摘要

基于布朗和莱文森的“面子理论”，本文的目的是通过分析运用于某些特定的商务信函的礼貌策略，来探究一些常用的语言特点，比如模糊语与情态动词，虚拟语气，语气修饰词，设问句，非人称化及名词化句式，被动句与肯定句的运用等等。文中作者分别选取了面子理论中积极和消极策略中使用较频繁的两种和六种次策略，如属于积极范畴的注意对方的兴趣，需求；夸大对对方的兴趣，同情与赞同，和属于消极范畴的：话语的习惯间接性；模糊语；使对对方的强迫性最小化；要求对方动作的非人称化和名词化等。每种次策略在商务信函中的使用都会呈现出相应的语言特色。本文的作者准备通过列举信函中巧妙使用这些策略的优秀句式，来概括出这些语言特点。

关键字：商务信函；面子；礼貌策略；语言特点

Abstract

Based on Brown & Levinson’s face-saving theory, by analyzing the politeness strategies applied in some kind of business letters, the thesis is to seek the linguistic features of them, such as the frequent use of hedges, model auxiliaries, subjunctive mood, intonation modifiers, questions, initiative and assertive sentences, passive voices, the indefinite pronouns and noun form of the act etc. Two out of fourteen positive strategies and six out of ten negative strategies, which are most frequently used in two specific letters, are selected to demonstrate the linguistic features. In the positive dimension, strategies are known as noticing and attending to H’s interests, needs, and exaggeration of H’s interest, approval and sympathy. In the negative dimension, strategies include being conventionally indirect, hedging, being pessimistic, minimization of the imposition, impersonalization and nominalization of the act etc. The author is to summarize the corresponding linguistic features by exemplifying the perfect sentences from business letters which apply the most proper and reasonable strategies. 

Key words: business letters, face, politeness strategies, linguistic features

1    Introduction  
  
1.1    Purpose of the writing
Since China entered the WTO in 2001, all regions have obtained a lot of opportunities in doing trade with foreign customers, especially the coastal areas. During the last decade, China’s economy has been developing at an amazingly fast speed, which is partly due to the growth of international trade. Thus, it is of great significance to maintain good business relationship with foreign customers. However, considering the nature of the business that people can’t meet face to face frequently, lots of the negotiations are done through business letters. Then a polite, well-written letter counts a lot in concluding the deal successfully.