从语用学视角看大学生商务英语陈述能力的提高——一项基于语料库的研究
2015-10-26祁雨晗上海对外经贸大学
祁雨晗上海对外经贸大学
从语用学视角看大学生商务英语陈述能力的提高
——一项基于语料库的研究
祁雨晗
上海对外经贸大学
摘要:合作原则和礼貌原则是促进会话顺利进行的重要语用原则。而商务英语陈述作为一种语用方式,对提高大学生整体商务英语能力具有至关重要的作用。合理地运用合作原则和礼貌原则有利于学生实现更好的陈述效果。
关键词:合作原则礼貌原则商务英语陈述效果
一、引言
二、合作原则和礼貌原则在大学生商务英语陈述中的应用
合作原则是由美国语言哲学家Grice于1967年率先提出。他表明人们在参与交谈时,应根据所参与交谈的目的或者方向的变化提供适切的话语,这则是合作原则。该原则包含四个准则:量的准则、质的准则、关系准则、方式准则。
Leech综合布朗和莱文森的观点,提出了礼貌原则,以修正合作原则无法解释人们在交际中使用委婉曲折的表达,故意违背合作原则的原因。该原则共包含六条准则:得体准则、慷慨准则、赞誉准则、谦逊准则、一致准则、同情准则。
(一)合作原则的运用
[Case 1]该话题要求学生根据自身的经验做一个面试自我介绍,以获得营销/财务/人事助理一职。
Hello, my name is joy eh.I think I’m suitable for this job because my major in college in international trade and economics, that means I will got I will got a degree of economic, and I have learned something about economic, and what’s more I’m also studying...financial I have also took some financial courses during my college time, and I also eh...learn some learn some modules on finance now I have I have the basic knowledge about finance and I think I’m suitable for this also I’m interested this job so I have learned a lot of a lot of finance ...financial assistant for a long time, I think I can do well on in this job.
鉴于自我介绍在日常生活中处处可见,话题并未提供过多的信息去引导学生。众所周知,面试者在自我介绍时需介绍其姓名、应聘职位以及个人工作经验等,以便于面试官获得应聘人员最基本的信息。该生首先介绍了自己的姓名,然后不停地陈述其教育背景,完全未提及他的工作经验。直到陈述结束时才提及他所应聘的职位,这则会让面试官抓不住陈述的重点,难以作出裁决。教育背景和工作经验陈述量的差距违背了量的准则,面试职位陈述的排序则违背了方式准则,陈述效果颇为不佳。
对于日常生活中常见的话题,教师在平日上课时应多加训练,让学生遇到类似陈述话题时可以有条理地陈述足够的信息。
当然,他并不是简单地将观者眼中看见的世界拍摄下来,而是按照他预设好的想法、视野和幻想创作出一个世界——一个充满典故、参照与引用的空间——威特金在那些并不尊崇传统美丽典范的地方寻找这个世界的“居民”。
[Case 2]话题要求学生作为某供应商的代表,担当家乐福与该司之间会议的主持人。在会议的开始,他将欢迎所有参会的家乐福代表并确认每人都已获得会议议程。他需补充一个遗漏的条款(如交货时间)并邀请一个代表来阐述第一个议题(如技术规范)。所提供条款仅供参考。
First of all, let me welcome all the representatives of bibery system.I’d like to say that,we,as the er, er, er, Carrefour are delighted that you are considering us as a future supplier.Perhaps, I could begin by checking that everyone has a copy of agenda, and I’d like to add one extra item if I may rediscuss the question of exchange procedure after item four which looks at general payment condition.So let’s make a start, would you like to outline your position on the first item on the a-
genda, technology spe,er, fication.
该主持人在欢迎参会人员之前未对自己进行介绍,未提供足够的信息,而是直入主题,会让人觉得突兀;其次,该主持人本应是供应商的代表,而其在陈述时,却将自己介绍为家乐福的代表,提供了错误的信息;同时,会谈尚未开始,主持人在提及需增加的条款时,用了“rediscuss”一词,再次提供了错误的信息;最后,在邀请参会人员阐述第一个条款时,主持人并未指名道姓,而是使用了“you”,这则会让听众对谁将阐述第一个条款产生疑惑,也会让人产生主持人自身都不确定需邀请何人。该陈述不仅未提供足量的信息,而且还提供了错误和证据不足的信息,严重违反了量的准则和反质的准则,陈述效果极为不佳,未达到应有的交际目的。
[Case 3]某职员已全心全意地在某公司工作了二十年。他因一个项目未得到同事和上司的认同和支持,深感失望。若他无法获得自己想要的福利(如对其项目的支持、资薪的增长),将提出辞呈。
I have been with the company for 20 years.I gave the company 100 percent commitments.I feel very disappointed that you are unable to support my advice as you don't value me.Otherwise beside this, the food, the service of this company is so poor.And you don’t support me a car, so that I have to take a bus every day.You know bus is so busy, so I have to give a resignation.I am sorry.
