1、青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 1 虚拟语气在外贸函电中的应用 摘 要 关于外贸函电的论文数不胜数，很多作家和学者都从外贸函电的礼貌原则、委婉表达等角度着手。本篇论文作者试图分析虚拟语气在外贸函电中的应用，虚拟语气在外贸函电中常用来提出要求、建议和劝告，语气委婉，语义含蓄。在外贸函电中，商务人员常用动词的虚拟语气形式，客气委婉、温和地表达自己的观点、请求和建议，这样更有利于在平等友好的气氛中达到各自的目的，也有利于建立长期稳定的业务关系。从这个角度出发，本篇论文的作者从以下几个方面着手 :简要介绍外贸函电的写作原则，简要回顾虚拟语气的基本用法，然后举例说明虚拟语气在外贸函电中的应 用。通过调
2、查发现很多人的论文都是从外贸函电中的礼貌原则和委婉表达的角度着手的，从虚拟语气在外贸函电中的应用的角度着手的还是很少很少的，这也使本论文的写作难度加大，同时也使本文的研究更有必要，因为研究结果会丰富关于外贸函电的论文。 关键词 ：虚拟语气 ,外贸函电 ,委婉表达 ,礼貌原则 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 2 ABSTRACT There have been tons of written theses concerning politeness principle in English correspondence. The author of the present thesis att
3、empts to analyze the usage of subjunctive mood in English correspondence subjunctive mood is used to forward request, advice and suggestion. In English business correspondence, businessmen use subjunctive mood to express their opinion, request and suggestion. It helps to establish their long partner
4、ship and arrive at their aims on the equal foundation. From this point, the present author chooses several aspects such as the writing principals of English business correspondence, the basic usage of subjunctive mood and the usage of subjunctive mood in English business correspondence and so on. Th
5、rough the study the author of the present thesis finds that there is almost no thesis about the usage of subjunctive mood in English business correspondence, which makes the study very necessary, because the study can rich the topic and content of theses about English business correspondence. Moreov
6、er, the conclusion of this thesis may hopefully be of some help to businessmen in their foreign trade activities. KEY WORDS: subjunctive mood, English business correspondence, euphemism, politeness principle 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 3 Introduction With the development of technology, business correspondence
7、is experiencing a rebirth. In order to save time and cut expense, thousands upon thousands of business communications were conducted through cable or telex before, and are now being sent by fax or e-mail. In this case, mastering the skills of writing an effective business letter in short time has be
8、come an emergence for those who want to represent themselves positively to their customers, competitors and employers. However, composing a good business letter is not a piece of cake for those who lack of basic information of business letter, especially English. Business letters are used in busines
9、s transactions in order to promote international trade relationship and to transform information as a form of organizing communication with the outside world. Business letters have great deal of usages, such as inquiring information, giving a reply, offering, negotiating and adjusting, ordering good
10、s, selling products, proposing ideas and building good will. Business letters are the written way for the both sides to do business, after reaching agreement about the conditions and terms, or we can say a deal is made. If there are some discrepancies in the following steps, it is necessary to check
11、 the exchanged business letters so as to seek to legal evidence. Therefore, business letters are legal documents in foreign trade. Nowadays, we can exchange information not only by paper letter, but also by E-mails fax. However, no matter what have happened, the function of writing an effective busi
12、ness letter and maintaining a sound relationship with the customers is all alike. As far as concerned, doing business is a kind of cooperation with the other party, so the two parties should trust each other and be willing to communicate with each other and conquer difficulties as much as they can.
