商务信函中委婉语语用功能的运用研究

-4-ChapterOneIntroductionBusinessletterisatooltoconveyinformation,andoneoftheexpressiontechniquesusediseuphemism.Mostenterprisesusebusinessletterstospreadbusinessinformation.Infact,thecostofbusinesslettersislow,butitcancosthundredsofthousandsofyuanatleasttomillionsoreventensofmillionsofyuanforaTVadvertisement,whichisabiginvestmentandhighrisk.Businesscorrespondencerequiresmuchlessinvestmentbecauseitistargeted,butitdoesnotdiminishitseffectivenessjustbecauseitischeap.Advertisingissimplyamediumforthetargetcustomertounderstandtheproductanditscommercialvalue,whichiswhythecostofbusinesslettersislow.Businessletterscanprovidebothadvertisingandnon-advertisingservices:Advertisingbusinesscorrespondenceistosendavarietyofproductadvertisingmaterials,suchassingleadvertisements,brochures,salesletters,productcatalogs,greetingcards,etc.,totheenterprises,institutionsandindividualsdesignatedbycustomers.Itcanbeattachedtopurchaseorders,feedbackforms,andmarketresearch.Insteadofsendingcommercialletters,variousreports,feebills,feenotices,andreceiptstofinancialinstitutionssuchasbanksandinsurance,andotherenterprisesandinstitutions.Thiscanalsobebasedonthecustomer'srequirementsforcorrespondingadvertisingmaterials.Inbusinessdealings,languageisanart.Theapplicationofeuphemisminbusinesscorrespondencecanprovidegreatopportunitiesforcooperationbetweenenterprises.Euphemismcangoalongwayinimprovingcommunicationbetweenbusinesses.Euphemismistheappropriatewaytoachievethisidealofcommunication.Itistheuseofmoresubtlelanguagetoexpressavarietyofstrong,unspeakablewords.Thiseuphemismistheresultofpeoplechoosinglanguageinagivencontext.Byintentionallydeviatingfromnormstoformvariousformsofrhetoric,orbyviolatingtheCooperativePrinciple,itproducesconversationalimplicature,thusenrichinglanguageexpression,achievinguniquerhetoricalmeaningandproducinguniquelinguisticeffects.Euphemismisnotexactlyequivalenttoeuphemisminrhetoric.Itismoreofasemanticdevice,awayforpeopletoexpresstheirthoughts.Euphemismisnotsomucharhetoricaldeviceasanend.Itachievesthepurposeof“euphemism”byusingalargenumberoflanguageexpressionmethods,suchasmetaphor,borrowing,pun,irony,characteranalysis,etc.Scholarshavealsofoundmanyrhetoricalphenomenarelatedtoeuphemism,sothatinaspecificcontext,speakersadoptappropriateeuphemismtoachievelanguagepolitenessandpropriety.Accordingtothecommoninformation,thelistenerdeducesthemeaningthatthespeakerwantstoexpressthroughtheprincipleofcooperation,soastoachievetheidealpracticaleffect.Euphemismplaystheroleof"lubricant"inbusinessEnglishcorrespondence.Languageisatoolofhumancommunication,whichdevelopswiththedevelopmentofhumansociety.Intheprocessofcommunication,inordertoadapttospecialoccasions,peoplecreatedifferenteuphemismstoexpressthesamethings,behaviorsandphenomena.Peoplechoosedifferentwordstocommunicatedependingontheplaceandoccasion.Wordshavedifferentmeaningsindifferentplacesorsentences.Inthesamelanguageenvironment,differentage,identity,statusoreducationalbackground,theexpressionofeuphemismwillbedifferent.ChapterTwoAnOverviewofBusinessLettersInreallife,peopleliketocommunicatebyletters,butastimegoesby,theappearanceofmobilephonesandcomputersmakespeopleforgetletters.Onlybusinesslettersremaininbusinesscommunication.2.1DefinitionofBusinessLettersBusinessletterisakindofmediacommunicationmodecalledmailadvertisingorDMadvertisinginforeigncountries.Itisaformofadvertisinginwhichthecommercialinformationadvertisementrequiredbythecustomerisdelivereddirectlytothetargetobjectdesignatedbythecustomerthroughmail.Peopleusebusinesslettersascarriers,selecttargetedtargetcustomeraddressprintingandpackaging,andsendlettersthroughpostalchannels.ComparedwithTVandothermedia,theadvantageofbusinesslettersisverytargeted.Businesslettersrefertosimplelettersusedinvariousbusinessoccasionsorbusinessexchangesbetweenenterprises.2.2FunctionsofBusinessLettersBusinessletterisakindofofficialdocumentwhichisusedinbusinessactivitiesandservesasthefunctionoftransmittinginformation.Itiswidelyusedinbusinessactivities,suchasestablishingbusinesscontacts,negotiatingtransactionsanddealingwithtradeaffairs.Businessletterhasitsspecialformatandpart,thelanguagealsotendstoberigorous,formatted,ceremonial.Itsmainfunctionisusedinbusinessactivitiestoestablisheconomicandtraderelations,transferbusinessinformation,andcontactbusinessmatters,communicationandnegotiationofproductionandmarketing.Businessletterisoneoftheimportantcommunicationmediainbusinessactivities.Inbusinessactivities,lettersareneededasanimportantmediatooltoconveyinformationineverylinkfrombusinesscontact,negotiation,contractsigning,contractperformance,complainthandlingandclaimsettlement.Onlyinthiswaycanpeopleachieveeffectivebusinesscommunicationandachievethepurposeofbusinessactivitiesinthefinalstage.2.3ClassificationofBusinessLettersTherearemanykindsofbusinessletters.Accordingtothepurposeofcommunication,itcanbedividedintothefollowingcategories:letterofinquiry,letterofoffer,letterofconfirmation,letterofnotification,letterofcommitment,letterofcollection,aswellasletterofsales,letterofrefusal,letterofclaimsettlement.Therearealsosomespecialletters,suchasinvitations,thankyouletters,introductionlettersandinstructions.Ascanbeseen,thisclassificationisrelatedtothemainsubliminalfunctionimplementedintheletter.Therefore,byclassifyingsubliminalactions,peoplecanfurtherclassifydifferenttypesoflettersintofourcategories:cooperativeletters,harmoniousletters,competitivelettersandconflictingletters.Businesslettersbelongtothecategoryofbusinessetiquettedocuments,whichreferstotheinterestlettersusedinvariousbusinessoccasionsorbusinessexchangesbetweenenterprises.Itsmainfunctionistoestablishgoodeconomicandtraderelationsinbusinessactivities.Itcanalsotransmitbusinessinformation,contactbusinessmatters,communicateandnegotiateproductionandmarketing,etc.Itstypesincludecontactletter,salesletter,orderletter,confirmationletter,claimletter,etc.ChapterThreeEuphemismandItsPragmaticFunctionsEuphemismhasexistedsinceancienttimes,andespeciallyinancienttimes,peoplepaidattentiontoetiquette.Peopleareverycarefulabouttheuseofeuphemisms.AndnowbecauseofthepopularityofMandarin,manyeuphemismshavebeenreducedintheuseofoccasionsandtimes.Butitdoesn'tdisappear.3.1TheDefinitionofEuphemismEuphemismistheEnglishwordforeuphemism.Euphemismisanappropriateexpressionthatpeoplehopetofindinmeansofexpression,whichnotonlyenablesbothpartiestosuccessfullycompletecommunication,butalsomakesbothpartiesfeelthatthecommunicationishappy.Euphemismisthesubstitutionofanunspoken,pleasant,orvagueexpressionforonethathasanunpleasantmeaningorisdisrespectful.Euphemismisapopulartermforunspoken,pleasantambiguityinplaceofdisrespectfulexpressionswithunpleasantmeanings.Euphemismistheexpressionoffactsorideasinaroundaboutorgentlewaytoreducetheirvulgarity.Euphemismisauniversallinguisticphenomenoncorrespondingtodirectlanguageincommunication.Onthetraditionalstudyofeuphemism,Englishismainlylimitedtothetreatmentoftaboowords;Chineseismainlyregardedasawayofspeechsystem.Asamatteroffact,euphemismisproducedundertherestrictionandeffectofcontextandreflectsthepsychologicalneedsofthecommunicativesubject.Insteadofexpressingtheoriginalintention,thespeakerchoosesthe“saying”withthesamereferenceormeaningasthedirectlanguagetoreplacetheexpression.Accordingtothesemanticcharacteristicsofconvention,euphemismsystemconsistsofnormativeeuphemismandvarianteuphemism.3.2ThePragmaticFunctionsofEuphemismAccordingtodifferentcriteria,thepragmaticfunctionsofeuphemismaredividedintodifferentcategories.Themainfunctionsinclude:showrespect,implicative,avoidthevulgarandseekelegance,coverdiscomfort,avoidmisunderstanding,avoidhurtfeelings,showpolitecultivation,maintainthedomainandpower,etc.Intheearlydaysofhumancivilization,duetothelowlevelofproductivity,ancestorscouldnotresistnaturalphenomenasuchasnaturaldisasters,birthanddeath,sotheytriedtoavoidmentioningthingsthatcouldcausefear.Hence,euphemismsareborn.Thepragmaticfunctionofeuphemismplaysanimportantrole.Ineverylanguage,therearewordsthatmakepeopleuncomfortable.Thesearesomeoftheprecautionshumanstake,fromtheprimitivereligiousbeliefsofancientsocietiestothefearofmysteriousforcestheydon'tunderstand.Atthistimewithsomevaguewordsorindirectformsofexpression,canavoidandcalmtheconflict.WiththedevelopmentofTheTimes,euphemismhasgraduallypenetratedintoeveryaspectofhumanlifefromthefieldofreligion.Thepragmaticfunctionsofeuphemismincludethefollowing:taboofunctioncanhelpothersavoidembarrassment,avoidsomeuncivilizedwords;themaskfunctioncanhelpotherscoverupthediscomfortofthemoment;thepolitenessfunctioncanmaintaintheimageofbothpartiesandmaketheconversationgooninanormalandorderlyway.Thisnotonlypreservesthefaceofallparties,butalsoqualitativelynegotiates.ChapterFourTheApplicationofPragmaticFunctionsofEuphemisminBusinessLettersAsalinguisticphenomenon,euphemismplaysalubricatingroleinregulatingtheatmosphereandalleviatingtheemotionsofbothpartiesincommunication.Therefore,theuseofpragmaticfunctionsofeuphemismcanhelppeoplebetterdealwithinterpersonalrelations.Inaddition,peoplecanbetterunderstandanduseeuphemismtoachievehappycommunicationincommunication,buildagoodimageandpromotethedevelopmentofinterpersonalrelations.4.1TheUseofTabooFunctionIncommunication,peopleshouldpayspecialattentiontotheexpressionofthethingstheyareafraidof.Sometimes,theycan'tjustsayit.Peoplesubconsciouslyavoidexpressionswhentheyareinconvenienttosay.4.1.1ShowingRespectTherearevariousnationalitiesineverycountry.Everynationhasadifferentculture.Peopleshouldavoidunkindwordsincommunication.Itshowsrespectforotherpeopleandcultures.Torespectwomen,fertilityandsexaretaboos.Peopledon’treferdirectlytochildbirth,buteuphemisticallyrefertohavingjoy.Itisalsotabootoage,whichwilleventuallyleadtodeath,sopeopleusedtosayoldageasthegoldenage.Therefore,avoidingtaboosandeliminatingfearhavebecometheprimarycommunicativefunctionsofeuphemisms.Whenpeoplewanttobepoliteandshowunderstandingofaclient'sbusyschedule,theymightwritesomethinglike:(1)“Sorrytobotheryou.”Butthetruthisthatwhencustomersseetheapologyassoonastheyopenanemail,itlowerstheirtrustinpeople.That’snotnecessaryinaletter:(2)“Sorrytobotheryou.”Instead,bestraightforward:(3)“Whatisyourintentiontocontactthecustomerandwhatdoyouneedthemtodo?”Theywillappreciatethecandormore.Customerserviceexpertsandbusinesswritersagreethatthephrase(4)“noproblem”cancausebigproblems.Thispoliteexpressionisusuallyusedinresponseto(5)“Thankyou”.Butitalsomeansthatwhateverthecustomerdoesforpeopleisactuallyaproblemforaperson.(6)"Noproblem"soundslikeacustomerhasoffendedapersonandisofferingforgivenessratherthanacceptingtheirthanks.4.1.2ImplicitingImplicationEuphemismimpliesthewillofthespeakerandhasthecharacteristicsofmetaphor.Itcoverstheontologywiththeontologyofmetaphorsoastoavoidtaboothings.Therationaluseofwordscanalsoplayametaphoricalroleinbusinessletters.Forexample:PartyBhasamendedtheL/CaccordingtotherequirementsofthelastletterandsentittoPartyA.Nowthatithasacceptedtheprice,itcannotreducethepriceanyfurther.Sowhenresponding,takeastandandpolitelyaskifyouwanttocontinueyourcooperation.Inthisway,PartyB’srequirementsandsuggestionsareimplicitlyputforwardandPartyA’sinterestsareprotected.Inbusinesscommunication,thevaguenessoflanguageoftenreflectsthespiritoffriendshipandcooperationandthestrategyofflexiblemechanism,butsometimestheunderstandingandemotionofbothpartiesarenotcompletelyconsistent.Therefore,somewordsincommunicationarecorrectbutdifficultfortheotherpersontoaccept.Inthiscase,bluntlanguagedoesnotachievegoodresults,soeuphemismisneeded.Thiswillenablespeakerstomakerationalandemotionalpoints.Thisishowpeopleimplicitlyconveyinformation.4.1.3AvoidingVulgarandSeekElegantVulgarlanguageisreplacedbygentlelanguageinpursuitofelegance.Whenitcomestoembarrassingtopicssuchas“goingtothetoilet”insocialoccasions,euphemismcanbeusedtopolitelytellothersthemeaningoftheirexpressions.Ontheonehand,itcanreflectthequalityofcivilization,andontheotherhand,itcancoverupembarrassment.Euphemismcanhelppeopleavoidembarrassmentandmaketheconversationgosmoothly.Hereareafewexamplestoanalyze.(1)“Thankyouforcontactingus.”Peoplecanusethisphraseifsomeoneiswritingtoinquireaboutthecompany’sservices.(2)“Thankyouforyourpromptreply.”Whenaclientorcolleaguerespondstoemailquickly,andbesuretothankthem.Itcanalsosay,(3)“Thankyouforyourresponse”or(4)“Thankyouforprovidingtherequestedinformation.”Ifyouasksomeoneforsomeinformationandittakesthemawhiletosendittotheperson,usethistoshowthattheystillappreciatetheirefforts.Ontheonehand,thisexpressionwillshowourupbringingandtemperament.Ontheotherhand,itcanalsocommunicatewitheachotherbetter.Thisistoavoidthevulgarandseektheelegant.4.2TheUseoftheDisguiseFunctionEuphemismsareoftenusedtocoverupshortcomingsandinadequacies,ortoexaggeratethetruth.Whenpeopleunknowinglyaskadeafpersonfordirections,thepersonnexttoyoumaynotsay“he’sdeaf”butremindyouthatthegentlemanis“earsoffduty.”Thisistominimizeweaknesseswithouthurtingtheotherperson.Italsogainsrecognitionandrespect.Inthecommunicationofbusinessletters,peopleshouldanalyzetheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofthecurrentenvironmenttocoveruptheshortcomings.Onlyinthiswaycanourstrengthsbebroughtintoplay,anditwillpromotefriendlycooperationbetweenus.Sothedisguisefunctionplaysanimportantrole.4.2.1MaskingDiscomfortThedelayfunctionofeuphemismsislikeacharmingcloak,wrappingtheuglytruth,beautifyingandconcealingit.Thisfunctionismainlymanifestedinthepolitics,militaryanddiplomacyofwesterncountries.Euphemismscanalsobeusedtocoveruparangeofsocialproblems,suchaspoverty,crimeandunemployment.