Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background and Significance-1

1.2 Structure of the Thesis-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Critical Discourse Analysis-3

2.2 Foreign Trade Correspondence-4

Chapter Three Study on Foreign Trade Correspondence from the Perspective of Critical Discourse Analysis-6

3.1 Conceptual Frameworks of CDA-6

3.2 Typical Cases Analysis from CDA-7

3.2.1 Inquiry-8

3.2.2 Offer-9

3.2.3 Counter-offer-10

3.2.4 Acceptance-11

3.3 Some Strategies Concluded from CDA about Writing Foreign Trade Correspondence-13

Chapter Four Conclusion-15

References-16

Abstract

Foreign trade correspondence is a kind of special discourse, the characteristic of which is that both sides of trade should obviously express their own attention and attitude of the negotiation in the correspondence. Therefore, in the practical international trade activities, no matter the writer or the receiver of foreign trade correspondence should be sensitive to the implication under correspondence and obtain an awareness of critical discourse, so that the differences of power and status in communicative activities could be covered as well as a successful cooperation could be promoted.

However, most experts and linguists today study foreign trade correspondence from perspectives of language, vocabulary and sentence structure. And the research on the perception of power relations, ideologies in discourse, and the sense of cultural differences are inadequate. Consequently, this thesis applies CDA to the analysis of discourse in foreign trade correspondence with the purpose of providing a specific theoretical basis and practical guidance for both sides in trade and helping them write a decent correspondence to promote the establishment of a successful cooperation relationship.

Keywords: critical discourse analysis; foreign trade correspondence; international trade