Lexical and Semantic Features of Business English

Abstract

The article highlights the peculiar features of Business English. The fields of its application are determined, namely Accounting, Finance, Business Banking, Marketing etc. Lexical and semantic peculiarities of Business English are featured in the article according to various spheres of business-discourse. Peculiar features of economic discourse and business discourse are found out and analyzed in comparative aspect as they are presented in scientific literature. Economic discourse is presented in the language of economics and academic papers. Business-discourse is a functional constituent of business in its various fields. Business English is the language of business discourse. The vocabulary of Business English is its most characteristic feature. It has positive connotation and is used for efficient communication in business environment. Terms are widely used in Business English alongside with words of General English that often change their general meaning and acquire specific meaning according to the sphere of Business English they are used in. The vocabulary of Business English is presented by simple words, complex words and noun phrases, abbreviations, and phrasal verbs. Characteristic features of Business English in semantic aspect are emphasized. One of them is usage of words of General English in business terminology. The other feature is frequent usage of words that have more than one meaning, which differ depending on spheres of business they are used in. The number of their meanings may differ. The most distinctive feature of Business English in semantic aspect is usage of compound nouns. Some of they may have more than one meaning.