Abstract

At the present time, the trade connection between China and other foreign countries become tighter than before. Business English correspondence plays an extremely vital role in the trade connection as it is a frequently-used communication method used by foreign trade staff. In fact, it is not easy for people from non-English speaking country, for instance, China, to write an outstanding Business English letter. This is partly due to the language feature of business English correspondence. Its language must be pithiness, standard, accurate and professional. Moreover, the difference in thinking model between Chinese and American and the difference of Chinese and English also become obstacles in completing an excellent Business English letter. Although there are many studies and research on Business English correspondence, most of them focus on writing skills and writing models. This thesis compares business correspondence written by English majors in Chongqing University and by American international trade staff, and finds out differences in clearness, conciseness, correctness and courtesy between business correspondence written by Chinese and by American.

The result of this thesis will be able to provide some reference for further studies on business English correspondence and enlighten those people who want to improve business English correspondence writhing. 

Key words: business English correspondence, comparative study, China, America, thinking model, language feature

摘        要

目前，中国与世界各国的贸易联系日益频繁，商务英语信函作为商务沟通的重要媒介在国际贸易中起着至关重要的作用。商务英语是一种专门用途英语（ESP），有其独特的语言特点，商务英语信函与普通信函相比也有很大差别。再加上中西方思维模式的不同以及中英文语言特点的差异，使得很多中国人在实际操作中很难写出一篇出色的商务英语信函。虽然近些年关于商务英语信函的研究逐渐增多，但这些研究大多偏重于理论，并且过度强调写作技巧和写作模板。本文通过对比重庆大学2008级英语专业商务方向同学所写的商务英语信函和搜集的美国商务英语信函，发现两者在清楚、简洁、正确和礼貌四个方面的差异，找出中国人在完成商务英语信函时在这四个方面经常出现的问题。
本文不仅为今后的有关商务英语信函的研究提供参考依据，也为想要提高商务英语信函写作水品的人群提供借鉴范本。

关键词：商务英语信函，对比研究，中国，美国，思维模式，语言特点