Expressing gratitude in the email-based business communication

Abstract

The paper gives a brief analysis of different expressions of gratitude in email exchanges between native (British English) and nonnative speakers of English. It argues that conventional approaches to view this type of communication from the grounds of format letters fail to fully define communicative meanings conveyed by the speakers in order to maintain interpersonal rapport. Drawing on the wide discursive context and contextual use three types of thanking are identified. The paper proves that the speakers are able to fulfill specific rapport management goals by expressing one of these types of gratitude. It is argued that in order to determine discursive patterns of computer-based email communication and understand the exact meanings communicated by the speakers, the discourse approach should be adopted.