“Haveto”hasastrongtone,whichisverycommandinganddifficultforotherstoaccept.Thistacticofusingmodalsnotonlymakescustomersseetheirsincerity,butalsosavestheirface.Thisisanicewaytocoverupembarrassmentforyourselfandothers.InbusinessEnglishletters,thisvaguestrategyisoftenusedtopolitelyrefusecustomers.“Tobefrank,welikeyourraincoats,butyourpricesappeartobeonthehighsideascomparedwiththoseofothermakers.”Inthiscase,theword“appear”appearstobevaguebutit’saverysubtlewayofsayingwhysomeonehasbeenrejected.Usingcognitiveverbsisaeuphemistictacticthatsubtlycommunicatesthereasonfortherejection,whileleavingthecustomersomeleeway.Theuseofeuphemisticmeansofexpression,canminimizethecustomer’sfaceinfringement.Thisnotonlysavestheotherperson’sface,butalsoleavesroomforfuturelong-termcooperation.Euphemisticrefusalismoreacceptabletotheotherparty.Thismakesthetonelessstiff,thepointlesssubtle,andtherefusalmorereasonable.4.2.2AvoidingMisunderstandingIntoday’ssociety,therearedifferentculturesindifferentcountries,andtherearedifferentnationalitiesineachcountry,whichreflectstheusefulnessofeuphemismandavoidssomeunnecessarymisunderstandings.Hereeuphemismsplayanimportantrole.Thewordsexpressdifferentmeaningsdependingontheregionalculture.Whenexpressingtheirthoughtsandopinionsinunfamiliarenvironments,peoplemayuseappropriateeuphemismssoasnottooffendeachother.Euphemismsinbusinessoccasionscanavoidculturalconflictandfosterbusinesscooperation.Inbusinessletters,itiscommontodenyacustomer’srequest.Thischoiceofeuphemismnotonlyavoidsoffenceandconflict,butisalsopoliteanddecent.Inbusinesslettersandnegotiations,bothpartiesputforwardsomeideasinordertofindasolutiontotheproblem.Iftheotherside’sdemandsandsuggestionsaredeniedoutright,theothersidemayloseinterestincontinuingthenegotiation.Eventheothersidewillthinkthathedoesnotgiveface,thuscausingthebreakdownofbilateraltraderelations.Therefore,peopleoftenneedtouseappropriatewordstoreducethenegativetoneoftheotherperson.Intheopinion,ifPartyAwantstolowerthetermsofthedeal,PartyBhavetomakesomeconcessions.UsehumblewordstodevaluePartyBorraisetheirpartner’svaluesothattheirdifferencessurface.Thisway,PartyBcanshowtheirgenerosity,avoidpotentialconflict,andachievetheirgoalofcommunicatingsuccessfullywiththeotherperson.4.3TheUseofPolitenessFunctionPolitenessprincipleisthebasicprincipleofbusinessletterwritingandthenecessaryconditionforsuccessfulbusinesscommunication.Businessletter,asanimportantmeansofexchangeandcommunicationininternationaltrade,playsadecisiveroleininternationalbusinessactivities.Apoliteandwell-wordedbusinesslettercanhelpacompanybuildagoodbusinessimageandbringcountlessbusinessopportunities.Ontheotherhand,animpoliteandpoorlywordedcoverlettercanreflectbadlyonthecompany.Ontheotherhand,animpoliteandpoorlywordedcoverlettercanreflectbadlyonthecompany.Thiswillleadtomisunderstandingsandservicefailures.Politenessisoneoftheweaponsinthebusinessmarket.Writingwithoutpolitenessislikefightingwithoutbullets.Politenessprincipleisanecessaryconditionforsuccessfulcommunication.4.3.1AvoidingHurtingFeelingsWheneuphemismisapplied,agreaternumberofaspectsreflectthepolitefunctionoftheeuphemism,soasnottohurttheotherparty.Somescholarshaveproposedapragmaticprincipleinthisrespect,namelytheprincipleofpoliteness.Theprincipleofpolitenessistoexpressitthroughlanguageandtoavoidindecentthings,whichisconsideredaveryimportantpragmaticprincipleincommunication.Thisprinciplecanbesummarizedintwoaspects:ontheonehand,communicationwithothersisappropriate,withafocusonpraise.Alsobepoliteandconsiderateofothers’feelingsandfaces.Incontrast,peopleshouldtrytoavoiddirect,rude,andoffensiveexpressionsthatwillcausetheotherpersontobefriendlyandfriendly.Therebyreducingdifferencesandallowingcommunicationtoproceedsmoothly.Euphemismcanreflectthespeaker'srespectforothersandunderstandingoftheirfeelings,andshowthespeaker'sdesiretoestablishafriendlyinterpersonalrelationship.Itisnecessarytouseeuphemismswhenrefusingarequest.Useeuphemismssuchasthanks,apologies,reasons,etc.toshowrecognition.Forexample,thewriterofaletter,whenthankingandexplaining,showsrecognitionofwhattheotherpersonhassaidandrespectfortheotherperson’sheart.Itsoftensandwarmstherejection,savingtheotherperson'sface.Afterhearingthis,thespeakermaybegratefulthatthespeakerhasshownhimorherhowimportantheorsheistohimorherthroughthepainstakinglyusedartofeuphemism.Euphemismscanalsomitigatetheconfrontationalmessagescontainedintheoriginallanguage.Thisavoidsorreducestheconflictofideas,emotionsandattitudesthatdirectexpressionbrings.Forexample,whenmaturepeopleareforcedtodosomething,itisnecessarytocoveruptheirshortcomingsinordernottohurttheirself-esteem.Althoughtheoverallnegativeistheactofgiving,italsocontainscertainpositiveelements.Forexample,inaletter,whentheotherpartymakesunreasonabledemandsandtheirowninterestsarethreatened,itisnecessarytousereasonableandeffectivelanguagetorespond.4.3.2ShowingGoodMannersInWesternculture,forsomeindecent,unpleasantthings,peoplewilltrytochooseagentlewaytoexpress.Beinghumbletooneselfandrespectfultoothersreflects“politeness”,whichisanimportantfunctionofeuphemism.Indailycommunication,properuseofeuphemismcancreateapoliteandfriendlycommunicationatmosphere.Tosomeextent,ittakescareofothers’faceandeasesothers'embarrassment.Thisisconducivetoarousetheotherside'sfavor,butalsoshowthespeaker'spoliteupbringing,avoidpresumptuousandindecent.Mr.LiYongzhongsaidinhisarticleAComparativeStudyofEuphemisminEnglishandChinese:“Vaguenessmakespeoplefeelpolite.”Indeed,properambiguityisapassporttosocialsituations.Asakindoflanguage,euphemismhasthefeatureofsemanticambiguity.Therefore,ithasplayedapositiveroleinthepoliticalfield.Beingpoliteisn’tjustaboutusingpleasantriesandshowingthatsomeonecares.Thismeansputtingoneselfintheotherperson’sshoes,speakinginacalmandfriendlytone,showingrespectandcomity.Thesecondpersonisoftenusedinbusinessletterstoshowthewriter’ssincere,modestandcooperativeattitude.Thisavoidsthecondescending,impersonalfeelingofthefirstperson.Thisisalsotheuseofthepolitenessfunction..Thesecondpersonisoftenusedinbusinessletters,showingthewriter’ssincere,modestandcooperativeattitude.Thisavoidsthecondescending,impersonalfeelingofthefirstperson.Politenessprincipleisanimportantcriterionforsuccessfulcommunicationinbusinessletterwriting.Forexample,(1)“Wearepleasedtoannouncethat...”Thissentenceisinthefirstperson,andthetoneisstiff,givingtheimpressionoftheeartoask.Whileforthesentence(2)“Youwillbepleasedtoknowthat...”itisusedinthesecondperson,sotheseatismorepoliteandappropriate.Therequestingtoneinbusinessletterscanfullyreflectthespeaker’srespectfortheotherparty,andavoidstiffsentencesandthesenseofcompulsioncausedbytheotherparty.Inbusinesscorrespondence,theinterrogativetoneisoftenusedtorequest,whichcanavoidstiffandrigidtone.Thisgivestheotherpartymoreleeway.Itmakespeoplefeelmorepoliteandcomfortable,whichisconducivetofriendlytraderelations..4.3.3PreservingDomainandAuthorityThereisanotherlevelintheexpressionofeuphemism,thatis,itcanmaintainthedomainandpower.Whentheothersidemakesexcessivedemands,itcanstateitsownpositionwithoutcausingembarrassmenttotheotherside,andlettheothersideunderstandtheimplicationbetweenthewords,whichisnotonlytherespectfortheotherside,butalsothereturnofpolitenesstotheotherside.Intheapplicationofpolitenessfunction,thereisabottomlinetolettheothersideseethattheyarecivilized.Thefunctionofpolitenessineuphemismistomeetthehearer’sdemandforpositiveface,sothatthepersonalimagerequiredbythehearerisconsistentwiththepersonalimageembodiedbythespeakerinthespeechact.Thatistosay,tothemaximumextentpossible,usepraiseandpleasantwordstogivetheotherpartyenoughface.Forexample:(1)“Iwilltryit.”Wheneveryoneisstrugglingwithdeadlines,thesentence(2)“I’lltrytodoit.”soundsprettybad.Ifaspeakerrespondstoacustomerbysaying,(3)“I’lltrytogetthisdonebyWednesday,”or(4)“I’lltrytoworkthisoutwiththeproductteam,”thespeakerdoesn’tbelievethatheorshecansolvethecustomer’sproblem.Whencommunicatingvialetter,themessageneedstobemorepreciseanddetailedbecausethereisnohelpfrombodylanguageortone.Inthisway,theycanalsomaintaintheirownterritoryandpower.Ifpeoplearereallynotsurewhenorifthey’llbeabletocompletesomething,givetheclientaspecificdeadline,theycanjustgivethemselvesplentyoftime.Therefore,itisnecessarytospeakforcefullyandnothesitateinbusinessletters.Throughtheuseofpolitefunctions,itisnecessarytoprotectthedignityofcustomersandtheirownrights.

ChapterFiveTheRoleofPragmaticFunctionsofEuphemisminBusinessLettersBusinessletterwritingattitudeshouldbesubtleandeuphemistic,andtounderstandthesituationoftheotherpartyintime.Whetherpositiveornegative,complimentaryorcritical,thetoneshouldavoidrudenessandsubjectivityandleaveroomfordiscussion.Evenifpeoplearewritingorrespondingtoacomplaint,theyneedtoshowskillandstrategy,andtheirtoneneedstobemeasuredinordertoachievethedesiredeffect.Here,thepragmaticfunctionofeuphemismplaysanimportantrole.Withoutaffectingeveryone’smood,onecangentlyguidebothsidestocompletethetask.5.1BeautifyingtheWrittenLanguageExpressionInabusinessletter,itisnecessarytorefuseanunreasonablerequestfromaclient.Euphemismcanavoidoffenseandconflict,andappearpoliteandappropriate.Therefore,euphemismhasabeautifyingfunctionforbusinessletters.Differentwordscanexpressdifferentmeanings.Somewordshavethesamemeaning,butexpressdifferentfeelingsandattitudes.Euphemismisaformofculturalexpression,whichplaysanimportantroleinpeople’scommunication.Euphemisminbusinessoccasionscaneliminatemisunderstandingandfriction,coordinatesocialinterpersonalrelations,an