【正文】 od interpersonal relationship”. Through the above definitions, it can be seen that, politeness is phenomenal, instrumental, and normative by nature. It is not merely recognized as a means of conveying information, but also an equally important means that helps to establish and maintain social bonds with others in munication, whether an oral or written one. The term of “politeness” can be conceptualized as a strategic conflict avoidance, adequate social conduct and tactful account of others. That is to say, politeness is a set of patterns to show considerations for others and to create interpersonal harmony. Maxims of Leech39。s Politeness PrincipleLeech established himself as another key contributor to the research on politeness, and he had introduced the Politeness Principle including Tact Maxim, Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Sympathy Maxim and Agreement Maxim. Tact Maxim and Generosity MaximTact Maxim means minimizing cost and maximizing benefit to other while Generosity Maxim means minimizing benefit and maximizing cost to self. (Leech, G., 1983: 133) The two maxims are usually used as the functions of order and promise, and they also contribute to letters of consulting information, offer and counter offer, imparting terms of payment, acquiring free samples and negociation of reparation and payment. Here are two samples.(a) Should you desire, we would be pleased to send you catalogs together with export prices and estimated shipping costs for these items.(b) We should be obliged if you would let us have some names and addresses of likely importers of good standing from your customers, together with brief credit reports on them. (McCarthy, M., 1991: 73)Both of the above samples have shown politeness by maximizing benefit to other and minimizing benefit to self. The phrases of “Should you desire, we would be pleased to…” and “We should be obliged if you…” are representative model writings of “youattitude” which connects with consideration, one of the characteristics of English business correspondence. Consideration means preparing every message with the receiver in mind, trying to put the writer in his place. To be considerate, the writer should be aware of the reader’s desires, problems, circumstances, emotions, and probable reactions to his request. This thoughtful consideration is also called “youattitude”. In the two samples, the writer put himself in the receiver’s place in order to desalt the subjective atmosphere of first person writing and furthest benefit the other. Approbation Maxim and Modesty MaximApprobation Maxim means minimizing dispraise and maximizing praise of other while Modesty Maxim means minimizing praise and maximizing dispraise of self. (Leech, G., 1983: 133) In English business correspondence, the two maxims can be found in going on a fishing expedition for corporative will and negotiating corporative detail. Here is a sample. We were pleased to know from your letter of 24th October of your interest in our products and enclosed the catalogue and pricelist asked for. Also enclosed you will find details of our conditions of sale and term of payment. (方春祥, 2005: 201)It seems that the writer wants to do business with the other, so he sends out the letter written in the way to confirm the corporative will from the other. The two maxims can be also applied in appreciate letters. The followings are two examples.(a) We have pleasure in informing that we have pleted the above shipment in accordance with the stipulations set forth in the captioned letter of Credit.(b) Answering your letter of June 25 in regard to insurance, we would like to inform you of the following. (McCarthy, M., 1991: 45)In these examples, the phrases “we have pleasure in… ” and “we would like to… ” express the writer is going to do whatever he can for the other without getting any praise. So the two samples seem approbate and modest. Agreement MaximAgreement Maxim means minimizing disagreement and maximizing agreement between self and other. (Leech, G., 1983: 134) The maxim has the function of expressing and is useful in replying to plain, condemn and claim and so on to which the writer has to pay more attention, for he must be courteous. “Courtesy consists in showing consideration for the correspondence. It is the quality that enables the writer to refuse to perform a favor and at the same time keep a friend, to refuse a customer’s request for credit without killing all hope of future business.” (蘭天, 2004: 3) The receiver’s point of view should be understood and respected and the temptation to reply should be resisted as if the writer could not be in the wrong. If his suggestions are stupid and his criticisms unfair, reply with restraint and say what the feel tastefully without giving offense. We have gone into the matter and we are prepared to make you a reasonable pensation, but not the amount you claimed, because we cannot see why the loss should be 50% more than the actual value of the goods.In view of our long standing business prospect of further development, we will make payment by cheque for stg. 382,000, the mount of claim into your account with the Bank of China, upon receipt of your agreement. (曹菱, 2000: 64)In the letter, in order to try to eliminate hedges of negotiation, the writer makes clear that he is willing to respond to relevant duty before pointing out that the amount of claim is unreasonable. In this way, Agreement Maxim and courtesy in the letter ensure continue favoring transaction. Sympathy MaximSympathy Maxim means minimizing antipathy and maximizing sympathy between self and other. (Leech, G., 1983: 135) The maxim is similar with the maxim of Agreement. The following sentence is an example.At any rate, we deeply regret to learn from you about this unfortunate incident and should it be necessary we shall be pleased to take the matter up on your behalf with the shipping pany concerned. (McCarthy, M., 1991: