Business style - what is it?
business style- one of the functional styles of the language that "serves" the sphere of official business relations.
Business style is standardization, informativeness, logic and etiquette.
Business style is:
1) actually formal business style(or, as it is often called, clerical);
2) legal style(language of laws, legislative and by-laws);
3) diplomatic style.
Business style is used in situations of business communication:
- organization - organization (business letter);
- person - organization (statement, summary);
- organization - person (order, job description).
The situation of communication determines the genre business document. The content of a particular document covers many business circumstances, but the document does not correspond to each individual circumstance, but to the standard situation as a whole. Therefore, a standardized (corresponding to a single sample) document form and a standardized document language are selected.
From a formal point of view, a document is a set of details (content elements).
What is standardization?
There are three types of standardization:
The first type is sample-matrix. It is characterized by the fixedness of three text parameters: a set of attributes, their sequence, and their spatial arrangement. Passport, ballot paper, tax return is a matrix.
The second type is sample-model. It has a higher level of flexibility compared to the sample matrix. The wording can be more free, the spatial arrangement of the details is not strict. Application, power of attorney, resume is written according to the model.
The third type is sample diagram. This is the least rigid type of document organization, characterized by only one fixed parameter of a set of attributes (content elements). Explanatory note built according to the scheme.
With the transition to a more flexible design and with the complication of content, the range of search and the possibility of choosing language means to convey the specific circumstances of an official business speech situation increase.
What is informativity?
A document is a business paper that has legal force. The document always requires a detailed and complete presentation, so that the business situation can be restored to the reader in all details and become clear to him.
Informative is:
- use of stylistically neutral and bookish elements;
- lack of expressively colored vocabulary and interjections;
- the unambiguity of what is said (written).
In business speech, the use of personal pronouns (he, she, they, it) is avoided, since their use in the context may contradict the requirements of accuracy and clarity of presentation. Business speech is characterized by the use of terms and close to unambiguous special words of the language, for example: decree, resolution(in stationery style), show someone deep respect(in diplomatic style).
What is logic?
The logic and reasoning of the presentation in business speech is:
- correct use of complex subordinate sentences with conjunctions conveying logical relationships (causes, effects, conditions);
- correct use of all kinds of clarifications, adverbial phrases, insert structures;
development of semantic relations with the help of complex conjunctions and prepositions ( due to the fact that; for what etc.).
Formal business style - this is a kind of literary language that serves the sphere of official business relations: the relationship between state power and the population, between countries, between enterprises, organizations, institutions, between the individual and society.
The function of business style is that it gives the presentation the character of a document and thereby translates the various aspects of human relations reflected in this document into a number of official business ones.
Official business style is divided into two varieties:
1. The official-documentary sub-style includes the language of diplomacy and the language of laws. Its main genre is speeches at receptions, reports, laws, international treaties, official communications.
2. Everyday business style includes official correspondence and business papers (statement, certificate, order, act, etc.)
The most common distinguishing feature of the official business style is a deliberately restrained, strict, impersonal-objective tonality (official coloring), which serves to express the ascertaining and prescriptive nature of documents. The official business style has a high level of communication and, at the same time, concretization, since the texts reflect specific situations, there is an indication of specific persons, objects, dates. A distinctive feature of the style is also the widespread use of standard language means of expression. In addition, standardization in the official business style affects not only language tools, form elements, but the entire document or letter as a whole.
The main features of the language of service documents are as follows:
1. The use of clerical stamps - reproducible lexical and phraseological units that correlate with frequently repeated situations, common concepts (during the reporting period, taking into account, issued for presentation, listening and discussing ...).
2. The use of words-names of persons by action, status (contributor, tenant); collective nouns (elections, children, parents); the name of persons by profession and social status (citizens, employees).
3. The introduction of special terminology that does not have synonyms in common vocabulary (order, protocol, agreed, in order, party, implementation ...).
4. Limitation of the possibility of lexical compatibility of words. For example, a business letter is compiled (not written, not sent, not sent).
5. Predominance of nouns.
6. Use of verbal nouns (travel, performance).
7. Most forms of the verb act in the sense of obligation (to count, to oblige).
8. The almost complete absence of personal pronouns of the 1st and 2nd person and the corresponding personal forms of the verb.
9. The use of predominantly present tense forms of the verb in the sense of a prescription or duty, as well as verb forms with the meaning of a statement (the commission examined).
10. Widespread use of complex denominative prepositions (for purposes, by virtue of, along the line, in part).
11. The use of the following syntactic constructions for the most part: simple sentences (usually narrative, personal, widespread, complete), with homogeneous members, isolated turns, with introductory and plug-in constructions, the predominance of allied over non-union in sentences; impersonal offers.
12. Using direct word order in sentences.
Let us consider in more detail the genres in which the everyday business style (official documents) is implemented.
The word document comes from the Latin word documentum, which means “proof, evidence.” The word document entered the Russian language in the Petrine era: business papers that had legal significance began to be called documents. Later, the word document developed two new meanings: 1) a narrow household : passport, certificate 2) figurative, expansive: everything that can testify to something, confirm something (a work of art - a document of an era, etc.).
The definition of an official document distinguishes between two areas of public practice: administrative and managerial, where official documents are used, and scientific and technical, where technical or scientific documentation is used.
Official documents have the following mandatory qualities:
* reliability and objectivity;
* accuracy, excluding ambiguous understanding of the text;
* maximum brevity, conciseness of wording;
* legal impeccability;
* standard language in the presentation of typical situations of business communication;
* neutral tone of presentation;
* compliance with the norms of official etiquette, which is manifested in the choice of stable forms of address and words and phrases corresponding to the genre, in the construction of the phrase and the entire text.
Documents must be drawn up and executed on the basis of the rules set forth in the Unified state system office work (EGSD).
The type of document should correspond to the given situation and the competence of the institution. Form of documents different types unified. Many documents consist of separate elements - details, the set of which is determined by the type and purpose of the document (for example, addressee, addressee, date, document name, signature). In the text of the document, two semantic parts are usually distinguished: one sets out the reasons, grounds and goals for compiling the document, the other - the conclusion, proposals, requests, recommendations, orders. Some documents may consist of one part: application, order, letter.
Documents are not homogeneous in terms of the degree of unification and standardization. One group consists of documents in which not only the form is uniform, but also the typical content, for example, a passport, diplomas, accounting accounts, etc. The other group includes documents that have a unified form, but variable content, they differ significantly in their content. information (autobiography, act, report, statement, order, etc.).
The following types of documents are distinguished according to their functional value:
* Organizational and administrative documents
* Information and reference documents
* Administrative and organizational documents
* Personal documents
* Business letters
The Russian language allows you to express your thoughts in five different ones, each of which is something special and is used in a particular field of activity. In the administrative and public - official business style of speech is used, applied both in written and oral form.
In contact with
Peculiarities
This style has pronounced characteristics , which are clearly seen in the morphology and syntax of texts. The stylistic features are as follows:
Concerning lexical features, then there are only three of them:
- A certain set of lexical phrases and the use of official words: prescribe, allow, notify, plaintiff, law, etc.
- Dry vocabulary, full of purely clerical expressions: there is a place to be, etc.
- The use of set phrases: based on, taking into account, etc.
Important! Despite the necessary impersonality, these texts allow the use of first person verbs and pronouns.
Syntactic constructions- these are the signs that easily allow the reader to determine the type of presentation. This type of texts has several characteristic syntactic features:
- The presence of small structures - simple sentences, the absence of homogeneous members of the sentence or introductory words.
- High structural standardization - each type of document has its own structural features. So, all statements begin with a stamp at the top of the sheet, and all protocols are characterized by signatures at the end of the document.
This form of presentation of ideas is quite actively used in different areas vital activity. Everyone should be able to use it, since any relationship with organizations take place in business language.
Usage
The scope of application is extremely narrow, and at the same time quite extensive. Examples of text of this nature are often found in government organizations and are divided into:
- Legislative level - legislative documents, official papers, charters, rules.
- Everyday business level - official correspondence, private office work.
Both types are used in different areas:
- jurisprudence;
- economy;
- politics;
- business;
- international relations;
- marketing.
An example of official business style documents is office and official papers, starting with explanatory and ending with the Constitution.
Cliche
As in any other, official business text there are some clichés. Usually, the use of such stamps is considered unacceptable and negative.
Stamps are words that are overused and have an indefinite meaning (defined, therefore, some), deforming the meaning, or losing it altogether in an abundance of unnecessary phrases.
