摘要

本文立足于商务信函中的礼貌用语，在国内外学者对礼貌用语的相关研究基础上，分析礼貌用语在商务信函中的应用情况，包括商人对礼貌用语的意识，使用的具体状况，客户的反应态度等等，进而发现中国商人和以英语为母语的外商在商务信函和电子邮件中在礼貌策略的使用上有一定的偏差。
在跨文化的背景和在不同的文化中，表示礼貌的方式方法,以及人们的判断标准都具有差异性。本论文旨在分析商务信函中礼貌及其策略的实现和使用，从而让人们在商务沟通中更好地了解礼貌在商务信函中的重要作用，更有效地运用礼貌策略来实现自己的交际意图。再者，对商务信函中礼貌的研究也可能对从事商务英语教学的人们有一定帮助。

关键词：礼貌用语; 礼貌原则; 英语商务信函

Abstract

This paper tries to study the politeness language employed in English business letters. To be specific, it analyzes how the politeness language is used in such situations, including merchants’ awareness of using polite language, the response of customers and the effect achieved. The paper finds that businessmen from China and English-speaking countries have a certain deviation in the use of politeness strategies in business letters and e-mails.
    In cross-cultural communications people from different cultures have a lot of differences in the display of politeness and people’s judgment criteria. This paper aims to analyze the achievement and usage of politeness strategies in business letter so as to help people understand the importance of politeness in writing business letters, and achieve their communicative intention in a more efficient way. Moreover, the conclusions of this paper may have some help to those teachers teaching business English.

Key words：politeness language; politeness principle; English business letters
 
1．Introduction
1.1 Background information
Today, global economic and trade integration has been developing rapidly. The international trade is becoming increasingly close. Business letters as the widespread use of the information carrier has become an important communicational tool in trade contact. With respect to verbal communicational tools, letters can be more direct and accurate to express the idea of the writer. At the same time as a particular type of practical writing, a well-written English business letter can create a good image, striving for the better cooperation and trade development. A kind, ideographic appropriate business letter helps both sides to negotiate smoothly and promotes the deepening of cooperation. Conversely, a letter of improper language easily leads to misunderstandings. It may create a negative impact on enterprise and affect enterprise image. According to sell, all languages operate within politeness parameters and politeness or sensitivity to politeness considerations is mankind’s patent, sleepless superego (Watts, 1992:114). Thus, it goes without saying that the application of politeness is very important to business letter. The characteristics of business letters determine that when writing business letters, one must pay attention to the use of the politeness principle, which is the basic requirement of English business letter writing.