13、Their trust and cooperation attitude between the writer the reader will definitely be shown in business writing. Business letters are indispensable to business communication, specially, “a piece of conversation by post“,(Gan Hong,1979); it is special kind of communication. 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 4 Classif
14、ication of business letters Business letters can be classified from various perspectives. The most prevailing ways of classification are as followed: 1) Classification according to the content of the letter. The following are among the most frequent in use: request letters, letters answering request
15、s, claim and adjustments letters, credit and collection letters, sales letters, employment letters and social business letter, etc.(Stewart, 1984:380-381) 2) Classification according to the different functions in the process of a business transaction. Business letters may be used in every phase of b
16、usiness activities. There are letters for establishing business relations, letters for the inquiry of business. There are quotation letters, negotiating letters, ordering letters, confirming-order letters, payment letters, shipment and insurance letters, acknowledging goods receipt letters, claim le
17、tters and adjust letters, ect.(Shi Ruifen,1993). 3) Classification by the nature of the information given. Stewart(1984:382) summed up four different kinds of information in term of its effect on the readers needs: good-news, neutral-news letters, bad-news letters and persuasive letters. Good news l
18、etters and neutral news letters together are called everyday letters. Business letters are of too various types for us to make a complete and perfect classification in this thesis. Furthermore, it is inevitable that there is an overlap between some types of letters suggested above, sometimes it is d
19、ifficult to distinguish one kind of letters from another. Additionally, there are few differences among letters, faxes and E-mails regard to writing. The only difference is that the transmitting means is different. Therefore, in this thesis, we will never distinguish letters from faxes and E-mails.
20、青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 5 Chapter One Writing Principles of Business Letters Business English is widely used in various international correspondence, business negotiation, contract, agreements, document and so on. However there remains a problem-how to adopt some pragmatic skills and make full use of the E
21、nglish expressive methods and skills so as to make the business activities proceed smoothly and lead to what is expected. This chapter analyses the writing principles of the English business correspondence. 1.2 The writing principles of the English correspondence 1.2.1 Courtesy Courtesy is not mere
22、politeness. It stems from a sincere You-attitude. Compare: (Polite) We have received with many thanks your letter of Oct 7, and we take the pleasure of sending you our latest catalog. We wish to draw your attention to a special offer which we have made in it. (Courteous) You will be particularly int
23、erested in a special offer on page 5 of the latest catalog enclosed, which you requested in your letter of Oct 7. In order to make a business letter courteous, try to avoid irritating, offensive, or belittling statements. To answer letters promptly is also a matter of courtesy. 1.2.2 Consideration C
24、onsideration emphasizes You-attitude rather than We-attitude. When writing a letter, keep the readers request, desires, as well as his feelings in mind. Plan the best way to present the message for the reader to receive. The following points are necessary for writing a letter to embody consideration
25、: a. You-attitude Compare: 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 6 We-attitude We allow 2 percent discount for cash payment You-attitude You earn 2 percent discount when you pay cash. b. Focus on the positive approach Compare: (Positive) We feel sure that you will be entirely satisfied. (Negative) We dont believe you wi
26、ll have any cause for dissatisfaction. 1.2.3 Completeness A business letter should include all the necessary information. It is essential to check the message carefully before it is sent out. 1.2.4 Clarity The writer must try to express his meaning clearly so that the reader will understand it well.
27、 To achieve this, he should try to: Avoid using the words which have different understanding or unclear meaning. e.g. As to the steamers sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco, we have bimonthly direct. The word “bimonthly” has two meanings: twice a month, or once two months. T The reader will feel
28、 puzzled about the meaning. (Rewriting): a. We have two direct sailings every month from Hong Kong to San Francisco. b. We have semimonthly direct sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco. c. We have a direct sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco every two months. Pay attention to the position of t
29、he modifiers. e.g. a. We shall be able to supply 10 cases of the item only. b. We shall be able to supply 10 cases only of the item. 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 7 The modifier “only” in the above sentences modifies two different words, so the two sentences have different meaning. Pay attention to the sentence
30、Compare: e.g. a. We sent you 5 samples yesterday of the goods which you requested in your letter of May 25 by air. b. We sent you, by air, 5 samples of the goods which you requested in your letter of May 25 yesterday. Paragraph carefully and properly. Commercial letters should be clear and tidy, and
31、 the content, easy to understand. So a writer should paragraph a letter carefully and properly. One paragraph for each point is a good general rule. 1.2.5 Conciseness To achieve conciseness is to use concise sentences and fewest words, without losing completeness and courtesy, to explain the making
