商务英语信函写作中的语言特点与写作技巧_全英文

1 Introduction

Business English can be regarded as an application of English language

in commercial occasions, aiming at enabling speakers to communicate and

interact effectively using the most correct and clearest business language. Business English Correspondence is an important carrier of international

commercial activities which is used to deli ever information, address commercial issues and as a way of communication.

Lexicon is an important factor of a passage. In the writing of business English correspondence, we should pay particular attention to the selection

of lexicon. Different words may carry different meaning and even the mood

of them can be very distinct. Therefore, it is of great necessity to do

research of the features of lexicon in the writing of business English correspondence.

This thesis attempts to do some researches on the following subjects:

To have a good knowledge of characteristics of lexicon in business English correspondence. To make sense of the reason why the business English correspondence have such requirements of lexicon. To provide some suggestions that learners can improve their writing skills.

2 Description of Business English correspondence

2.1 Definition of business English correspondence

Nowadays more and more people choose to work in companies and do commercial work. As China joined the WTO, enterprises are all choosing to

open their markets and expand them into the international world, thus making English inevitably become the most used language in the world. And in this

way a new subject appeared that we call it “business English”. In terms

of business English, we refer to the language used in order to adapt to the

job market whose contents include a lot of aspects (Kansi, 1983; 134). Unlike the general English learners, people who learn business English are more

targeted and specialized.

Business correspondence means the act of communicating by means of correspondences or the correspondences between correspondents (菱, 2000; 87). It is the main way f or traders to do business, exchange commercial information and consult and give answers to commercial questions in international trade. Besides, it is a reflection of different cultures, social backgrounds and

representative of interests of both parties of a trading activity. Business English correspondences is different from personal correspondences, for it is more formal and can be a legal document for both enterprises to do business transaction and deal with commercial disputes. This is a serious problem that business English correspondence writers should pay attention to.

Different from the state correspondence or personal correspondences,

business English correspondences has its own characteristics both in the

article style and language (Ober, 1998; 98). In particular, it is high

demanded of the correctness and standards of language. The business correspondence should be clear, concise, concrete, and of courtesy in language.

2.2 Assortment of business English correspondence

It can categorize business correspondences into three kinds. They are

as follows: The first kind is in accordance with the letters’ content. We have invitation letters, selling letters, employing letters, and etc. In

terms of the role the business letters plays in commercial activities of

enterprises, we have negotiating letters which aims at address a dispute,

friendly letters which is used to keep a friendly touch with another company, and etc. The last is the correspondence, which is used to give some information .The information may be good or bad.

In a word, we can classify the business correspondences from different perspectives just as the way mentioned above. Sometimes, each kind is not

so isolated from others. Besides we h ave mentioned above, there are also many