【文章內(nèi)容簡(jiǎn)介】 ness letters. To use figures is the most precise and exact way of expression. In English business letters, figures are frequently used especially when dealing with the price, quantity, time etc. Let us look at the following example: Dear Sir or Madam:Your fax of February 10 asking to offer you the article has received our immediate attention. We are pleased to know that you are interested in our products. In reply to your inquiry, we take pleasure in making you an offer as follows, provided your reply reaches us within 6 days from today specification quantity(set) price($) BYD212 1000 BYD175 1000 BYD218 500 The price is on the basis of CIF Alexandria.Packing: at the buyer39。s option.Shipment: total quantity to be delivered by 3 equal monthly shipments, March through May 1999.Payment: 100% by irrevocable revolving letter of credit.In view of the fact that out stock in hand has been quite low owing to heavy mitment, your early order is essential.Yours faithfullyIn this letter, there are as many as 15 figures. These figures not only help to make the expressions quite specific, but also make the writing have a practical, impersonal and businesslike style, distinguishing it from other types of writing.(2) Use adjectives with definite meanings to help gain the precision of expression. In order to illustrate this point, first let us consider the following two letters. Dear Sir or Madam:We have received your letter, now we are making our offer, subject to your reply soon.Quantity: 200 tonsPacking: in bagsShipment: in two lots during June and July of 2004We look forward to your reply.Yours sincerelyDear Sir or Madam: Your letter of May 1 has been received, now we are making our offer, subject to your reply here before or on May 10.Quantity: 200 metric tonsPacking: in new seaworthy jute bags for 50 kgs eachShipment: in two equal monthly lots during June and July of 2004.We look forward to your early reply.Yours sincerelyAfter reading the first letter, we feel that there are so many details that we are not clear about, and it does not possess the quality of being specific and exact that an English business correspondence should have. So we can say that essentially it is more like a mon letter than a piece of English business correspondence, although its content is about foreign trade. The second letter is quite different. In this letter, a number of modifiers such as metric, equal, monthly seaworthy new, jute are used, and the word soonin the first paragraph of the first letter is replaced by before and on May10. With the modification of these adjectives, the letter is made quite specific and definite. (3) Words with inexact meanings are seldom used.For some words whose meaning is not so exact such as several, a few, a lot of”, about, maybe, around, they are seldom used in English business letters. Since these words do not carry exact and specific information, they are hardly part of English business letters’ language. Features of the Use of Modifying Words in English Business LettersGenerally speaking, English business letter is a kind of writing that uses paratively less modifying words. This is determined by its function. In most cases, English business letters are asking for information, offering trade terms, giving details, telling an arrangement or idea or expressing a situation. In English business letters, there is no great mass of emotional expression or large block of vivid description as there is in some literary works. Consequently, not many modifying words are needed in English business letters. To be more specific, the following conclusions can be drawn:(1)Concerning the classification of adjectives, most adjectives used in English business letters are quantitative and classifying ones. Look at the following sentences taken from some pieces of English business letters.Payment should be made by irrevocable transferable and confirmed L/C.Shipment should be made in two equal monthly lots.In these two sentences, none of the adjectives are used for literary description, and their function is simply to make some details specific and exact.(2) Modifying words with strong emotional coloring are seldom used.In most cases, adjectives and adverbs used in English business letters are neutral, without emotional coloring. In some certain circumstances, adjectives or adverbs with emotional coloring are also likely to be used, but the emotional coloring is usually moderate, mild and positive. The following examples can illustrate this point.You will find our price is reasonable.We hope to find good market for your products.Some words such as extremely, absolute, deeply, profound sad, delightful and so on are not likely to appear in a piece of English business letters, because they can add an emotional, personal and subjective style to the writing, which does not ply with the essential style of English business letters. Suggestion The present study on lexical features of English business letters aims to analyze the realization of municative purpose (participant relationships and roles, etc.) in English business letters at lexical level. The study of vocabulary of the collected data helps us understand how people express meanings with the specific lexicon. In this research, the main lexical features of English business letters will be discussed mainly from the perspectives of both the writing principles (. principles of practical business writing) and pragmatic theories (. Grice39。s Cooperative Principle, Leech39。s Politeness Principle and Zip’s Economy Principle). Here are some suggestions of writing based on those principles. Choice of Precise WordingAccording to the principle of 7Cs,