Abstract: Business English letter plays an increasingly important role in today’s globalized business world, and you-attitude has been identified as the indispensable principle for business English writing. This paper focuses on forms and pragmatic functions of you-attitude in business English letter. Based on the theory of pragmatic empathy, this article analyzes the theoretical basis of You-attitude, explaining the exact definition of you-attitude. Secondly, it expounds specifically the forms of you-attitude in business English letter. Lastly, it discusses pragmatic functions of you-attitude in different categories of business English letters. This paper finds out that you-attitude is not only the writing strategy but also the indispensable principle that conducts effective and efficient business English letter writing.

Key Words: business English letter; you-attitude; politeness principle; pragmatic empathy

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction .1

1.1Introduction to the Significance of this Study

1.2Introduction to the Theoretical Foundation of the Paper

2. Literature Review 2

3. You-attitude in Business English Letters3

3.1 Business English Letter

3.2 You-attitude in Business English Letters

4. Forms of You-attitude in Business English Letters4

4.1 Lexical Methods

4.2 Use of Sentences

4.3 Use of Tense

5.Pragmatic Functions of You-attitude in Business English Letters 6

5.1 Consideration Function

    5.2 Politeness Function

    5.3 Cooperative Function

6. Conclusion8

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgments12