Abstract: With the booming of the global economic integration, there are more and more commercial communications between different countries. As an important form of the business communication, business English letters play an essential role in the process of trading activities. However, how to write an effective refusal letter conveying the negative information does make great difference in business. This paper tends to analyze the problems in writing the refusal letter and put forward some strategies based on face-saving theory.

Key words: business English; refusal letters; politeness strategies; face-saving theory

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1.-Introduction-1

1.1 Background and Significance of the Study-1

1.2 Business English Refusal Letters-1

2.-Overview of Politeness Theories-5

2.1 The Concept of Politeness Theories-6

2.2 Brown and Levinson’s Face Theory-6

3.  The Application of Politeness Strategies in Business English Refusal Letters.8

3.1 Positive Politeness Strategies-8

3.1.1 Attending to Hearer-9

3.1.2 Exaggerating-10

3.1.3 Asserting Common Ground-11

3.1.4 Offering Help-11

3.1.5 Being Optimistic-12

3.2 Negative Politeness Strategies-12

3.2.1 Being Conventionally Indirect-12

3.2.2 Hedging-15

3.2.3 Minimizing the Imposition-16

3.2.4 Apologizing-16

3.2.5 Impersonalizing-17

3.2.6 Stating Reasons-18

3.2.7 Nominalization-19

3.3 Bald-on-record Strategies-20

4.-Conclusion-20

References-22