Despite the negative value of stamps, they can and should be used in business conversations and papers. It was stated above that business speech uses standards as the main means of language. The presence of a certain standard or stamp at times simplifies creation and filling all questionnaires, forms and other documents.
Important! In such forms, it is unacceptable to freely express one's thoughts: the secretary cannot be answered in business correspondence “We are waiting for an answer, like the nightingale of summer” - this is unacceptable.
Official speech, standard situations - all this determines essence and purpose of such documents, as well as their clear structure and arrangement of all elements of the proposal. It does not allow:
- conversational elements;
- poeticisms;
- archaisms;
- emotional words and colorings;
- artistic elements: hyperboles, metaphors, etc.;
Any text of this category, which is correctly constructed in terms of grammar and vocabulary, is correct and fully complies with the requirements of the official business style of speech. And if it contains the above elements, even with the correct structure, it is perceived as incorrect. Standardness in this type of speech is a lexical feature, and has its own markers, for example:
- to fine;
- express gratitude;
- call to account;
- put forward an argument;
- be responsible;
- delivery notice.
Thus, cliches in general are a negative phenomenon, but their use in this category acceptable and even welcome.
However, there is another side to the excessive use of clericalism - texts must carry information, despite the use of many clichés.
Therefore, you should carefully proofread all papers to make sure that the recipient and reader get the necessary information load from them.
Style Text Analysis
Any text is subject to analysis to determine the style to which it belongs and other features. Examples of texts can be found in legislative documents, official notices and other official papers. To define a style, analyze text:
Reveal style features:
- accurate presentation of information and detailed;
- the severity of the composition;
- lack of expression and emotion.
Lexical features:
- use of special terminology;
- an abundance of bureaucracy (taking into account, have the right);
- words of necessity and duty.
Morphological features:
- use and verbs in the present tense;
- frequent use of verbal nouns;
- naming people based on their actions.
Syntactic:
- high particularity of homogeneous members;
- the presence of complicated sentences;
- frequent use of the genitive;
- use of passive and impersonal constructions;
- the presence of simple unemotional sentences;
- direct word order.
If all these features are found in the text, then it belongs to the official business style. Examples of texts of a similar plan are found in educational literature, stationery and personal documents. For example, an autobiography is often written in a similar language, and certain rules should be followed when writing it:
- Structured text: each important date begins with a paragraph and a new paragraph follows it, the date is always indicated at the end of the document.
- Strict observance of the chronological sequence, starting from birth and ending with the last year before writing the document, illogical transitions are not allowed.
- Conciseness: the autobiography is not written on more than 2-3 pages.
- A statement of accurate, reliable facts that can always be confirmed by evidence papers.
When writing a biography use of words from other styles is allowed, but the presence of cliches is welcome. Often you can find autobiographies in a completely artistic style, but such a document is more like an autobiographical story than a dry statement of facts.
Dialog
Oral speech can also be delivered in a business style. Compliance with the cliché of the official style is also welcomed in dialogues, despite the fact that the usual arrangement of information on papers differs from oral speech.
She is usually full of emotion and rather asymmetrical. If oral speech is emphatically logical, the communication environment is clearly official.
Main characteristic oral business communication is the flow of a conversation in a positive way in the key of sympathy, respect or goodwill. Oral speech differs depending on the varieties of style:
- clerical and business - oral speech is full of clericalism and cliches, but it also allows the use of ordinary, non-business words;
- public administration - the use of phraseological units, anarchisms, slang expressions and other words that are not related to the business style is unacceptable.
To main features oral official speech include:
- brevity;
- accuracy;
- influence;
- corresponding words;
- well-designed structures;
- correct syntax;
- standardization of mentally prepared speech.
Oral business speech cannot be emotional. good example the following business dialogue can serve:
- Hello!
- Hello. How can I help you?
— I would like to submit my resume to your company.
- You have higher education?
— Yes, I graduated from the university with a degree in Management.
Are you familiar with our terms and conditions?
— Yes, in full.
- Good. Then take your resume and other documents, and come tomorrow at 9:00 to the main office for an interview. All the best!
- Thanks. Goodbye.
