摘　 要

英语商务信函在商业事务中占据了相当重要的地位。商贸活动的双方既需要尽力在求同的基础上进行合作，又需要在求异过程中实现自己的利益最大化。因此，商务信函在运用礼貌原则这个语用学理论的时候，必须充分考虑在不同商务情景及背景下对礼貌策略的选择。本文以英文商务信函为媒介，布朗和列文森的礼貌理论为主要框架，从用词、时态、语态和句法等语言角度以及语用学、社会语言学、心理学和认知语言学的高度，对中外商务人士在商贸书信中出现的礼貌策略进行研究；分析的重点是使用最为频繁的积极礼貌策略和消极礼貌策略，旨在探讨英文商务信函中礼貌策略的具体应用及其所反映的礼貌理论，从而使商务信函达到更有效的交际目的。

关键词：英语商务信函；礼貌原则；积极礼貌策略；消极礼貌策略

Abstract

English business letters have been an important tool for us to exchange information in the business affairs. In business activities, both parties have to cooperate of mutual benefits as well as to compete against each other for the best part of the profits. Therefore, politeness plays an important role in the delivery of the two basic points of both sides. Thus, business letters must concern themselves more with politeness theory relevant to different business situations. By taking English business letters as the carrier, and Brown & Levinson's Politeness Theory as the theoretical foundation, this thesis presents an analysis the realization of the politeness principles in English business letters in terms of lexicon, tense, voice and syntax, and also pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psychology and cognitive linguistics as well. It focuses on the most frequently used positive and negative strategies. And it aims at exploring the application of politeness strategies in English business letters and also the politeness theory reflected in the politeness strategies, to make the business communication more effective.

Key words: English business letters; politeness principle; positive strategies; negative strategies

1 Introduction
   Business letters are the basic means of communication between two companies. It has been regarded as the lifeline of modern business. It is an act of business communication by means of the written message. As Wang Ping said, “Business letters are letters written in a formal language, usually used when writing from one business organization to another, or for correspondence between such organizations and their customers, clients and other external parties.”