商务英语索赔信函的人际意义研究
摘要
在贸易活动中,履行合同尤为重要,但出现误差也在所难免。索赔函是指受损方以双方签订的合同条款为依据,具体指出对方违反合同的事实,提出要求赔偿损失或维护其他权利的书面材料,属于商务信函的一种体裁。索赔函的主要目的是向责任方陈述索赔理由,督促尽快解决问题。在索赔函中,虽然受损方和责任方的关系极为对立,但其目的是要求得到赔偿而不是进行指责和抱怨,因此,书写索赔函时态度要积极,语气需礼貌和得体。索赔信函的人际意义因此显得尤为突出。迄今为止,国内外许多学者从不同的角度研究销售信函、建立贸易关系函等,却少有人关注索赔函的研究与探讨,从语言学的角度分析索赔函的人际意义更为少见。因此,在归纳、总结前人研究的基础上,本研究试图从人际意义和评价理论角度探索和揭示索赔信函中人际意义实现的各种语言手段。
韩礼德认为语言的运用是为了在特定的情景下实现一定的功能,并提出了语言的三大纯理功能:概念功能、人际功能和语篇功能。其中人际功能是韩礼德功能语法中一个非常重要的概念,它是指在话语情景中说话人和话语接受者之间的互动关系,以及说话人对其所说或所写的内容的态度。韩礼德指出,语法层的人际功能主要是通过语气系统和情态系统来实现的。事实上,人际意义的实现还有多种手段。马丁提出的评价系统理论进一步扩展了系统功能语言学的人际意义理论框架,是对人际意义研究的新突破。本研究拟从语气系统、情态系统、人称系统和评价系统的视角对商务英语索赔信函中人际意义的实现进行分析和探讨,旨在探析索赔函是如何通过语言的得体选择与运用来表达态度和立场,进而达到索赔的目的。
本研究从《现代商务英语写作》、《朗文商务致胜书信》、《商务沟通理论与技巧》等公开发行的教科书和网络中随机抽取了30封索赔信函为语料,运用定量和定性相结合的研究分析方法。定量分析统计了30封索赔信函中人际意义的语言资源的使用频率;定性分析了语气、情态、人称以及评价在索赔信函中人际意义的实现过程。研究发现:1)在语气方面,索赔函中作者主要运用陈述语气向对方陈述其不满意的信息,并详细列举由于责任方的失误而带来的损失,陈述语气的得体运用既能表达出抱怨和不满,又让人感到合情合理;而祈使句和条件句使用的频率较低。但索赔函中Please引导的祈使句的运用能委婉地表达其命令或请求;条件句的妙用能间接的表达索赔要求,同时又能突出礼貌原则;2)在情态方面,写信人为了避免过于强制的语气,常常采用低情态词can和中情态词will和would来礼貌地表达自己的立场和态度;3)在人称方面,索赔函中大量的第一人称代词we和I的运用突出了话语的权威性和合法性;此外,索赔函的作者还运用第二人称you给责任人施加一定的压力,督促其尽快解决问题。4)在评价系统方面,索赔函中作者主要运用带有一定感情色彩的词汇来表达自己的不满和不快,语言劝说功能的运用能敦促对方尽快采取补偿措施。
本研究对商务英语索赔函的人际意义的实现进行了尝试性分析和探索。作者希望本研究的发现能丰富人际意义和英语商务信函的研究。对人际意义实现手段的解析能促使人们关注如何在贸易活动中有效地应用索赔函,如何在得体、礼貌地表达人际意义的同时更好地实现该题材的交际目的。因此本论文对商务英语索赔函的教学和写作也提出了一些有益的建议。
In trade activities, the performance of a contract is especially important, but sometimes it is unavoidable that one party might fail to fulfill the contract. In such situation, the party that suffered from the loss has the right to make claims. Therefore, according to the terms of the contract, the aggrieved party will ask for compensation for the loss or safeguard his rights. The letters thus written are called claim letters which fall into one genre of business letters. In claim letters, the two parties are certainly in conflicting position, however, its main purpose is to persuade the responsible party to take positive actions rather than blaming and complaining. Therefore, in claim letters, the writer should adopt the proper words and appropriate tone so as to show positive attitude and thus the interpersonal meaning of claim letters is essential. So far, a lot of scholars have done researches on sales letters, letters of establishing trade relationships and so on, but few studies focus on claim letters, and the exploration of the interpersonal meaning of claim letters is even less . Based on the previous theory and studies, this paper intends to explore the linguistic devices that realize the interpersonal meaning in claim letters.
