT Is this a letter that is incoming or outgoing? If it is incoming, the translation should be more literal. If it is outoing, then it should be adjusted to target preferences. So which it it?
Muriel Vasconcellos Jul 18, 2015:
Rest of the sentence? I agree that it shouldn't be translated. However, if you want just a little something to start the letter off, it would help to have the rest of the sentence.
BDT (asker) Jul 18, 2015:
Sirva la presente para saludarles y presentarles los servicios de consultoría...
BDT (asker) Jul 18, 2015:
I would like to take this opportunity to greet you...?

Proposed translations

+4
1 hr
Selected

Leave it out

We simply wouldn't say anything like this in English. I would say something like: "Dear XYZ, We would like to tell you about our consultancy service."
Peer comment(s):
agree Carol Gullidge : yep, any attempt at actual translation sounds most unprofessional and also rather "foreign" or just plain weird, at least to my UK ears
35 mins
Thanks.
agree patinba : "Greetings, I would like" is the way those emails from Nigerians with inheritances wanting to use my bank account usually begin.
1 hr
Yes, it does have a sleazy sound to it.
agree neilmac : "Greetings" makes me expect "Live long and prosper" as a sign-off...
16 hrs
agree Thayenga : With Neil. :D Just plain old: Dear XYZ. Happy Sunday. :)
17 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Phil!"
5 mins

Greetings.

You could put "I would like to take this opportunity to greet you " or just "Greetings". There are other options too...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2015-07-18 17:00:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Greetings. I am writing to introduce you to the following consulting services...

(It's always better to provide more context than needed, than not enough).
Peer comment(s):
agree Frank Gerace : great minimalist use of English
6 mins
Thanks!
neutral philgoddard : I'm not sure this is an appropriate way to begin a business letter. // I disagree. It's partly the translator's job to stop people making fools of themselves.
59 mins
I respect your opinion Phil, but I fail to see how including this would make a fool out of someone. Especially, considering that it is likely a letter that was already written and received.
disagree Carol Gullidge : This would sound very odd and un-English in a business letter//I get hundreds of letters and emails beginning like this - and always from foreigners. I'm afraid G-hits prove nothing :(
1 hr
"Greetings, I am writing..." 33,400 results prove you wrong. http://www.bing.com/search?q=+"Greetings, I am writing"&qs=n...
neutral neilmac : "... earthlings"... :)
19 hrs
:-)
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

We are/I am writing to ...

If you want just a little something to oil the wheels of communication and not start off with a bang. It's an option, but not required.
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

I am writing to send you (firstly) my greetings/whishes....

It is like saying, "I am using this letter first to greet you and additionally to inform you that...........
Something went wrong...
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