跨文化视角下商务信函中礼貌用语研究_英语论文

A Study on Politeness Formula in Business  Correspondence from the Perspective of Intercultural Communication

摘要

世界经济快速发展，商务英语信函不仅是实现沟通的媒介，而且还是建立友谊，吸引客户的手段。信函中灵活运用礼貌原则是商务活动顺利开展的内在要求和取得商务交际成功的关键。本文以Geoffrey Leech 的礼貌原则为理论框架，以商务信函中的礼貌用语为研究对象，从得体准则，慷慨准则，一致准则，同情准则，赞扬准则和谦逊准则等方面来分析商务信函中的礼貌用语。研究发现，在商务信函中西方国家大多偏好一致准则和得体准则，西方邮件中总是尽量减少自己与对方的意见分歧，扩大共识。而中国商务邮件中人们习惯使用谦逊准则和慷慨准则，即少赞誉自己，多贬损自己。 因此探讨中西方礼貌用语的差异,对于国际交往愈来愈频繁的社会而言，将会有助于减少语用失误,帮助交际者使用恰当的礼貌用语来达到有效交际目的。

关键词：跨文化交际；礼貌用语；礼貌原则；电子邮件

Abstract

With the rapid development of the world economy, business English emails are not only the media to achieve smoothly communication, but also the way to set up cooperative relationship and to appeal to customers. The flexible use of politeness principle in the business emails is the key requirement of the smooth development of business activities and the key to the success of business communication. Based on Geoffrey Leech 's politeness principle, this thesis takes 183 business letters as the research object, and analyzes the politeness language in the business emails from the aspects of generosity maxim, consistency maxim, sympathetic maxim, praise maxim and tact maxim. The study found that there were obvious divergences in courtesy language under different cultural backgrounds. To explore the differences in polite language between Chinese and Western will lessen the pragmatic errors so as to realize effective communication objectives.

Keywords: Cross-cultural communication; Polite language; The politeness principle; E-mail  

Contents

I. Introduction 1

II. Politeness Principle 2

2.1 Politeness Principle 3

2.2 Geoffrey Leech’s politeness principle 4

Ⅲ. Methodology

3.1 Research questions 8

3.2 Data8 

Ⅳ. Results9

4.1 General description of the results.9

4.2 Analysis. 13

4.2.1 The maxim of tact .9

4.2.2 The maxim of generosity .,9

4.2.3 The maxim of praise9

  4.2.4 The maxim of modesty .14

  4.2.5 The maxim of consistency 15

  4.2.6 The maxim of sympathy .15

V. Conclusion17

Bibliography.19