Abstract

In the current international commercial world, English business contracts are an essential method for most enterprises and trade organizations in business communication. Due to their specific stylistic features in vocabulary, syntactic and text, etc, passive voice is adopted to highlight its advantages and functions in English business contracts.  

As a pragmatic device of information structure, passive voice has such functions as topic-setting, topic-connecting, topic-shifting, focus-highlighting, and textual cohesion and coherence. To make a coherent, cohesive and conjunct text, these five functions are linked together to mutually complement each other and sometimes jointly serve the construction of a text. At the same time, passive voice is popularly adopted in English business contracts to do a favor to leave an impression of objectivity, conciseness, and politeness in the process of information exchange.

Based on Halliday’s textual function theory, the exploration and study of textual functions of passive voice in English business contracts are beneficial to enhance formality and preciseness of written contracts and improve the efficiency of information exchange of business activities, therefore, promoting the development and prosperity of international business and trade as long as passive voice is flexibly and properly used. 

 Key words: English business contracts; passive voice; textual functions

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction.1

2 Literature Review2

 2.1 English business contracts2

 2.1.1 Definition and categories of business contracts2

 2.1.2 Syntactic features of business contracts3

 2.2 Passive voice3

 2.2.1 Characteristics and types of passive voice3

 2.2.2 Usages of passive voice.4

2.2.3 Advantages of passive voice4

 2.3 Textual functions6

 2.3.1 Definition and characteristics of text.6

 2.3.2 Functions of language.6

2.3.3 Realization of textual functions.7

3 Textual Functions of Passive Voice in English Business Contracts.8

  3.1 Topic—setting9

  3.2 Topic—connecting.10

  3.3 Topic—shifting.11

  3.4 Focus—highlighting.11

  3.5 Textual cohesion and coherence.13

4 Conclusions.13

Reference16