Halliday holds the viewpoint that the use of language in a specific context is to achieve certain functions. He proposes three metafunction of language: ideational function, interpersonal function and textual function. Interpersonal function refers to the interactive relationship between the speaker and hearer of the interaction and the attitude hold by the speaker for what he has said or written. Halliday points out that the interpersonal function is mainly realized though mood, modality, tone and other ways. Martin’s evaluation system widens the theoretical framework of the interpersonal meaning. On the basis of previous researches, this paper analyzes interpersonal function of the claim letters from the mood, modality, person and evaluation system. The aim of the present study is to explore how to choose and use appropriate language to express the attitude and position, thus achieving the purpose of claim letters.
The author chooses 30 claim letters randomly from the Modern Business English Writing, Longman Business Success Letter, Business Communication Theory and Skills and internet, etc. as the study data and both quantitative and qualitative analysis are employed in the paper. Quantitative analysis is used to study the frequency of interpersonal communications of language resources; qualitative analysis is applied in the implementation process of mood and modality and as well as evaluation of interpersonal communications in claim letters.
Through the detailed analysis and discussion, some findings can be generalized as the follows 1) In claim letters, the writer mainly applies declarative to state his dissatisfaction and list his loss. Sometimes the imperative beginning with please is used in order to gently express his commands or requests. The conditional clauses are also sometimes employed in claim letters to express indirect claims and at the same time highlight politeness principles. 2) In modality, the writer often adopts low value word can and the median value words will and would to express his attitude politely and avoid the excessively coercive manner of speaking. 3) In the aspect of person system, the first person pronouns we and I are dominantly applied so as to show the authority of the writer. In addition, the second person pronoun you is sometimes employed to apply pressure on the responsible party and urge him to resolve the problem as soon as possible. 4) As for evaluation, the writer applies some vocabularies with emotional meanings to express his unpleasant feelings and realize the persuading function.
The application of the persuading function of language can be urged to persuade the other party to take compensatory measures as soon as possible. The present study is a tentative analysis on the realization of interpersonal meaning in claim letters. It is sincerely hoped that this study can in a way enrich the researches on interpersonal meaning and business English letters. It is also the author’s hope that the analysis on the linguistic devices realizing the interpersonal meaning will help people focus on effective use of claim letters in trade activities so that they will learn how to achieve communicative purposes of claim letters through proper language use and successful realization of interpersonal meaning. Therefore, the study also puts forward some useful suggestions for the business English letters teaching and writing.
韩礼德认为语言的运用是为了在特定的情景下实现一定的功能,并提出了语言的三大纯理功能:概念功能、人际功能和语篇功能。其中人际功能是韩礼德功能语法中一个非常重要的概念,它是指在话语情景中说话人和话语接受者之间的互动关系,以及说话人对其所说或所写的内容的态度。韩礼德指出,语法层的人际功能主要是通过语气系统和情态系统来实现的。事实上,人际意义的实现还有多种手段。马丁提出的评价系统理论进一步扩展了系统功能语言学的人际意义理论框架,是对人际意义研究的新突破。本研究拟从语气系统、情态系统、人称系统和评价系统的视角对商务英语索赔信函中人际意义的实现进行分析和探讨,旨在探析索赔函是如何通过语言的得体选择与运用来表达态度和立场,进而达到索赔的目的。
本研究从《现代商务英语写作》、《朗文商务致胜书信》、《商务沟通理论与技巧》等公开发行的教科书和网络中随机抽取了30封索赔信函为语料,运用定量和定性相结合的研究分析方法。定量分析统计了30封索赔信函中人际意义的语言资源的使用频率;定性分析了语气、情态、人称以及评价在索赔信函中人际意义的实现过程。研究发现:1)在语气方面,索赔函中作者主要运用陈述语气向对方陈述其不满意的信息,并详细列举由于责任方的失误而带来的损失,陈述语气的得体运用既能表达出抱怨和不满,又让人感到合情合理;而祈使句和条件句使用的频率较低。但索赔函中Please引导的祈使句的运用能委婉地表达其命令或请求;条件句的妙用能间接的表达索赔要求,同时又能突出礼貌原则;2)在情态方面,写信人为了避免过于强制的语气,常常采用低情态词can和中情态词will和would来礼貌地表达自己的立场和态度;3)在人称方面,索赔函中大量的第一人称代词we和I的运用突出了话语的权威性和合法性;此外,索赔函的作者还运用第二人称you给责任人施加一定的压力,督促其尽快解决问题。4)在评价系统方面,索赔函中作者主要运用带有一定感情色彩的词汇来表达自己的不满和不快,语言劝说功能的运用能敦促对方尽快采取补偿措施。
