商务英语合同中被动句的语篇功能_英语论文

Textual Functions of Passive Voice in English Business Contracts

摘要

现今，在国际商业环境中，商务英语合同是众多企业和贸易组织商务交流的重要手段。由于其语法、句法及语篇等层面的特点，被动句则被运用在商务英语合同中以用来突出其优势及功能。

被动句作为信息重组的手段，具有如下五种功能：话题确立功能、话题连接功能、话题转换功能、焦点凸显功能和语篇衔接与连贯功能。这些功能通常都是相互作用补充，共同构建一个完整的语篇，从而确保语篇的衔接与连贯。与此同时，被动句广泛地运用于商务英语合同中，从而达到信息交换公正、简洁、礼貌。

本文以Halliday语篇功能理论为基础，从语篇的视角探讨和研究了商务英语合同中被动句的功能，有利于增强书面合同的正式性和准确性，提高商务活动信息交换的效率。因而，只要灵活而准确地运用被动句，则有利于促进国际商务贸易的发展与繁荣。

关键字：商务英语合同；被动句；语篇功能

Abstract

In the current international commercial world, English business contracts are an essential method for most enterprises and trade organizations in business communication. Due to their specific stylistic features in vocabulary, syntactic and text, etc, passive voice is adopted to highlight its advantages and functions in English business contracts.  

As a pragmatic device of information structure, passive voice has such functions as topic-setting, topic-connecting, topic-shifting, focus-highlighting, and textual cohesion and coherence. To make a coherent, cohesive and conjunct text, these five functions are linked together to mutually complement each other and sometimes jointly serve the construction of a text. At the same time, passive voice is popularly adopted in English business contracts to do a favor to leave an impression of objectivity, conciseness, and politeness in the process of information exchange.

Based on Halliday’s textual function theory, the exploration and study of textual functions of passive voice in English business contracts are beneficial to enhance formality and preciseness of written contracts and improve the efficiency of information exchange of business activities, therefore, promoting the development and prosperity of international business and trade as long as passive voice is flexibly and properly used. 

Key words: English business contracts; passive voice; textual functions