Language Differences in Formal and Informal Business Correspondence
ABSTRACT
With the development of the globalization and China’s entry to the WTO, the international business has been going through a booming period. Foreign trades of domestic enterprises have been enhanced dramatically and a number of enterprises have set up factories and offices overseas. At the same time, many multinational enterprises have entered Chinese market. These companies and their employees use English as the international business language to communicate with each other.
Business English correspondence is an important carrier of international trade because it is a way of communication used most frequently in international business. Moreover, it is the basic tool to develop foreign trade. Business English correspondence is a common style of international commercial and trading activities. And it serves as a communicative tool in the field of international business. The characteristics of business English correspondence reflect those of international business. Therefore, the wording, syntax, expression style, significance and meaning are the essence of commerce.
In daily business activities, correspondence is one of the important media, which has many forms and styles. Due to factors such as different relations between businesses, all the writings can be divided into two categories, formal and informal. The variations of these two mainly lie in language. This paper is a comparison and analysis in this respect. In order to conduct the business effectively, we have to improve the quality of our correspondence. Therefore studying the differences between formal and informal business English correspondence has substantial significance.
Keywords: business English correspondence, formal, informal, language variation
CONTENTS
Abstract I
摘 要 II
1 Introduction 1
1.1The Communicated Function of Business Correspondence 1
1.2 Language Style of Business Correspondence 1
1.2.1 Courtesy 2
1.2.2 Consideration 2
1.2.3 Clarity 3
1.2.4 Completeness 3
1.2.5 Conciseness 4
1.2.6 Concreteness 4
1.2.7 Correctness 5
2 How to Distinguish the Formal and Informal Business Correspondences 6
2.1 An Analysis of Modern Informal Business Correspondence (E-mail) 6
2.1.1 Layout 6
2.1.2 Linguistic Features 7
2.2 An Analysis of Formal Business Correspondence’s Linguistic Features 8
2.2.1 Use Professional Items and Use Abbreviations. 9
2.2.2 The Differences of the Meaning 9
2.2.3 The Choice of Prepositions of Time 10
2.2.4 The Use of Written Language 10
2.2.5 Use of Periphrasis 11
3 Language Differences in Formal and Informal Business Correspondence 13
3.1 The Salutation: 15
3.2 Subject Line: 15
3.3 The Choice of Language Style: 15
3.4 Signature: 16
3.5 Titles: 16
3.6 Complimentary Close: 16
4 What You Need to Grasp Correctly When Writing Formal and Informal Business Correspondence 17
4.1 Familiarity 17
4.2 Tone 17
4.3 Word Choice 18
4.3.1 Use Personal References 19
4.3.2 A Conversational but Professional Tone 19
Conclusion 20
References 21
Acknowledgement 22