本研究对商务英语索赔函的人际意义的实现进行了尝试性分析和探索。作者希望本研究的发现能丰富人际意义和英语商务信函的研究。对人际意义实现手段的解析能促使人们关注如何在贸易活动中有效地应用索赔函,如何在得体、礼貌地表达人际意义的同时更好地实现该题材的交际目的。因此本论文对商务英语索赔函的教学和写作也提出了一些有益的建议。
In trade activities, the performance of a contract is especially important, but sometimes it is unavoidable that one party might fail to fulfill the contract. In such situation, the party that suffered from the loss has the right to make claims. Therefore, according to the terms of the contract, the aggrieved party will ask for compensation for the loss or safeguard his rights. The letters thus written are called claim letters which fall into one genre of business letters. In claim letters, the two parties are certainly in conflicting position, however, its main purpose is to persuade the responsible party to take positive actions rather than blaming and complaining. Therefore, in claim letters, the writer should adopt the proper words and appropriate tone so as to show positive attitude and thus the interpersonal meaning of claim letters is essential. So far, a lot of scholars have done researches on sales letters, letters of establishing trade relationships and so on, but few studies focus on claim letters, and the exploration of the interpersonal meaning of claim letters is even less . Based on the previous theory and studies, this paper intends to explore the linguistic devices that realize the interpersonal meaning in claim letters.
Halliday holds the viewpoint that the use of language in a specific context is to achieve certain functions. He proposes three metafunction of language: ideational function, interpersonal function and textual function. Interpersonal function refers to the interactive relationship between the speaker and hearer of the interaction and the attitude hold by the speaker for what he has said or written. Halliday points out that the interpersonal function is mainly realized though mood, modality, tone and other ways. Martin’s evaluation system widens the theoretical framework of the interpersonal meaning. On the basis of previous researches, this paper analyzes interpersonal function of the claim letters from the mood, modality, person and evaluation system. The aim of the present study is to explore how to choose and use appropriate language to express the attitude and position, thus achieving the purpose of claim letters.
The author chooses 30 claim letters randomly from the Modern Business English Writing, Longman Business Success Letter, Business Communication Theory and Skills and internet, etc. as the study data and both quantitative and qualitative analysis are employed in the paper. Quantitative analysis is used to study the frequency of interpersonal communications of language resources; qualitative analysis is applied in the implementation process of mood and modality and as well as evaluation of interpersonal communications in claim letters.
Through the detailed analysis and discussion, some findings can be generalized as the follows 1) In claim letters, the writer mainly applies declarative to state his dissatisfaction and list his loss. Sometimes the imperative beginning with please is used in order to gently express his commands or requests. The conditional clauses are also sometimes employed in claim letters to express indirect claims and at the same time highlight politeness principles. 2) In modality, the writer often adopts low value word can and the median value words will and would to express his attitude politely and avoid the excessively coercive manner of speaking. 3) In the aspect of person system, the first person pronouns we and I are dominantly applied so as to show the authority of the writer. In addition, the second person pronoun you is sometimes employed to apply pressure on the responsible party and urge him to resolve the problem as soon as possible. 4) As for evaluation, the writer applies some vocabularies with emotional meanings to express his unpleasant feelings and realize the persuading function.