32、a letter clearly. The following are the methods of making a letter concise: Avoid using wordy expressions. Wordy: Enclosed herewith please find two copies of Concise: We enclose two copies of Avoid unnecessary repetition. Will you ship us any time during the month of December, or even November if yo
33、u are rushed, for November would suit us just as well. (Rewriting) Please ship us by the end of November. Use short sentences, simple words and clear explanations. a. Use a word to replace a phrase. enclosed herewith enclosed a draft in the mount of US $ 1,000 a draft for US $ 1,000 b. Use a phrase
34、replace a sentence. Please see that an enquiry is conducted to determine the reason. 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 8 Please find out the reason. c. Use words to replace clauses. We require a full-automatic washing machine which is of the new type. We require a new-type full-automatic washing machine. 1.2.6 Concr
35、eteness Make the message specific, definite and vivid. 1.2.7 Correctness Correctness refers not only to correct usage of grammar, punctuation and spelling, but also to standard language, proper statement, accurate figures as well as the correct understanding of commercial jargons. Business letter ac
36、ts as a special means of written communication between the two parties who may have different cultures, which should be pay special attention to. It is indispensable for both side to choose effective writing strategies and languages in gaining advantages over others. By resorting to the politeness s
37、trategies in different context, we can reveal the significance pragmatics of politeness. A polite and courtesy letter can help to make the trade go on smoothly, while a letter without politeness can not only lead to the failure of the business but also destroy the image which the company had built u
38、p. Thus, an appropriate language is totally necessary. The author of this thesis also thinks that the first principle “courtesy“ is the most important one in the English business correspondence writing, and the publication of relevant works on politeness fully demonstrates the vital importance of po
39、liteness and its strategies in social interactions, because the English correspondences are goal-oriented and they take place in specific situations and they aims to build the image of the communicator as well as the company he or she represents. when a reason is presented politely, the negative mes
40、sage is more likely to be accepted by the reader. 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 9 Chapter Two the Subjunctive Mood 2.1 The definition of the subjunctive mood Mood is a set of contrasts which are often shown by the form of the verb and which express the speaker or writers attitude to what is said or written. Thre
41、e moods have often been distinguished-the indicative mood, the subjunctive mood and the imperative mood. The indicative mood is used in statements (either affirmative or negative) of facts, in questions of facts and in exclamations of facts. The subjunctive mood refers to the speakers thought instea
42、d of facts. It expresses wishes, suggestions, and suppositions, while the imperative mood conveys the speakers will to urge the person addressed to fulfill an action and is expressed in the form of a command, a request, a warning, etc. Subjunctive mood, which has been active in the English language
43、for many centuries, is one of the necessary grammatical categories of the English language. Subjunctive mood refers to the speakers thought instead of facts. It expresses wishes, suggestions, and suppositions. The subjunctive mood is the form of a verb which indicates that the speakers words are not
44、 objective fact, but only a subjective wish, an assumption, an unreal suspicion or a suggestion. e.g. I wish I were as young as you. If there were no subjunctive mood, English would be much easier to learn. Im not their servant, but sometimes they treat me as if I were their servant. The doctor sugg
45、ested that he try to give up smoking. 2.2 The forms and the types of the subjunctive mood The subjunctive mood of the English language is divided into two forms: the present and the past subjunctive mood. But these two forms are inadequate for including all the subjunctive mood forms, because they a
46、re not inclusive enough to account for all the seven types of the verb forms in subjunctive sentences as exemplified below: 1. be-subjunctive 青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸 10 2. were-subjunctive 3. had-been- subjunctive 4. should-be subjunctive 5. should-have-been-subjunctive 6. should/would-be-subjunctive 7. sh
47、ould/would-have-done- subjunctive. According to the concepts of the speakers willing, the writer of this paper considers it more reasonable to break the subjunctive mood into the following six types regarding: 1. in the unreal conditional sentences， 2. expressing wishes, desires, etc., 3. expressing
48、 suggestion, command, request, etc., 4. expressing surprise, strangeness, pity, doubt, disappoint, etc., 5. expressing delicacy or politeness, 6. in the adverbial clauses of concession, comparison and purpose 2.3 Analysis of the usage of the subjunctive mood 2.3.1 The subjunctive mood used in adverb
49、ial clause of conditions with “if” Form of the verb in conditional clause Form of the verb in principal clause Contrary to the fact of the present The past tense (be-were) Would+ verb stem Contrary to the fact of the past Had+ past participle Would+ have+ past participle Contrary to the fact of the future A: usual form: the past tense(be-were) B: less possibility: were+ to+ verb stem C: more possibility: should+ verb stem Would+ verb stem
