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1、 The Application of Dynamics of Adaptability Theory to the Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters By Du Jieqiong Under the Supervision of Professor Li Jian A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of Beijing Forestry University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the d

2、egree of Master of Arts School of Foreign Languages Beijing Forestry University May 2010 独 创 性 声 明 本人声明所呈交的论文是我个人在导师指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研究成 果。尽 我所知，除了文中特别加以标注和致谢的地方外，论文中不包括含其他人已经 发表或撰写 过的研究成果，也不包括为获得北京林业大学或其它教育机构的学位或证 书而使用过的材 料。与我一同工作的同志对本研究所做的任何贡献均已在论文中作了 明确的说明并表示了 谢意。 关于论文使用授权的说明 本人完全了解北京林业大学有关保留、使用学位论文

3、的规定，即：学校有权保留 送交 论文的复印件，允许论文被查阅和借阅；学校可以公布论文的全部或部分内容， 可以采用 影印、缩印或其它复制手段保存论文。 (保密的论文在解密后应遵守此规定） 商务英语是商务交际活动中的一种文体，而商务信函是其书面表达的一种方式， 具有 其独特的语言特点，礼貌就是其特点之一。在商务英语信函中礼貌用语被广泛使 用。从理 论的角度研究这些礼貌用语，并分析其应用情况，不仅能够丰富语言学研究， 而且对商务 英语信函的写作有着重要的指导作用。 本文的第一部分为导语，简述研究的意义、目的和方法。第二部分回顾了礼貌用 语在 商务英语信函中的使用情况，主要内容包括：商务信函的作用，商

4、务信函的分类 , 中国学者 对商务信函的研究，以及对于商务信函中礼貌用语的研究。第三部分对 Verschueren 的顺 应论进行了详细的阐述，包括该理论的提出、发展及应用，特别是 语境顺应论和动态顺应 论两个方面。本文的第四部分以语境顺应为基础，从动态顺应 论的角度结合实例对商务英 语信函中礼貌用语的使用进行分析，并在商务英语信函中 礼貌用语使用的解释方面提出了 新的观点和看法。 在商务信函中礼貌用语这一研究领域中，以往的研究多采用 Grice 的合作原则和 Leech 的礼貌原则，本文则以 Verschueren 的顺应论，特别是语境顺应论和动态顺应 论为依据阐 述商务英语信函中礼貌用语这

5、一语言的使用。语言的使用是一个不断的选 择语言的过程， 不管这种选择是有意识的还是无意识的，也不管它出于语言内部的原 因还是出于语言外部 的原因。而语言的顺应性理论则是指能够让语言使用者从可供选 择的项目中作灵活的变通， 从而满足交际的需要。因此，本文不同于以往的研究之处， 就在于将商务英语信函中礼貌 用语的使用作为一个动态的过程，在变化的语境下分析 礼貌用语的使用特点和规律，对一 些用传统的合作原则和礼貌原则解释为不礼貌的语 言使用现象给出了合理的解释和分析， 对商务英语信函的写作具有一定的指导作用。 关键词：语境顺应论，动态顺应论，商务英语，商务信函，礼貌用语 Abstract The A

6、pplication of Dynamics of Adaptability Theory to the Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters Master Candidate: Du Jieqiong (General and Applied Linguistics) Supervised by Professor: Li Jian ABSTRACT Business English is a language style used in business activities, while a business

7、 letter is its written form. Business English letters have their unique features, and one of them is courteous language. In business English letters, courteous language is widely applied, and the theoretical analysis of the use of courteous language in business English letters plays an important rol

8、e in guiding business writing. The first part of this paper is the introduction to the significant, the purpose and methods of the research. In the second part, this paper reviews the usage of courteous language in business English letters, which mainly involves the function and the classification o

9、f the business letters, the researches of Chinese scholars on business letters, and the studies of the courteous language in business letters. The third part gives a detailed introduction to Verschueren adaptability theory, including the proposal, the development and the application of this theory,

10、especially the contextual correlates and dynamics of adaptability. The fourth part of this paper analyzes the usage characteristics of courteous language in business English letters on the basis of the examples, and attempts a fresh approach to the explanations on the usage of courteous language in

11、business English letters. The previous study in this area is mainly based on Grices Cooperative Principles and Leechs Politeness Principle, whereas the present research intends to use Verschuerens adaptability theory, especially the contextual correlates of adaptability and dynamics of adaptability,

12、 as the theoretic basis in the explanation of the application of courteous language in business letters. Using language is the process of the continuous making of linguistic choices, consciously or unconsciously, for language-internal (i.e. structural) and/or language-external reasons. At least thre

13、e hierarchically related key notions are needed to understand the process of making choices as the base-line description of language use. Adaptability mainly refers to the property of language which enables human beings to make negotiable linguistic choices from a variable range of possibilities in

14、such a way as to approaching the points of satisfaction for communicative needs. Different from previous studies on courteous language in business English letters, this paper considers the use of courteous language in business English letters for communication as a dynamic and adaptable process, ana

