The Realization Of Metafunctions In ICC Uniform Customs And Practice For Documentary Credits (UCP600): A Discourse Analysis

In order to regulate the acts of the banks and relative companies in the application of L/C (Letter of Credit), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has promulgated a set of rules among which ICC Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP600) is the most important one. All the other ICC rules pertaining to L/C are based upon UCP600.Due to the significance of UCP600, most of the efforts of the scholars have been made to work out the legal effects, practical guidance of UCP600 and the difference between UCP500 (old edition) and UCP600 (new edition). However, little attention has been paid to exploring the linguistic features of UCP600. For the precise and accurate understanding of UCP600, the language in the original version (English version) of UCP600 should be fully understood in an attempt to gain the information and effect that cannot be delivered in the translation version. Hence, importance should be attached to construing the linguistic features of UCP600. In the meantime, mastering the linguistic features of ICC rules can help the Chinese legislators to better participate in the process of drafting the international trade regulations.In this thesis, the exploration of metafunctions in UCP600 is carried out to seek out the linguistic features of UCP600. For the limitation of space and length of this thesis, the stratified random sampling and equal distribution are adopted to probe into metafunctions in UCP600 in an effort to guarantee the preciseness and rationality of the analysis. When metafunctions are unfolded, the ergative interpretation, comparison, inductive methods, etc. are utilized to examine the linguistic features of UCP600.In Introduction, the research background, the purpose and significance of this research, the research methodology and the overview of this research are provided.Chapter One delivers a literature review about functional grammar, the application of functional grammar in the previous discourse analysis and the study about UCP600.Ideational function in UCP600 is analyzed by means of experiential function and logical function in Chapter Two to unveil the main contents and logical relations in this discourse.In Chapter Three, the focus is placed upon investigating interpersonal function in UCP600 by interpreting Mood System and Modality System to work out the legal binding force that lies in this discourse.An analysis of the realization of textual function in UCP600 is offered in terms of thematic structure and cohesion in Chapter Four to manifest, the relevance and integrity in this discourse.In Conclusion, the major findings, the limitations and future research orientation are pointed out.This thesis, which centers on the analysis of the three metafunctions to seek out the linguistic features of UCP600, contributes to extending the application range of functional grammar and equipping the banking staffs with a better comprehension of UCP600.