Official business style in Russian, examples where it is applied
We study speech styles in Russian - official business style
Conclusion
Business speech may seem boring and dry at first glance, but when mastering it, it becomes clear that it is as rich as artistic speech, just the scope of its application requires certain conditions and rules, to which it corresponds. Formal business style is feature of the state and business sphere, and sooner or later you will have to learn to own it in order to become a full-fledged member of society.
Writing business style texts correct format is not given to everyone. The main trap that thousands of authors fall into every day is a completely incorrect interpretation of business texts and a misunderstanding of the principles of their work.
If you believe official sources, then:
The text of the official business style is the main means of communication in business, legal and other environments that involve the exchange of impersonal official information.
Pretty simple definition, right?! And yet, for some unknown reason, thousands of lawyers, economists, managers, and even diplomats daily try to add the same erroneous sign to such texts. Do you know what?
The Error of Modern Business Correspondence is that people deliberately complicate it. For some reason, it is generally accepted that the more complex the message, the more cunning the terminology and the longer the sentence, the more vigorous the material will be. They say you can't spoil porridge with butter.
In this material, we will try to talk about what a really good business style text should be, what its structure should be, what you should pay attention to and what mistakes you should not make. We promise that after this note you will be able to take a slightly different look at the rules for writing business texts.
Requirements for business text and its structure
In general, many documents are written in an official business style, ranging from the constitution and state acts, ending with explanatory and dismissal ones. We, first of all, are interested in texts for business, and therefore the main emphasis will be placed on it.
Business text texts have their own distinctive features that other styles do not have. Here are the main signs:
Conciseness. Creating a business text requires pity for the reader. If bureaucrats can afford to create "masterpieces" on many sheets, then this is not welcome in the business environment. Since businessmen are busy people, then the texts should be made in such a way that a person can get acquainted with them without Corvalol. Only facts, only figures, only important details.
Understand correctly: brevity does not mean the omission of some important details. All explanations must be given, and important points- mentioned. Conciseness in this case is the rejection of verbiage for the sake of verbiage.
Clear structure. You need to think over the structure of a business letter in advance. There is nothing worse than a text in which the meaning constantly jumps from place to place. We recommend choosing a starting point from which you will begin to unfold the narrative.
If you mention a fact, try to immediately enter everything that you want to report on this fact. : there is nothing worse than reading an unstructured "sheet" of text. Ideally, if each paragraph has one complete thought. This will make reading much easier.
Lack of emotion. When writing a business style text, we recommend remembering the English lords, who cannot be embarrassed even by a bomb explosion. No emotions, just facts with a straight face. However, there are exceptions here too: if you are in correspondence with a person you like, but the format of business communication does not allow for special liberties, you can only hint at obvious sympathy.
For example, put exclamation points in two sentences in a row or enter some word from the literary style. It seems to be a trifle, but a person experienced in business correspondence will understand everything perfectly.
Ease of Presentation. If you respect the person who will read your text, keep the material simple. Not simplified, but simple. Despite the fact that the rules for writing business style texts allow the use of clericalism and special terms, you should not aggravate the material with complex structures. Alas, but often sentences are so confusing and long that at the end you already forget the beginning.
See how the sentence is getting too complicated? Break it down into two or three smaller sentences. It won’t hurt you, but it’s convenient for a person.
Use of prepositions and compound conjunctions. Perhaps, business texts are the only format where the mass use of prepositions (on the basis of, in accordance with, and so on) and conjunctions (due to the fact that, due to the fact that, and so on) is allowed. Of course, you don’t need to put them through the word, but to give the text the appearance of a business message, this is a very, very good technique.
So, let's repeat the basic rules for creating a business text once again:
It should be a clearly structured material of small size.
In such a text there is no place for emotions and the loss of logical threads.
You should strive for simplicity of presentation, refusing complex sentences.
Your goal is to convey to the person business information, but it is very easy to do so.
Business text signsThree examples of mini-texts in business style
Example one. Business letter to a client:
Dear Sergey Sergeevich! In response to your request for the installation of a new door, we inform you that on December 25 a representative of our company will visit you. Typically, the installation time of the door is no more than one hour. We hope that you will be satisfied with the quality of our work.
Second example. A small business text for company employees:
On December 5, 2015, Company N starts participating in the annual social marathon Feed the Cat. In this regard, the company's management recommends that all employees bring daily workplace 2 liters of milk with a fat content of at least 2.5%.
