1、商务英语信函中的语用礼貌失误学位论文AbstractIn cross-cultural communication, under the influence of the mother tongue and the lack of relevant pragmatic knowledge, second language used in communication may cause misunderstanding or even a breakdown of the communication which is called Communicative Pragmatic Failure.
2、 British linguists Jenny Thomas (1983), who first terms Pragmatic Failure, defines it as “the inability to understand what is meant by what is said”. In intercultural communication, few former studies are concentrated on the study of pragmatic failure of politeness language in business English Corre
3、spondence. As an important means of communication, English business correspondence plays a significant role in the success of commercial activity. Pragmatic failure of politeness language in business English correspondence which can be caused by the breach of politeness principle is the last thing w
4、e should neglect. If we could apply correctly the politeness principle of English business correspondence, the writing of English business correspondence will lay a foundation for the success of the conduct of business activities.Different from the form studies of pragmatic failure and politeness, t
5、his paper collects some English business correspondence samples from Chinese college students during their course of internship. The paper intends to study the pragmatic failure in the writing of English business correspondence from the perspective of pragmatics applying politeness principle under T
6、homass framework, and analyzes pragmatic failure resulting from the breach of politeness principle. The main place of innovation of this paper is to study the pragmatic failure in the writing of English business correspondence from the perspective of pragmatics. In the last part of this paper, some
7、strategies of pragmatic politeness would be put forward.Key Words：English business correspondence; pragmatic failure; politeness principle 中文摘要在跨文化交际中，人们在使用第二语言进行会话时或多或少会受到其母语的影响，缺乏相关的语用知识因而引起交流不畅甚至失败。这种情况就是跨文化交际中的语用失误。英国语言学家Thomas(1983)将语用失误定义为“(听话人)不能从(说话人的)话中理解其真正用意”。在研究跨文化交际中的语用失误研究方面，以前的研究很少把重点
8、放在商务信函这类特殊用途的专业书面语的语用礼貌失误上。作为商务经营活动的重要传递，交流信息方式之一的商务英语信函，对商务活动的成功与否有着举足轻重的作用。因此，由于违反语用礼貌原则等因素引起的语用礼貌失误现象不容我们忽视。如果能正确运用一些商务信函中的礼貌原则和策略，将会为商务英语信函撰写的成功奠定基础，从而促进商务活动的顺利展开。不同于以往的关于语用失误和礼貌的研究，本文收集了中国大学生在实习期间的商务英语信函习作的例子，在Thomas提出的框架结构下，从语用学的角度，运用礼貌原则对商务英语信函中的语用礼貌失误进行了探讨，分析了导致语用礼貌失误的原因。本文的创新点在于从语用学角度，运用礼貌原
9、则研究商务信函中的语用礼貌失误。在本文的最后部分，提出了如何在商务英语信函中运用语用礼貌的策略。关键词：商务信函；语用失误；礼貌原则Chapter One Introduction1.1 Background Pragmatics was formed in 1970s; it mainly researches on how to understand language and to use it properly and graciously in the certain conversation within the certain context. Along with the dev
10、elopment and maturity of theories on pragmatics, there has been an increasing interest in pragmatic failures. The concept of Pragmatic Failure was introduced by British linguist Jenny Thomas (1983) published in the paper Crosscultural Pragmatic Failure. Until now, there have been many linguists and
11、scholars both at home and abroad who have studied the cross-cultural pragmatic failure (Jenny Thomas, 1983; He Ziran, 2001; Ran Yongping, 2001; etc). Pragmatic failure exists not only in the verbal communication but also unavoidably in the writing. Thus the analysis of pragmatic failure will be help
12、ful and practical in understanding and using language, especially in the writing of English business correspondence, an increasingly important means of communication in commerce activity.1.2 Aim and ObjectivesThere are seven basic principles in the writing of English business correspondence, among w
13、hich politeness is the last thing we should neglect. Any violation of politeness principle is one of the most important causes for pragmatic failure in the English business correspondence. The present study attempts to present a genre analysis of pragmatic failure appeared in the writing of English
14、business correspondence from the perspective of pragmatics by applying politeness principle under Thomass framework.The dissertation is primarily concerned with the following three research questions: (1) What is the definition and classification of pragmatic failure?(2) What is the politeness princ
15、iple in English business correspondence?(3) What strategies to avoid pragmatic failure in the writing of English business correspondence?It is hoped that this study will benefit English writers. A good knowledge of pragmatic failure and politeness principle will provide insights for the writing of E
16、nglish business correspondence.1.3 Organization of the DissertationThe dissertation is divided into six chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to the whole paper. It covers background, aim and objectives and the organization of the dissertation. Chapter two deals with the definition and classifica
