商务英语缩略语的语言经济原则分析_英语论文

On the Abbreviations in Business English from the Economy Principle of Language

摘要

用最少的词来表达最丰富意思的同时使人不至于难以理解或是误解他人的表达是当今语言发展的趋势。缩略语的运用就是语言经济原则的充分表现。伴随着经济的迅猛发展和人们生活节奏的加快，语言经济原则作用下产生的缩略语被广泛应用，其重要性也日益加强。而在日常生活中也出现了一种新趋势：人们尽可能地用最少的精力做最多的事情，力求节省时间和精力；在语言交流中，人们开始用经济快捷的语言来有效地表达思想。在信息交流的各个方面，人们使用语言时以经济原则为指导，遵循“尽量缩略”策略，用词上尽量采用容易的形式，即能省则省。外贸英语中缩略语的运用很多，不论是信函、电传和电报，还是商标、广告和名片，都大量使用英语缩略语。英语缩略语无处不在。

本文通过介绍语言经济原则和商务英语中的缩略语，举例说明语言经济原则在商务缩略语中的具体体现，以此来完全阐释该原则。

关键词：缩略语的应用；商务英语；语言经济原则

Abstract

Using the least words to express the most abundant meaning meanwhile without making people difficult to understand or misunderstand the others is the tendency of language. The usage of abbreviations fully reflects the economy principle of language. With the rapid development of economy, the pace of people’s life is speeding up and abbreviations produced under the guidance of the economy principle of language are more widely used. At the same time, the importance of abbreviations also becomes greater and greater. Another new trend has appeared in people’s daily lives: people try their best to do the most things with the least energy in order to save time and strength. When it comes to language communication, people use economical and efficient language to express their thoughts effectively. In all aspects of information exchange, people use words “as abbreviated as possible” to convey the message without using complex forms. Abbreviations are widely used in business English not only in the letter, telex, telegram, but also in trademarks, advertisement and business cards. English abbreviations are used everywhere.

This paper tries to introduce the economy principle of language and the language abbreviations in business English with some examples listed to fully illustrate the theory.

Key words: application of abbreviations; business English; economy principle of language

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 The Economy Principle of Language 2

2.1 The Explanation of the Economy Principle of Language 2

2.2 The Influences on Linguistic Research 4

3 Abbreviations in Business English 4

3.1 Word-formation of Business English Abbreviations 4

3.1.1 Acronymy 5

3.1.2 Initialism 5

3.1.3 Clipping 6

3.1.4 Blending 6

3.2 The Linguistic Value of Abbreviations 6

3.2.1 Enhancement of Lexical Forms 7

3.2.2 Specialized Rhetorical Features 8

3.2.3 The Requirements and Needs for Communication 8

3.2.4 The Economy Principle of Language 9

4 The Economy Principle of Language in Business English Abbreviations 10

4.1 Linguistic Features of Business English 10

4.1.1 Strong Specialty in Business English 10

4.1.2 More Use of New Words 10

4.2 Appropriate Use of Abbreviations 11

5 Conclusion 12

References 14