Abstract:Offers and counteroffers, which take up vitally in business negotiation and become an important factor in business，are crucial branches of business trading letters. Therefore, the utilization of Politeness Principle in offers and counteroffers is meaningful. This dissertation is conducted in the field of Politeness Principle that has attracted many scholars’ attention both at home and abroad in recent years. Leech’s Politeness Principle is widely used in daily communication and business. So the research on the application of Politeness Principle in offers and counteroffers is of great theoretical and practical significance. Nowadays, many people study on business letters from the perspective of Politeness Principle especially Leech’s Politeness Principle, but studies on the application of Leech’s Politeness Principle on offers and counteroffers are limited. The dissertation mainly studies Leech’s Politeness Principles and the application of the Politeness Principle in offers and counteroffers through analysis. It not only introduces Leech’s Politeness Principle but also explains how Politeness Principle utilizes in offers and counteroffers for further study of Politeness Principle. This dissertation can be of some help and give inspiration to business people working on English business letters.

Key words: Politeness Principle, offer, counteroffer, foreign trade English

Table of Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Significance of the Dissertation-1

1.2 Purpose of the Dissertation-1

1.3 Structure of the Dissertation-2

2. Literature Review-3

2.1 Overseas Research-3

2.2 Domestic Research-3

3. Theoretical frame -- Geoffrey Leech’s Politeness Principle-5

3.1 Definition of the Politeness Principles-5

3.2 Leech’s Politeness Principles and Its Maxims-5

4. Application of Six Maxims in Offers and Counteroffers-7

4.1 The Application of Tact Maxim-7

4.2 The Application of Generosity Maxim-9

4.3 The Application of Approbation Maxim-9

4.4 The Application of Modesty Maxim-10

4.5 The Application of Agreement Maxim-11

4.6 The Application of Sympathy Maxim-12

5. Conclusion-14

Bibliography-15

Acknowledgements-16