该职员想辞职的核心原因是他的想法/项目未得到公司同事和上司的支持。当他与人事或者上司辩论时,他的重心则应在所需的支持上。一旦核心问题解决了,事情则迎刃而解。然而,该职员用一句话将最关键的问题一带而过,却用大量篇幅描述其他琐碎的问题,如交通不便等。这些问题自然会对辞职产生影响,与辞职相关,但却不是问题的核心。其混淆了关键信息和次要信息,属于语用失误,严重影响了陈述效果。
[Case 4]该话题与Case2相同。
First of all, let me welcome all the representatives of Carrefour.I’d like to say that we are delighted you are considering us as a future supplier, I could begin by checking that everyone has got a agenda, and I'd like to start with the first item on the agenda if I may, could we discuss the question of exchange procedure after item four which looks at general payment condition, so let's make a start.At first, I want to start with the first item agenda, and Mr.Jones, would you like to outline your position on the first item on the agenda, technological specification.
该会议主持人按要求首先欢迎了所有家乐福的参会代表并确认所有参会人员已拿到会议议程。众所周知,一般会议都是按顺序进行,而该主持人确实表示会议将从第一个议题开始。随后他立即提出能否从需增加的那一个条款开始进行讨论。与此同时,他又表明想从第一个条款开始讨论。条款的不停变换必然会迷惑听众。若他先提出要增加一个讨论的条款,然后表示要从第一条开始讨论,则会让人觉得思路更清晰,也会使陈述效果更好,达到陈述的目的。虽信息充足但表述语无伦次、无条理,陈述效果不佳。
(二)礼貌原则的运用
[Case 5]某职员已在某公司工作了五年。最近,他刚为公司完成了一笔巨额交易。他认为这是他要求涨工资/提高待遇的好时机。
Well, Mr.Greens, I have some words to talk to you.And I would like to know what plans you have for me.As you know, I have been working here for over five years.And eh...be...obvious, obviously five years ago, I couldn't have negotiated with a big deal with Bilberry Systems, a big company, but now I can.And recently, I have just complete, complete, complete a big deal for the company, and bring for, bring out a very good profit for our company.And also I get presses from, from...from my colleagues and the, the board.And before I entered this company, you have guarantee that, you have guaranteed me that if I have, if I can make a good performance, and make good progress in my job, you can give me...a raise in my salary, and, and give me more something good in my package.So, I want to, since I have good performance to present to you, I want you to look at the whole package, the salary, the performance-related bonus, a company charge card, an expense account, a car and a more responsible position.I’d like you to take it into consideration.
根据话题,该职员应与其上司商讨其升职加薪事宜。根据传统,后辈需向长辈表示敬意。然而,在陈述开始,他就以非常直接和命令式的口吻告知Mr.Green,他需要与Mr.Green谈谈,这种语气会让人有上下关系颠倒之嫌。请求类句子如“Can I have a few words with you?”则会使语气更加礼貌和谦逊。与此同时,“but now I can”则表明陈述人有些狂妄自大,不谦虚。类似“you have guaranteed that”“you can give me a raise”“I would like you to take it into consideration”则会让人产生如上所分析的“I have some words to talk to you”所带来的不良印象。因这些表达过度强调了对方“you”所承担的压力,会让听者感到不适,增加听者的付出,违反了得体准则、慷慨准则和谦逊准则。尽管该陈述者提供的信息都是真
实、充分和相关的,但是由于其表达信息的方式不礼貌,且略显粗鲁,致使其陈述效果不佳。
[Case 6]该话题与Case 3相同。
I’m terribly sorry.I have worked with this company for more than 20 years.I think I devoted myself 100% to the company.I worked hard every day to contribute myself to the company.But my advice never give values, why? I don’t get it.Can you give me the point? And I don’t I can’t get a deserved respect on me.I’m the old employer and I’m loyalty to the company.But you even didn’t give me a pay raise.I’m sad.I’m so sad.So now I’m giving my resignation, I quit, OK?
该陈述者表达自己的不满和控诉时,绝大多数情况下都是用“I”作为主语,强调的重心是自己而非他人,减轻了他人的付出,增加了自己的付出,遵从了礼貌原则。然而,反义疑问句的使用则使通篇的语气变得颇为强硬,如:“But my advice never give values, why?”“Can you give me the point?”这些问句在听者看来,则更像是一种威胁、命令或者责怪,无意中增加了听者的负担。而最后一句“I quit,OK?”则让听者觉得陈述者相当狂妄自大,语气强硬,使得谈话难以友善地进行下去,达不到陈述预期的效果。
三、结束语
研究表明,学生对合作原则和礼貌原则的违反会在不同程度上影响学生的陈述效果。若学生违反了质的准则或表述语气粗鲁,则最容易影响陈述效果。若学生未提供完全充足的信息,表述方式欠佳,或只提供了部分与题目不相关的信息,则不会招致过多的影响。
当陈述者提供的信息都是真实有依据时,其若未提供足够的信息,则是未提供足够相关的信息。在提供足量信息时,若所有的信息都是以清晰、有条理的方式表述出来,则陈述效果更佳。陈述时,降低听众的负担和付出,比增加则会获得更好的陈述效果。因此,当提及不利信息时,应避免直接提及他人,加重他人的付出。谦逊的态度会让听众更容易接受所陈述的信息,获得更好的陈述效果。
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