Rules and manners of writing a business letter …………………….. 40

3. Rules and manners of writing a business letter …………………….. 40

4. Style of a business letter……………………………………………. 44

5. Lexics of business letters

(frequent phrases; cliches; abbreviations, etc.) …………….. 48

Conclusion ……………..……………………………………………………… 58

Mini-dictionary of business correspondence ……………………………………………….. 60

Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………………. 64
Название - Linguistic Background of Business Correspondence (на англ. языке)
Раздел - Иностранные языки (Английский) или Лингвистика (Лексикология)
Назначение - Дипломная работа
Формат - WinWord 97
Автор - Гадюкова Екатерина,
Использование - год сдачи - 2001, преподаватель - Булатова С. М., Алматинский ИнЯз, кафедра лексикологии, оценка 5.
Примечание - 1 - для студентов языковых вузов, особенно для Анг. Педагогических факультетов
2- часть материала четвертой главы взята из реферата Lexico-Semantic Characteristics of Business Letter Correspondence
О получении - пожалуйста, известите меня о получении и размещении моей дипломной работы

In a man’s letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process. Nothing is inverted, nothing distorted, you see systems in their elements, you discover actions in their motives. ----Samuel Johnson (1709–84), English author, lexicographer

Letters are above all useful as a means of expressing the ideal self; and no other method of communication is quite so good for this purpose. … In letters we can reform without practice, beg without humiliation, snip and shape embarrassing experiences to the measure of our own desires. … -----Elizabeth Hardwick (b. 1916), U.S. author, critic.

Politeness is as much concerned in answering letters within a reasonable time, as it is in returning a bow, immediately. ----Lord Chesterfield (1694–1773), English statesman,

Sir, more than kisses, letters mingle souls.
For, thus friends absent speak. -----John Donne (c. 1572–1631), English poet.

Introduction

Letter writing - is an essential part of communication, an intimate part of business and life experience. Each letter-writer has a characteristic way of writing, his style of writing, his way of expressing thoughts, facts, etc. But it must be emphasised that the routine of the official or semi-official business letters requires certain accepted idioms, phrases, patterns, and grammar which are found in general use today. Therefore certain skills must be acquired by practice, and details of writing must be carefully and thoroughly learnt.

The choice of this topic for my diploma paper was mostly conditioned by the fact that the students studying English at our University are almost unable to write proper business letters and that the problem of writing business letters is still not well-studied.

I think that it is very important to know a constituent part of modern business communication. As nowadays more and more agreements are made in English, for English is the nearest thing we have to a universal business language. Joint ventures, bank loans, and trademark licenses frequently are spelled out in this language even though it is not native to at least one of the contracting parties.

The subject matter of the diploma paper is the role of lexics and semantics in the case of business letter correspondence. The question of the history of official communication, the main stages of business transactions, the role of person’s feeling for the proper use of phrases as well as his knowledge of grammar are highlighted. Moreover, those phrases which are more often used in business letters are examined from the point of view of their appropriateness in different situations. The practical part contains many examples of business letters; the occasions on which they were written and some of their characteristics are observed.

The aim of my diploma paper is to study business letters from the lexicological point of view and make the matter of business letter writing less complicated.

The objectives and purposes of the paper may be formulated as follows:

Critical study of the material on the theme;

Exposure of the aims, place, importance, role and contents of the aspect of letter-writing in the course of Lexicology and Business English classes;

Defining the specificity of lexics in different spheres of business correspondence;

Searching the peculiarities of the structure, manners and styles of business letters;

Defining and stating the rules of writing a business letter;

Arranging and classifying the business letters according to the sphere of usage;

Giving useful tips and advice to anyone interested in business letter writing.

To achieve the set aims I have collected more then 100 letters on various issues of business correspondence. Then, I made a thematic classification and description of letters concerning different spheres of business (trade, finance, industry, international inquiries and reports, etc.). Having analysed each type separately, I came to the conclusion that there are certain common rules which need through studying. While searching the letters I mostly paid attention to the specific usage of lexics, semantics, manners and styles of business letter writing.

