Abstract

Euphemisms are a rhetorical device to convey information. People often make use of euphemisms to indirectly, euphemistically, and politely express their different views and suggestions, and euphemisms also play an important role in business English correspondence. In business English correspondence an agreeable or inoffensive expression is often used to replace an offensive or unpleasant one.
This thesis is divided into four parts. The first part investigates the concept and features of business English correspondence. The second part analyzes the definition of euphemisms and characteristics of euphemisms in business English correspondence, including systematicness, difference, periphrasis and development. The third part introduces the functions of euphemisms in business English correspondence: evasive function, polite function and self-protection function. And the fourth part investigates the application of euphemisms in business English correspondence from phonetic devices, vocabulary devices and grammar devices.
By analyzing the application of euphemisms in business English correspondence, this thesis helps to deepen readers’ understanding of euphemisms in business English correspondence and enables them to better apply euphemisms in business English correspondence for effective intercultural communication.

Key words: euphemisms; application; business English correspondence

摘  要

委婉语是用来传递信息的一种修辞手段。人们常借助委婉语间接、委婉、礼貌地表达自己的不同意见和建议，而委婉语在商务英语信函中也起着举足轻重的作用。商务英语信函常常用一种令人愉快的或无害的表达替代一种可能侵犯他人或令人反感的表达方式。
本文分为四部分。第一部分研究商务英语信函的概念和特点。第二部分分析委婉语的定义和商务英语信函中委婉语的特征，包括系统性、差异性、迂回性和发展性。第三部分介绍委婉语的功能：避讳功能、礼貌功能和自我保护的功能。第四部分主要从语音手段，词汇手段和语法手段探讨委婉语在商务英语信函中的应用。
通过分析商务英语信函中委婉语的应用，论文有助于加深读者对商务英语信函中委婉语的了解，使他们更好地在商务英语信函中应用委婉语，从而进行有效的跨文化交际。

关键词：委婉语；应用；商务英语信函