| Pragmatics is a study of language used in concrete contexts. When we talk about pragmatics we must not ignore the concept of context. Context is one of the most important categories in a speech event. The appropriateness of language lies in the fact that the language is used in a given concrete context or situation. Only by using appropriate language in terms of concrete contexts, can we achieve our purpose of communication. The hearer or reader infers from the context the meaning appropriate to the process of communication. The cover letter writing is a means of communication, which does not achieve its goal by means of face-to-face interaction. In writing a letter, the writer must have a context-consciousness in mind so as to make his or her letter achieve a particular goal.A cover letter or covering letter is a kind of business letter, which usually aims at applying for a job and is usually supplemented with some other materials such as a resume or curriculum vitae, functioning as a general introduction to the applicant. There are two main communicative purposes for one to write a cover letter: the first is to promote himself or herself, and the second is to try to achieve the ultimate goal: to get the position vacancy. It must be remembered that the communicative function of a cover letter is closely related to context factors, so it is necessary for the writer to use appropriate language in accordance with a specific context. What's more, business letters are written not only to convey information but to have persuasive force. So it is important for the writer of a cover letter to put himself in addressee shoes and take addressees feeling, preference, and so on into consideration.The thesis attempts to analyze cover letters from the perspective of context and mainly based on the theory of context of situation. Its aims are as follows:1) To find out how contextual factors are related to the cover letter writing in terms of field, tenor and mode.2) To reveal the importance of context and try to raise the context-consciousness and cultivate the context-empathy. |