As resource for my paper I used a list of business books, various reference books, dictionaries, language textbooks, real pieces of business correspondence and different sites of the Internet.

Nowadays, we have a great need of Business English teachers and I do hope that my diploma paper could be really useful especially for them. It also contains good material for the students of language higher institutions, and could be as well appreciated by any person interested in the course of business letter writing.

My diploma paper consists of Introduction, four chapters, Conclusion and Appendix.

Kazakh State University of International Relations

and World Languages named after Abylay Khan

Chair of Lexicology

E. Gadyukova

Group 406

English Teaching Department

The Linguistic Background of

Business Correspondence

(Diploma Paper)

Scientific Supervisor

Associated Professor

Bulatova S. M.

Almaty, 2001

Part I

The Basic Forms Of Communication

As David Glass is well aware, effective communicators have many tools at their disposal when they want to get across a message. Whether writing or speaking, they know how to put together the words that will convey their meaning. They reinforce their words with gestures and actions. They look you in the eye, listen to what you have to say, and think about your feelings and needs. At the same time, they study your reactions, picking up the nuances of your response by watching your face and body, listening to your tone of voice, and evaluating your words. They absorb information just as efficiently as they transmit it, relying on both non-verbal and verbal cues.

Non-Verbal Communication

The most basic form of communication is non-verbal. Anthropologists theorize that long before human beings used words to talk things over, our ancestors communicated with one another by using their bodies. They gritted their teeth to show anger; they smiled and touched one another to indicate affection. Al­though we have come a long way since those primitive times, we still use non-verbal cues to express superiority, dependence, dislike, respect, love, and other feelings.

Non-verbal communication differs from verbal communication in funda­mental ways. For one thing, it is less structured, which makes it more difficult to study. A person cannot pick up a book on non-verbal language and master the vocabulary of gestures, expressions, and inflections that are common in our culture. We don't really know how people learn non-verbal behaviour. No one teaches a baby to cry or smile, yet these forms of self-expression are almost universal. Other types of non-verbal communication, such as the meaning of colors and certain gestures, vary from culture to culture.

Non-verbal communication also differs from verbal communication in terms of intent and spontaneity. We generally plan our words. When we say "please open the door," we have a conscious purpose. We think about the message, if only for a moment. But when we communicate non-verbally, we sometimes do so unconsciously. We don't mean to raise an eyebrow or blush. Those actions come naturally. Without our consent, our emotions are written all over our faces.

The functions of non-verbal communication

Although non-verbal communication can stand alone, it frequently works with speech. Our words carry part of the message, and non-verbal signals carry the rest. Together, the two modes of expression make a powerful team, augment­ing, reinforcing, and clarifying each other.

Experts in non-verbal communication suggest that it have six specific func­tions:

• To provide information, either consciously or unconsciously

• To regulate the flow of conversation

• To express emotion

• To qualify, complement, contradict, or expand verbal messages

• To control or influence others

• To facilitate specific tasks, such as teaching a person to swing a golf club.

Non-verbal communication plays a role in business too. For one thing, it helps establish credibility and leadership potential. If you can learn to manage the impression you create with your body language, facial characteristics, voice, and appearance, you can do a great deal to communicate that you are competent, trustworthy, and dynamic. For example, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton has developed a homespun style that puts people at ease, thereby help­ing them to be more receptive, perhaps even more open.

Furthermore, if you can learn to read other people's non-verbal messages, you will be able to interpret their underlying attitudes and intentions more accurately. When dealing with co-workers, customers, and clients, watch care­fully for small signs that reveal how the conversation is going. If you aren't having the effect you want, check your words; then, if your words are all right, try to be aware of the non-verbal meanings you are transmitting. At the same time, stay tuned to the non-verbal signals that the other person is sending.