The application of the persuading function of language can be urged to persuade the other party to take compensatory measures as soon as possible. The present study is a tentative analysis on the realization of interpersonal meaning in claim letters. It is sincerely hoped that this study can in a way enrich the researches on interpersonal meaning and business English letters. It is also the author’s hope that the analysis on the linguistic devices realizing the interpersonal meaning will help people focus on effective use of claim letters in trade activities so that they will learn how to achieve communicative purposes of claim letters through proper language use and successful realization of interpersonal meaning. Therefore, the study also puts forward some useful suggestions for the business English letters teaching and writing.
引文
Bhatia, V.K. 1993. Analyzing Genre: Language use in Professional Settings. London: Longman.
Brown, G. and Yule, G. 1983. Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Butt, David, et al.1994. Using Functional Grammar—An Explorer’s Guide. Sydney: Macquare University.
Buhler, Karl. 1934. Theory of language. Trans. Donald Fraser Goodwin. Eggins, S. 1994. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics. London: Printer.
Firth, J. R. 1957. Papers in linguistics. London: Oxford University Press. Gillaerts, D. 2005. Genre Variation in Business Letters, Bern,, New York: P. Lang.
Golden, James L., et al.1992. The Rhetoric of Western Thought. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Halliday, M. A.K.1965: The O.S.T.I. Programme in the linguistic Prosperities of Scientific English .London Batsford.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1970. A Course in Spoken English: Intonation. London: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1973. Explorations in the Functions of Language .London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M.A.K.1978. Language as Social Semiotic: The Social Interpretation of Language and Meaning [M]. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A.K.1985. An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday,M. A.K. 1994. An Introduction to Functional Grammar: London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M.A.K.2000. An Introduction to Functional Grammar (2nd ed.). Beijing: Foreign
Language Teaching and Research Press.
Halliday, M.A.K.2002. On Grammar. London and New York: Continuum edited by Jonathan Webster.
Hunston, S. and Thompson, G. 2000. Evaluation in Text: Authorial Stance and the Construction of Discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Lamarque, Peter V., ed. 1997. Concise Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Language. Oxford:Pergamon.
Leech, G. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. London: Longman.
Leech, G.N.1966. English in Advertising: A Linguistic Study of Advertising in Great Britain: London: Longman.
Lyons, John. 1997. Semantics. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Martin, J.R. 1985. Factual Writing: Exploring and Challenging Social Reality (First Edition). Greelong, Victoria: Deakin University Press.
Martin, J.R. and D. Rose. 2003. Working with Discourse. London: Continuum.
Palmer, F.R. 1986. Mood and Modality. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Quibble, I. and Johnson, M.H. AND Mott D.L. 1988. Introduction to Business Communication. New Jersey: Prentice. Hall. Inc21.
Quirk, R. et al. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Shanghai:华东师范大学出版社。
Swales, L. 1990. Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Thompson, Geoffrey. 1996. Introducing Functional Grammar. London: Arnold.
Thompson, G. 2000. Introducing Functional Grammar. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
White, P.R.P. 1998. Telling Media Tales: The News Story as Rhetoric. Unpublished. ph.d. Dissertation, University of Sydney, Sydney.
Yule, G. 2002. Explaining English Grammar. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Teaching Press.
常玉田,2006,《英语商务信函写作》北京:对外经济贸易大学出版社。
胡壮麟,1989,《系统功能语言学概论》,长沙:湖南教育出版社。
胡壮麟,2002,《语言学高级教程》北京:北京大学出版社。
胡壮麟,朱永生,张德禄,李战子,2005,《系统功能语言学概论》,北京:北京大学出版社。
黄国文,2000,韩礼德系统功能语言学40年发展述评,《外语教学与研究》。(1)
黄国文,2002,《清明》一诗的英译文的人际功能探讨,《外语教学》,(5)。
李科,2006,从系统功能的角度对英语索赔信的体裁分析,硕士论文。
李战子,2000,《自传话语的人际意义研究》,北京:北京大学出版社。
李战子,2002,《话语的人际意义》,上海:上海外语教育出版社。
刘英, 2004,英国银行宣传手册的人际意义分析,外语学刊,(1)。
滕美荣,2007,《现代商务英语写作》,北京:首都经济贸易大学出版社。
冼燕华,2006,《国际商务英语函电》,广州:暨南大学出版社。
张延君, 2006, A functional Approach to Interpersonal Meaning in Research Articles.青岛:中国海洋大学出版社。
朱永生,2001,《系统功能语言学多维思考》,上海:上海外语教育出版社。
Brown, G. and Yule, G. 1983. Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Butt, David, et al.1994. Using Functional Grammar—An Explorer’s Guide. Sydney: Macquare University.
