Abstract:Nowadays, politeness is known as one of the basic needs that promote smooth and successful human communication, which has been drawing many scholars’ attention to the fields of pragmatics sociolinguistics, psychology and cognitive linguistics. From early 1970s, a lot of theories have been made out to clarify politeness as a linguistic phenomenon, among which the Face Theory of Brown and Levinson set the main frame of the study on politeness. English business correspondence is one of the important ways of business communication, which is a useful means to exchange information and also a vital tool to build and enhance business relations. Therefore, it requires a high degree of politeness.

　  The thesis analyzes the realization and application of politeness strategies in business correspondence. In the beginning, it has an overview of the four major views on politeness, especially emphasis on the Face Theory of Brown and Levinson. It mainly argues on the most frequently used positive and negative strategies.

　  The thesis provides theoretical supports for the suitable choice of expression of English business correspondence and help people to choose proper politeness strategies in business communication. It is also hoped that it can offer some help for people to improve the writing ability of English business correspondence.

Key words: English business correspondence; politeness strategies; application of 

politeness

中文摘要:现今礼貌现象作为确保人类顺畅成功交际的基本手段之一，引起了语用学、社会语言学、心理学以及认知语言学的广泛关注。自上世纪七十年代以来，语言学家纷纷提出各种理论，将礼貌作为一种语言现象进行解释。其中布朗和列文森的面子保全论影响最大。英文商务信函是商务交流的一种重要方式，不仅具有传递信息的功能，还担负着建立、加强业务联系的重任，因此，对礼貌具有较高要求。

　   论文旨在分析英文商务信函中礼貌及其策略的实现和使用。首先，论文回顾了关于礼貌的四种主要观点，尤其强调布朗和列文森为代表的面子保全观。重点分析了使用最为频繁的积极礼貌策略和消极礼貌策略。

　　　本文为商务信函表达方式的合理选择提供了理论依据，同时还为人们在业务交流时选择合适的策略提供帮助。同时希望能有助于提高商务信函写作能力。

关键词：英文商务信函；礼貌策略；礼貌策略应用