摘要

随着经济全球化步伐的加快，我国的涉外商务活动日益频繁。商务英语信函，作为国际商务往来的一种不可或缺的媒介，贯穿着对外贸易的各个环节，起着至关重要的作用。通过商务信函，贸易双方可以建立业务关系、交流信息以及增进友谊等等。本文以商务英语信函为载体，以布朗和列文森的“面子保全论”为主要的理论框架，旨在分析商务英语信函中礼貌策略的体现与运用，以期有助于我们在商务沟通中更有效地理解和运用礼貌策略，从而使得商务交流的效果得到优化。

关键词：商务英语信函；礼貌策略；“面子保全论”

Contents

Abstract I

摘要 II

Introduction 1

1.An overview of business English correspondence 1

1.1Definition of business English correspondence 1

1.2Classification of business English correspondence 2

1.3Functions of business English correspondence 2

1.4 Linguistic features of business English correspondence 3

2.Introduction to the Face-saving Theory and its related studies 4

2.1The basic view of the Face-saving Theory 4

2.1.1Three major hypotheses 4

2.1.2 Three factors of determining the face-saving act 5

2.1.3Five redressive strategies for politeness 5

2.2The related studies 6

3.Politeness strategies applied to business English correspondence 7

3.1 The relationship between politeness strategies and business English correspondence 7

3.2 Application of positive politeness strategies to business English correspondence 7

3.2.1Claiming common ground 9

3.2.2Focusing on cooperation 10

3.2.3 Fulfilling the receiver’s wants 11

3.3Application of negative politeness strategies to business English correspondence 12

3.3.1Giving freedom of action 13

3.3.2Minimizing and apologizing 15

3.3.3Dissociating the sender or receiver from act 16

3.4Application of other politeness strategies to business English correspondence 16

3.4.1On-record strategy 16

3.4.2 Off-record strategy 17

3.4.3Being far from the face-threatening act 18

Conclusion 19

References 20