Buhler, Karl. 1934. Theory of language. Trans. Donald Fraser Goodwin. Eggins, S. 1994. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics. London: Printer.
Firth, J. R. 1957. Papers in linguistics. London: Oxford University Press. Gillaerts, D. 2005. Genre Variation in Business Letters, Bern,, New York: P. Lang.
Golden, James L., et al.1992. The Rhetoric of Western Thought. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Halliday, M. A.K.1965: The O.S.T.I. Programme in the linguistic Prosperities of Scientific English .London Batsford.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1970. A Course in Spoken English: Intonation. London: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1973. Explorations in the Functions of Language .London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M.A.K.1978. Language as Social Semiotic: The Social Interpretation of Language and Meaning [M]. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A.K.1985. An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday,M. A.K. 1994. An Introduction to Functional Grammar: London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M.A.K.2000. An Introduction to Functional Grammar (2nd ed.). Beijing: Foreign
Language Teaching and Research Press.
Halliday, M.A.K.2002. On Grammar. London and New York: Continuum edited by Jonathan Webster.
Hunston, S. and Thompson, G. 2000. Evaluation in Text: Authorial Stance and the Construction of Discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Lamarque, Peter V., ed. 1997. Concise Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Language. Oxford:Pergamon.
Leech, G. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. London: Longman.
Leech, G.N.1966. English in Advertising: A Linguistic Study of Advertising in Great Britain: London: Longman.
Lyons, John. 1997. Semantics. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Martin, J.R. 1985. Factual Writing: Exploring and Challenging Social Reality (First Edition). Greelong, Victoria: Deakin University Press.
Martin, J.R. and D. Rose. 2003. Working with Discourse. London: Continuum.
Palmer, F.R. 1986. Mood and Modality. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Quibble, I. and Johnson, M.H. AND Mott D.L. 1988. Introduction to Business Communication. New Jersey: Prentice. Hall. Inc21.
Quirk, R. et al. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Shanghai:华东师范大学出版社。
Swales, L. 1990. Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Thompson, Geoffrey. 1996. Introducing Functional Grammar. London: Arnold.
Thompson, G. 2000. Introducing Functional Grammar. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
White, P.R.P. 1998. Telling Media Tales: The News Story as Rhetoric. Unpublished. ph.d. Dissertation, University of Sydney, Sydney.
Yule, G. 2002. Explaining English Grammar. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Teaching Press.
常玉田,2006,《英语商务信函写作》北京:对外经济贸易大学出版社。
胡壮麟,1989,《系统功能语言学概论》,长沙:湖南教育出版社。
胡壮麟,2002,《语言学高级教程》北京:北京大学出版社。
胡壮麟,朱永生,张德禄,李战子,2005,《系统功能语言学概论》,北京:北京大学出版社。
黄国文,2000,韩礼德系统功能语言学40年发展述评,《外语教学与研究》。(1)
黄国文,2002,《清明》一诗的英译文的人际功能探讨,《外语教学》,(5)。
李科,2006,从系统功能的角度对英语索赔信的体裁分析,硕士论文。
李战子,2000,《自传话语的人际意义研究》,北京:北京大学出版社。
李战子,2002,《话语的人际意义》,上海:上海外语教育出版社。
刘英, 2004,英国银行宣传手册的人际意义分析,外语学刊,(1)。
滕美荣,2007,《现代商务英语写作》,北京:首都经济贸易大学出版社。
冼燕华,2006,《国际商务英语函电》,广州:暨南大学出版社。
张延君, 2006, A functional Approach to Interpersonal Meaning in Research Articles.青岛:中国海洋大学出版社。
朱永生,2001,《系统功能语言学多维思考》,上海:上海外语教育出版社。