商务英语模糊性研究

论文摘要

模糊是语言的重要特点之一,近年来引起了语言学家和研究者的广泛关注,并从不同的角度对模糊语言做了许多有价值的研究。商务英语是指人们在商务活动(business activity)中所使用的英语,其交流的方式包括撰写商务信函和进行面对面沟通。因其是一种目的性强、社会性强的语言,所以长期以来人们在商务交流中十分崇尚精确性与清晰性。然而,在实际运用和研究中发现,这种要求清晰准确的语言中也必不可少的存在大量的模糊现象。论文在指出商务英语中存在大量模糊语言的基础上,运用合作原则、礼貌原则和关联原则等理论从语用学角度探讨了如何在商务英语中正确和恰当使用模糊语言,以增强商务英语的社会功能。论文首先介绍了模糊语言提出的背景、模糊理论产生的根源和历史发展脉络,概述了模糊语言的一些定义。在此基础上,提出了本文涉及的商务英语、模糊语言的概念和本文的结构。其次,着重考察了模糊自然语言和商务英语的语言特点。通过援引大量国际商务各个环节中模糊语言现象的实例,论证了商务英语中模糊语言的作用,如提供适当的信息量,故意隐藏特定信息,增强语言的说服力,表示礼貌及进行自我保护。最后,运用Grice的合作原则、Leech的礼貌原则及Sperber和Wilson的关联原则等理论从语用学和认知学的角度解释了商务英语中模糊语言的存在现象,并提出了模糊语言可以在上述三个理论的指导下在语言结构的各个层面(词汇层,句法层,篇章层)进行正确有效的应用。我们希望,本文对商务英语中模糊语言应用的探讨能丰富对模糊语言现象的研究,能在一定程度上指导学生更好的理解和实践商务英语,在一定程度上帮助商务英语的实际使用者以恰当得体的方式用模糊语言。

论文目录

• Acknowledgements
• Abstract
• 中文摘要
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• 1.1 Literature Review
• 1.2 Defining Fuzziness
• 1.3 Defining Business English
• 1.4 The Structure of the thesis
• Chapter 2 Attributes of Fuzzy Natural Language and Business English
• 2.1 Attributes of Fuzzy Natural Language and Business English
• 2.1.1 Indeterminacy
• 2.1.2 Determinacy
• 2.1.3 Variability
• 2.2 Attributes of Business English
• 2.2.1 Sense of Purpose
• 2.2.2 Social Aspects
• 2.2.3 Clear Communication
• Chapter 3 Fuzziness in Business English
• 3.1 Presence of Fuzziness in Business Environments
• 3.1.1 in Establishing Business Relations
• 3.1.2 in Enquiry
• 3.1.3 in Offer
• 3.1.4 in Negotiation
• 3.1.5 in Order
• 3.1.6 in Complaint & Adjustment
• 3.1.7 in Transport
• 3.1.8 in Payment
• 3.1.9 in Trade Promotion and Advertisement
• 3.2 Fuzziness versus Ambiguity
• 3.3 Summary
• Chapter 4 Functions of Fuzziness in Business English
• 4.1 Giving the right amount of information
• 4.2 Deliberately withholding information
• 4.3 Using language persuasively
• 4.4 Self-protection
• 4.5 Showing politeness
• 4.6 Summary
• Chapter 5 Principles and Tactics of the Application of Fuzziness in Business English
• 5.1 Principles of the Application of Fuzziness in Business English
• 5.1.1 Co-operative Principle and Fuzzy Language in Business English
• 5.1.2 Politeness Principle and Fuzzy Language in Business English
• 5.1.3 Relevance Principle and Fuzzy Language in Business English
• 5.2 Tactics of the Application of Fuzziness in Business English
• 5.2.1 Fuzziness by choice of fuzzy words---- Lexical Level
• 5.2.2 Fuzziness by choice of fuzzy sentences--- Syntactic Level
• 5.2.3 Fuzziness by choice of fuzzy paragraphs----Discourse Level
• Chapter 6 Conclusion
• 6.1 Major Findings
• 6.2 Implications
• 6.3 Limitations of the present research
• 6.4 Suggestions for further study
• Bibliography