Abstract:  Understatement which expresses one’s polite attitude is a kind of pragmatic strategy. At the same time, it shows the speaker’s respect to the other. In business negotiation, to use the negotiation properly shows the qualification of a professional negotiator. This thesis aims to discuss the application of understatement in business negotiation and the specific methods of how to use language in business negotiation properly. The thesis have explained six kinds of methods, past tense methods, passive voice methods, subjunctive mood methods, negative form methods, tone weakening methods, and sentence pattern transformation methods. In business negotiation, the proper application of understatement not only ensures a harmonious communicational atmosphere and makes communicators without losing face, but also can maximize one’s own benefits and lead the business negotiation a great success.

Key words: understatement; business negotiation; application method

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction.1

2. Brief Survey of Business Negotiation.2

2.1 The Definition of Business Negotiation

2.2 The Language Features of Business Negotiation

3. Brief Survey of Understatement.3

  3.1 The Definition of Understatement

3.2 The Features of Understatement

  3.3 Previous Studies on the Understatement

4. The Application of Understatement in Business Negotiation6

  4.1 Past Tense Methods

  4.2 Passive Voice Methods

  4.3 Subjunctive Mood Methods

  4.4 Negative Form Methods

  4.5 Tone Weakening Methods

  4.6 Sentence Pattern Transformation Methods

5. Conclusion.9

Bibliography

Acknowledgments