17、tion of pragmatic failure. It serves as a theoretical framework for the analysis of pragmatic failure in this paper. Chapter three gives an overview of some fundamental studies of politeness principle in the writing of English business correspondence. Chapter four is the main body of the dissertatio
18、n in which the model for analysis outlined in chapter two and three are applied to analyze the collected English business correspondence samples which are from Chinese college students during their course of internship and find out the reasons caused pragmatic failure in the writing of English busin
19、ess correspondence. Chapter five provides some strategies for the writing of English business correspondence. Chapter Six draws a conclusion, discusses limitations of the dissertation and suggests further research. Chapter Two The Study of Pragmatic Failure2.1 Introduction With the accelerated globa
20、lization, the communication between countries to countries is becoming more and more important. However, in cross-cultural communication, there exists pragmatic failures. This chapter first begins with definition of concept of pragmatic failure. Then, it continues with the introduction of Jenny Thom
21、as theorical framework, which includes the definition and classification of pragmatic failure.2.2 Pragmatic FailureThe term “pragmatic failure” was first proposed by Jenny Thomas (1983) in the paper “Cross cultural Pragmatic Failure” which serves as a solid theoretical framework for the later studie
22、s by linguists at home and aboard. Thomas believes that pragmatic failure is the major reason why cross cultural communication would break down; she terms it “the inability to understand what is meant by what is said”.He Ziran said that researchers collectively referred the mistakes that result in u
23、nsatisfactory communication in verbal communication as pragmatic failure (He Ziran, 2001). They dont use the word “errors”, because this kind of mistakes dont result from the syntax error, namely the words which fail to convey the meaning because of grammatical structure, but speaks in an inappropri
24、ate way and occasion, or not in conformity of expression. Sun Ya and Dai Ling (2002) gave a more comprehensive definition of pragmatic failure: when the speaker uses the sentences with correct signs relationship, but to speak in an inappropriate way. Specifically, the speaker transgresses the interp
25、ersonal norm, social norm or reglects the identity of communicators, status, occasion and so on, which are against the specific language cultural values that lead to the interruption and failure of the verbal communication. In this case, the communication can not achieve the expected satisfactory re
26、sult, this kind of mistake is called pragmatic failure.2.3 Classification of Pragmatic FailureAccording to Thomas(1983), pragmatics failure can be classified into two categories: Pragmatic Linguistic Failure and Social Pragmatic Failure.2.3.1 Pragmatic Linguistic FailureThe definition of Pragmatic L
27、inguistic Failure has two facets: one is the mistakes which are from the misuse of words by the speaker, causing the listeners misunderstanding of the exact meaning of words within a certain context; the other is caused by the listeners miscomprehension of the illocutionary meaning that the speaker
28、intends to express, or by the speakers inaccurate expression of illocutionary meaning. Take the usage of English as an example, the language is not accord with the idiom of English native speaker by misusing other English expression, or using the language in his native idiomatic manner by ignorance
29、of the correct English expression. 2.3.2 Social Pragmatic FailureSocial Pragmatic Failure refers to the mistakes that result from the mischoosing the linguistic form because of ignorance of the difference between both sides cultural background. Its closely related to status, register, social familia
30、rity to the topic and so on.For example, Chinese “谢谢” has the English equivalent word “Thank you”, but the usage of them is not completely the same. When we receive others praise, “thank you” is the most common words we use; but in China, people often use “过奖，过奖”, “惭愧，惭愧”and other modest words to sh
31、ow politeness. If we dont use “Thank you”, but use “You flatter me” or “I feel ashamed”, that could probably raise a laugh.2.4 SummaryThis chapter has settled on the definition of pragmatic failure and classification of pragmatic failure and established the theoretical model for the current study in
32、 pragmatic failure in the writing of English business correspondence. The following chapter will deal with politeness principle in English business correspondence.Chapter Three Politeness Principle in English Business Correspondence3.1 Introduction English business correspondence is important in international trade and business communication. The correct and proper application of politeness principle in correspondence is of great significance. This chapter first introduces the seven basic principles in English business correspondence writing. Then, it continues with the introd