If a cat or cat of any age is found, the animal should be given milk immediately. Employees who drink the maximum number of animals will be rewarded at the end of the current quarter.
Third example. Leader's letter:
I, Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich, from December 5 to February 12 of this year, within the framework of the social marathon “Feed the Cat”, gave milk to 12 cats and 10 cats. I spent the bonuses received for winning the corporate competition for personal purposes.
Since the animals are used to getting milk from me, and I don’t have money for their subsequent feeding, I ask you to allocate an amount of 100,000 rubles to buy milk at the expense of the company.
Rules for writing business letters
If you didn't already know, business style is divided into two different types:
Formal business style.
Everyday business style.
The first is zero emotions, a jacket with all the buttons and the facelessness of the author. The second one is more democratic and emotional (if you can say that about business texts at all). By the way, it is in the everyday style that most business letters are written. Moreover, interestingly, often the development of business correspondence occurs as follows:
Stage one. Official business style;
Stage two. Everyday business style;
Stage three. Inclusions of elements of informal communication;
Stage four. Informal communication "without ties".
It is clear that if you write something like “Hello, Kolya! What do you have there for the prices of combines? ”, then this will not be assessed properly. If you go through all the stages of business correspondence “according to the rules”, then over time the format of communication can change significantly. This is a common trend.
We have already analyzed the rules for writing business texts, and therefore we will not repeat ourselves: letters are written in the same way as texts. However, there are also some unspoken rules of correspondence, which we have not yet talked about. Since not everyone knows them, it is worth talking about them separately:
A business letter must contain a subject. It's bad form to leave the "Subject" field blank.
Don't change the subject line of a business email or delete your email history without a good reason. Yes, you may remember all the details of the communication, but the person on the other side of the mailbox may not remember them.
Neutral emotionality. Even if you are actually ready to rush at the recipient with a sledgehammer, in business letter this should not be tracked. Corporate culture teaches to “put in place” the interlocutor with more cunning tricks: “forgetting” the mention of the name, refusing exclamation marks at the beginning of the letter, ignoring some questions, and so on.
No emoticons. No emoticons until the communication format has reached at least the third stage (elements of informal communication).
Sending a letter with errors is the height of ignorance.
Failure Explanation. It is enough that banks do not explain the reason for the refusal to issue loans. Be more friendly: even if you are forced to refuse, be sure to soften the tone of the letter and explain the reason.
See for yourself:
First example of a business letter
Hello! We do not plan to buy crushed stone this year. All the best.
Second example of a business letter
Hello Ivan! Unfortunately, our company does not plan to purchase additional batches of crushed stone this year. This is due to the fact that we have already fully agreed on the entire list of future expenses, and the company has no funds left for the purchase of crushed stone. We sincerely hope that next year we will agree with you in advance on the purchase of crushed stone in order to budget the necessary funds in advance.
I think you can see for yourself that the first version was written by a soulless robot, and the second one by a person who sincerely regrets. Two business style letters on the same topic, but they are so different!
You don't have to start from afar. If you have something to say, say it right away. When a person starts to enter from afar, it is more unnerving.
This is the most important rules writing letters in a business style that you will definitely need. The main thing is to remember that not always some kind of obvious officialdom is expected from you. If you see that a person is not averse to moving to a more informal level of communication, feel free to move on. There is nothing wrong with that.
That's all friends. Everything that we wanted to tell about creating texts in a business style, we told. If you have questions, comments or additions, feel free to write a comment. We are sure that this will only benefit the material.
Official business (business) style serves purely official human relationships.
This is the relationship between countries; state power and population; between organizations, enterprises, institutions; between society and the individual; between various organizations and man.
Formal business style can be divided into two varieties - two sub-styles:
a) official-documentary, that is, the language of diplomacy, laws: the diplomatic appeal of one government to another, international treaty, an official communication, mainly on international issues, a law, a charter, a diplomatic document detailing the views of the government on any issue, an official communication, a civil act, and others;
b) everyday business, that is, clerical (order, order, official correspondence, business papers: characteristics, application, autobiography, receipt, power of attorney, report, certificate, protocol, memorandum, and others).
The main, defining feature of such a text, the dominant of the official business style as a whole, is the utmost accuracy, which does not allow for other interpretations. This determines such style features as strict tonality, standard means of expression.
