A Study of Interpersonal Meanings in Conflictive Correspondences of Business English

Abstract With China’s entry into WTO, the domestic trade and international trade have increasingly risen up。 In the process of building business relationship, business correspondences play an indispensable role。 84546

Based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar theory, the thesis analyzes the interpersonal meanings of conflictive correspondences of business English from the perspectives of mood system, modality system and person system。 In mood system, it is found that declarative clauses inform the other party of the faulty in business transaction objectively。 Interrogatives save the receivers’ positive face。 In contrast to interrogatives, the imperatives are used to urge the receivers to take prompt actions。 In modality system, modal operators determine how a writer expresses his/her thoughts。 The modal adjuncts reveal writers’ certainty or possibility to his/her letter。 In Person system, the first personal pronouns and the second personal pronouns are used more frequently than the third personal pronouns。 The two personal pronouns are applied to create a harmonious atmosphere, as if they were talking face to face。

This thesis has a guiding function to the writing of conflictive correspondences of business English。 It is also beneficial for the teaching of business English。

Keywords: interpersonal meaning; business English; conflictive correspondences

商务英语冲突类信函中人际意义的研究

摘  要自中国加入WTO，国内外的贸易往来日益频繁。在建立贸易关系的过程中，商务信函的作用不容小觑。

本文基于韩礼德的系统功能语法，主要从语气、人称、时态等角度来分析其中的人际意义。在语气系统中，陈述句的主要作用是客观地通知对方交易中出现的问题；问句会照顾到收信人的面子；和问句恰恰相反，祈使句用直接的语气催促对方及时采取行动来解决问题。在情态系统中，情态动词决定了写信人的表达方式，情态附加语则体现了写信人话语中的可能性和通常性。在人称系统中，第一人称和第二人称使用频率比第三人称高，它们能创造出一种和谐的交流氛围，让双方产生面对面对话的感觉。

本文对于商务英语冲突类信函的撰写有一定的指导作用，同时，对于商务英语的教学也有很大帮助。

关键词：人际意义；商务英语；冲突类信函

Contents

Abstract in English I

Abstract in Chinese III

I。 Introduction 1

II。 Literature Review 2

2。1 Previous Study on Interpersonal Meaning 2

2。1。1 Previous Study on Interpersonal Meaning Abroad 2

2。1。2 Previous Study on Interpersonal Meaning in China 2

2。2 Previous Study on Business Correspondences 3

2。2。1 Previous Study on Conflictive Business Correspondences Abroad 3

2。2。2 Previous Study on Conflictive Business Correspondences in China 3

III。 Theoretical Basis 5

3。1 Interpersonal Function 5

3。1。1 Mood System 5

3。1。2 Modality System 6

3。1。3 Person System 6

3。2 Face Theory 7

IV。 Analysis of the Interpersonal Meanings in Conflictive Correspondences of Business English