摘要：随着经济全球化的进展，对外贸易发展迅猛，商务英语信函作为国际贸易买卖双方用于联系业务、沟通交流、咨询答复的主要途径和通讯手段，许多公司都认识到并且高度强调它的重要性。为了研究如何写出一篇成功的商务信函，减少并避免语用失误，本文运用文献分析法，搜集了12个商务信函的实例，以顺应论为理论指导，从违反语境关系顺应和语言结构关系顺应两大角度，对其产生的语用失误的类别和原因进行探究。研究发现，文化差异会造成语用失误，违反对交际者心理世界、社交世界以及物理世界的顺应，和对词汇、句法、语篇的顺应都会引起语用失误。在英语商务信函的写作中，交际者不仅需要了解交际语境，还需了解商务英语语言特点，这样才能写出一份成功的商务信函。希望借此能给语用失误的研究提供一个新的视角和方向，能够帮助人们在撰写商务信函时有效减少并避免语用失误，从而大大提高合作双方交流的效率，促进国际贸易间的合作。

关键词：语用失误；顺应论；商务英语信函

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 The background of the thesis-1

1.2 The significance of the thesis-1

1.3 The structure of the thesis-2

Chapter Two Theoretical Framework-3

2.1 Pragmatic failure-3

2.1.1 The definition of pragmatic failure-3

2.1.2 The classification of pragmatic failure-4

2.2 The adaptation theory-4

2.2.1 The definition of the adaptation theory-4

2.2.2 Four angles of the adaptation theory-5

Chapter Three Pragmatic Failure in Business English Letters-6

3.1 Failure to make adaptation to communicative context-6

3.1.1Failure to make adaptation to the readers’ mental world-6

3.1.2 Failure to make adaptation to the readers’ social world-8

3.1.3 Failure to make adaptation to the readers’ physical world-9

3.2 Failure to make adaptation to linguistic context-10

3.2.1 Failure to make adaptation to the lexicon of business world-11

3.2.2 Failure to make adaptation to the syntax of business world-12

3.2.3 Failure to make adaptation to the discourse of business world-13

Chapter Four Strategies to Reduce or Avoid Pragmatic Failure in English Business Letters-16

4.1 Cultivating cross-cultural communication capacity-16

4.2 Improving pragmatic competence-16

4.3 Strengthening Business English professional knowledge-17

Chapter Five Conclusion-18

REFERENCES-20

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-21