In general, the official business style is characterized by stylistic uniformity and rigor, objectivity and, to some extent, impersonality of presentation. Emotionality, subjective appraisal and colloquialism are contraindicated for him. Business texts are characterized by meaningful completeness, accuracy, clarity, cumbersome constructions (due to the desire for accuracy). In this respect, the business style is approaching the scientific one.
However, there is no identity between these styles. For business texts, these requirements, unlike scientific ones, are vital. Without them, a business text cannot become a document. Actually, a document then becomes a document when it is drawn up and certified in a certain, standard form. It is no coincidence that in business communication so special forms, letterheads, etc. are widely used.
Language level: Vocabulary
language tool:
General literary words that have received special meanings (names of persons according to their function; documents and their parts; designation of actions of officials, official procedures).
Example:
Claimant, defendant, investor, taxpayer, contractor, tenant, order, instruction, order, act, telephone message, personal account, agenda, listened, attended, I do not mind, I approve, agreed.
language tool:
Chancellery (that is, words that are not used outside the business style).
Example:
Proper, undersigned, above, named.
language tool:
Low-frequency, often archaic (obsolete) vocabulary used in diplomatic documents.
Example:
His Excellency, His Highness.
language tool:
Compound words, graphic abbreviations with strictly established rules their abbreviations.
Example:
Ministry of Energy, Tekhnadzor, raifo, reg. (region), head. (head), corr. (corresponding member), etc. (and so on), see (see).
language tool:
Standard forms of presentation of the document (stamps).
Example:
Pay attention to; during the reporting period; in order to ensure; in a spirit of mutual understanding; the following shortcomings are noted; contracting parties; hold accountable; listening and discussing Based on the foregoing.
Language level: Morphology
language tool:
The predominance of nouns (especially verbal ones, which often form phrases with ambiguous verbs).
Example:
Fulfillment, indication, decision, acceptance, delivery; take part, have an application, express regret, influence.
language tool:
The frequency of "stringing" genitive cases of dependent nouns (and adjectives).
Example:
The importance of strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime; sanitary maintenance of the common property of a residential building of the municipal housing stock.
language tool:
The almost complete absence of personal pronouns of the 1st and 2nd person and the corresponding forms of the verb (the exception is statements, powers of attorney and other special documents, as well as orders where the form is used - I order).
Example:
I, Yulia Nikiforovna Ivanova, trust Nonna Ivanovna Ivanova... to receive my scholarship...; Please excuse me from my studies...
language tool:
The frequency of verbs in the indefinite form, as well as the predominance of present tense forms with the meaning of obligation and prescription.
Example:
Enroll, appoint, dismiss, it is recommended to retain, approve the initiative, should be considered.
language tool:
The use of masculine forms when naming women by profession.
Example:
Teacher A.S. Bobnovskaya, section head U.F. Bablov.
language tool:
Replacing simple prepositions (because of, by, etc.) with nominal ones.
Example:
In view of the lack of food, in connection with the beginning of the heating season, according to the order.
language tool:
Mandatory capitalization in personal and possessive pronouns.
Example:
I ask for your consent, I appeal to you with a request.
Language Level: Syntax
language tool:
Using complex syntactic constructions with a large number isolated and clarifying turns, homogeneous members, introductory and plug-in structures.
Example:
I, Petrova Natalya Rustamovna, 2nd year student of the Faculty of Philology of the Moscow state university, I trust Inna Petrovna Nabiyeva, who lives at the address: Moscow, st. Stavropolskaya, 1, apt. four; passport: series 33 11, No. 123431, issued by the Komsomolsk police department of Krasnodar on May 3, 2003, to receive my scholarship in the amount of 1200 (one thousand two hundred) rubles.
language tool:
The wide use of impersonal sentences with the meaning of prescription, order, necessity.
Example:
It is necessary to improve, provide a certificate, instruct the headman, consider it necessary, strengthen control.
language tool:
The absence of substitutions of a noun by a pronoun and, accordingly, the repetition of nouns and phrases.
Example:
The presence of the defendant is obligatory and the hearing of the case in the absence of the defendant is allowed only:
1) with the express consent of the defendant;
2) if it is proven that the defendant evaded serving the summons to court or is hiding from the court.