15、lyzes the characteristics and rules of using courteous language in a changing context, and based on the above analysis provides explanations on some of the expressions in business letters which are regarded as impolite by the traditional theories of Cooperative Principles and Politeness Principle, i

16、n the hope of providing guidance to the business letter writing. II Abstract Key Words: contextual correlates of adaptability; dynamics of adaptability; business English; business letters; courteous language in 4 Contents Contents . i ABSTRACT . II Contents . IV Chapter 1 Introduction . 1 1.1 The Si

17、gnificance of the Study . 1 12 The Objective of the Study . 1 1.3 Research Methodology . 2 1.3.1 Data Collection . 2 1.3.2 Research Procedure . 2 1A The Outline of the Paper . 2 Chapter 2 A Review of Business Letters . 4 2.1 The Definition of Business Letters . 4 2.2 The Functions of Business Letter

18、s . 4 2.3 The Classification of Business Letters . 5 2.4 The Researches on Business Letters . 5 2.4.1 The General Researches on Business Letters . 5 2.4.2 The Researches on the Use of Courteous Language in Business Letters . 6 Chapter 3 Verschuerens Adaptability Theory in Language Use . 8 3.1 Litera

19、ture Review of Adaptability Theory . 8 3.1.1 Contextual Correlates of Adaptability . 8 3.1.2 Structural Objects of Adaptability . 9 3.1.3 Dynamics of Adaptability . 9 3.2 The Development of Verschuerens Adaptability Theory. 10 3.2.1 Review of Adaptability Theory . 10 3.2.2 The Application of Adaptab

20、ility Theory . 12 3.2.2.1. Application of Adaptability Theory in the Study of Translation . 12 3.2.2.2 Application of Adaptability Theory in Pragmatic Strategies . 13 3.2.23 Application of Adaptability Theory in Explaining Literature Appreciation . 14 3.2.2.4 Application of Adaptability Theory in Ex

21、plaining Other Problems . 14 3.3 Summary . 15 Chapter 4 Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters Based on Adaptability Theory 16 4.1 Politeness and Impoliteness . 16 4.2 Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters Based on Contextual Correlates of Adaptability and Dy

22、namics of Adaptability Theory . 18 4.2.1 Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters in the Light of Contextual Correlates of Adaptability Theory. 19 4.2.1.1 Analysis of Examples of tYou-attitude, in the Light of Contextual Correlates of Adaptability Theory . 19 4.2.1.2 Analysis of Ex

23、amples of Negative Expressions in the Light of Contextual Correlates of Adaptability Theory . 22 4.2.1.3 Analysis of Examples of Informal Salutations and Complimentary Close in the 5 Contents 4.2.2 Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters in the Light of Dynamics of Adaptability Th

24、eory . 29 4.3 Summary . 36 Chapter 5 Conclusion . 37 5.1 Major Findings . 37 5.2 Limitations and Suggestions . 38 References . 39 於 . 42 . 43 研 ? . 44 Acknowledgements . 45 Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction With the development of economic globalization and the constant increase of China

25、s foreign trade with other countries, business communication has attracted more and more attention in China. As a kind of language style used in business activity, Business English becomes popular. One of the most important areas of business English is business letters, which are widely used in ever

26、y field of business activities. 1.1 The Significance of the Study Business letters serve to pass information, to express ideas, to exchange feelings and to deal with business transactions, and help to establish and maintain good relationship with business partners and customers. They act as, in a wa

27、y, a bridge between the writer and the reader, and the good relationship between the two parties and successful conclusion of the deals greatly depends on business letters, which leads to the belief that the exploration of its language features and writing skills is helpfol in improving the quality

28、and efficiency of business communication. In recent years, a considerable number of scholars have done researches on the language features of business letters from many aspects, such as lexicon, syntax, and semantics. Courteous language, one of the language features that play an important role in bu

29、siness communication and even influences the result of business communication, has attracted wide interest. However, the researches on the usage of courteous language in business letters so far are mostly based on the Cooperative Principle (CP) and Politeness Principle (PP)? and to enrich the resear

30、ch and explore the new possibilities in theoretical and practical studies of this field, the present study applies the adaptability theory, specifically contextual correlates of adaptability and dynamics of adaptability, a theory first put forward in the economic field and developed in the last deca

31、de, to the linguistic analysis of the courteous language in business letters. 1.2 The Objective of the Study This thesis aims at answering the following questions: (1) What are the features of the courteous language used in business letters? (2) How does the language of business letters achieve poli

32、teness? (3) Why are the cooperative principle and politeness principle not adequate in explaining certain features of courteous language used in business letters? (4) How can the theory of adaptability be applied to the study of courteous language in business letters? Based on the analysis of the ab

33、ove questions, this study is expected to develop a new angle in the observation of courteous language in business letters in both theoretical and practical aspects. It not only contributes to the studies on the stylistic features of business 2 The Application of Dynamics of Adaptability Theory to the Analysis of Courteous Language in Business English Letters letters but also provides guidance on how to write English business letters more effectively. L3 Research Methodology