Search

The purpose of the study has been an investigation of students’ attitudes towards the teaching of business correspondence in English with the use of imagination and humour, as expressed in the questionnaire and reflected in the students’ writing. It was assumed that the use of imagination, creativity and humour would motivate the students to practise business writing and develop their skills. The study is based on both an analysis of students’ actual writing as well as a questionnaire regarding their attitudes towards simulation and humour in practising business correspondence. As the results show, the students’ writing varies considerably, ranging from standard letters modelled on textbook examples, up to humorous letters from and to imaginary companies. Similarly, the questionnaire reveals a variety of attitudes: some students regard simulations of this kind as interesting and motivating, while others find them artificial. They also tend to prefer learning serious correspondence, which is closer to their future professional work. It can thus be concluded that, while using imagination and even humour has some benefits, such as motivating students and developing their creativity, the focus of teaching should be on more authentic business correspondence, closer to that which they will use in the future.

Funktionsverbgefüge (Helbig 1977) sind komplexe Mehrworteinheiten, die aus einem semantisch ver-blassten Verb und einem Substantiv bestehen, z. B. Entscheidung treffen oder einen Antrag stellen. Sie sind als fester Bestandteil der Fachsprachen anzusehen und somit auch der geschäftlichen Korrespondenz. Das Ziel des Beitrags ist es zu zeigen, wie die FVG sprachliche Höflichkeit bedingen können. Im Fokus stehen die jeweiligen Leistungen der FVG wie Passivierung, Wechsel der Perspektive und die Indirektheit des Sprechaktes. // Light-verb constructions (Helbig 1977) are complex multi-word units that occur in almost every language and language variety. They are also definied as an integral part of the specialized languages and thus also of the business correspondence. The aim of the article is to show how the light verb constructions can cause linguistic politeness. The focus is on the achievements of the light verb constructions such as passivation, change of perspective and the indirectness of the speech act.

A Conscious and Unconscious Message about Corporate Culture in the Guides for Editing Commercial Correspondence in French The ability to edit official and commercial correspondence – once letters, now more often emails – is an important element of professional competence for a significant proportion of employees. They usually acquire the necessary skills through the use of correspondence editing guides (in their native or foreign language) or ready-made letter models. On the example of the analysis of selected business correspondence editing guides, we will try to show that in addition to providing specific skills useful in a workplace, these guides can convey (part 2) or shape (part 3) specific visions of social relations.

The ability to edit official and commercial correspondence - once letters, now more often emails - is an important element of professional competence for a significant proportion of employees. They usually acquire the necessary skills through the use of correspondence editing guides (in their native or foreign language) or ready-made letter models. On the example of the analysis of selected business correspondence editing guides, we will try to show that in addition to providing specific skills useful in a workplace, these guides can convey (part 2) or shape (part 3) specific visions of social relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]