从“三论”角度来看商务外语的发展

Business Foreign Language: Ontological,Epistemological and Methodological Approaches

随着我国经济改革和对外开放进程的加速发展,商务外语的重要作用愈加凸显。与之相适应,外语学界加大了对商务外语的研究力度,展开了对一系列相关紧要问题的探讨。调查表明,虽然商务英语在我国教学领域已成气候,但就整个商务外语而言,亟待解决的难题还很多。从本体论来看,涉及商务外语生存的术语概念、学科地位、培养模式、理论体系、专业目录等问题还需进一步确定;从认识论来看,商务外语的理论构建尚需加强,它与符号学说、功能主义、建构主义等学说的关系还有进一步求证的空间;从方法论来看,在教学方法、教学关系、科学研究等方面还有进一步研讨的必要。商务外语是一个新兴的专业和学科方向,正确的引导和全方位的研究必将极大地促进这一新生事物的健康发展。

China＇s ever-quickening pace of economic reform and opening up is increasingly foregrounding the importance of ＂Business Foreign Language＂ （BFL）, some critical issues of which are now under intensified discussion. Relevant surveys reveal BFL as still problematic despite the fact that its predominant branch-- ＂Business English＂ has gained much recognition in the area of foreign language teaching in China. From an ontological perspective, BFL, for its very existence, demands a clearer definition regarding terminology, disciplinary position, theoretical system, education model, and its entry into the Discipline Catalogue. From an epistemological perspective, BFL entails stronger theoretical confirmation especially in its relation to semiotics, functionalism and constructivism. And from a methodological perspective, BFL requires further studies in terms of teaching, research and teaching- learning relationship. As a burgeoning discipline, BFL calls for intensive and extensive studies based on an appropriate and efficient methodology.