Comparative Analysis of the Most Common Business and Colloquial Chinese Expressions

Article in Elibrary

Keywords: business Chinese language; colloquial Chinese language; business letters; key expressions

To cite this article

Ulyanova K. A. Comparative Analysis of the Most Common Business and Colloquial Chinese Expressions. // Lomonosov Oriental Studies Journal. 2017. N 3, p.30–45

Ulyanova K. A.

Abstract

This article examines the main features of business Chinese in comparison with colloquial Chinese. The emergence of modern business Chinese is linked to the economic reforms begun in 1978. Stylistic features of business Chinese are analysed at the lexical and syntactic levels. A study of the Peking University CCL online corpus allows the stylistic markedness of business Chinese vocabulary to be assessed quantitatively. After classifying the genres of business writing by subject matter, the author identifies expressions characteristic of each genre that convey the intentions of the sender. Knowing these expressions supports effective use of business Chinese in negotiations and correspondence. Business Chinese combines contrasting tendencies: colloquial elements, rational and emotional approaches, traditions and innovations.