Abstract

As many of the business relations are conducted in the form of letters, business texts have played a very important role in trade. It is the most commonly used method between importers and exporters. The preposition “to” is the most common and most flexible function word in English texts, which connect the sentences more precisely. The paper may analyze the preposition “to” from the angle of cognitive semantics in the business texts namely business contracts, business correspondence and etc. For the reasons of the features of this study, the meanings and patterns of the function words should be analyzed carefully and in detail.

Key words: business texts; preposition to; cognitive semantics;

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 The theory of cognitive semantics and the preposition “to”-2

2.1 The introduction to the theory of cognitive semantics-2

2.2 The cognitive semantics of the preposition-3

2.3 The methodology of the study in the cognitive semantics analysis-3

3 The use of preposition “to” in business texts from the view of cognitive semantics-4

3.1 The Brief Introduction to prepositions in the texts-4

3.2 The different meaning of preposition “to” in business texts from the view of cognitive semantics-5

3.2.1 The different meaning of preposition “to” in business contract-5

3.2.2 The different meaning of preposition “to” in business correspondence-6

3.2.3 The different meaning of prepositions “to” in business letters-7

3.3 The collocation of preposition “to” according to the cognitive semantics-7

3.3.1 The collocation of “to” with noun in business texts-8

3.3.2 The collocation of “to” with adjective in business texts-8

3.3.3 The collocation of “to” with verb in business texts-8

4 A cognitive semantic analysis on preposition “to” in business text-9

4.1 A cognitive semantic analysis on prepositions “to” in business contract-10

4.2 A semantic analysis on prepositions “to” in business correspondence-11

4.3 A semantic analysis on prepositions “to” in business letters-12

5 Conclusion-14

References-16