Abstract

Business English correspondence has been a significant and indispensable tool for us to exchange information in business affairs. As a basic requirement,the politeness principle has been applied in different types of business letters. Thus, when politeness principle is adopted in business English correspondence, politeness strategies has to be taken into consideration in different situations.

This thesis analyzes the application of politeness principle in business English correspondence. Application of politeness principles in different types of business correspondence is analyzed from four aspects: tact maxim, generosity maxim, sympathy maxim, and agreement maxim. The application of tact maxim attaches great importance to the feeling of others, and makes others feel respected. The application of generosity principles can give the recipient a generous，decent and long-term sense of cooperation. The application of agreement maxim makes business English correspondence trustworthy, and that of sympathy maxim contributes to establishing a good and long business relationship. The correct use of politeness principle contributes to completing the purpose of communication through business correspondence, establishing friendly relations of cooperation between the two sides.

    Key words: politeness principle; business English correspondence; application

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1 Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the study-1

1.2 Purposes and methods of the study-2

1.3 Overall structure of the thesis-2

2 Literature Review-3

3 Brief Introduction to Politeness Principle-4

3.1 Definition of politeness principle-4

3.2 Features of politeness principle-5

3.3 Maxims of politeness principle-6

4 Application of Politeness Principle in Business English Correspondence-7

4.1 Features of business English correspondence-8

4.2 Applications of politeness principle -10

4.2.1 Tact maxim-10

4.2.2 Generosity maxim-12

4.2.3 Agreement maxim-13

4.2.4 Sympathy maxim-14

4.3 Summary-15

5 Conclusion-16

References-18