Enhancing professional communication: A study of English business correspondence in international business contexts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58881/jlps.v4i2.126Keywords:
business correspondence, professional communication, intercultural competence, English for business purposes, business writing skillsAbstract
In the era of globalization and rapid international trade, business correspondence has emerged as a crucial tool for effective cross-cultural communication and professional success. This study aims to examine the role of English business correspondence in international business management, focusing on its linguistic features, communication strategies, and the challenges faced by non-native speakers. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method supported by content analysis of real-life business letters, emails, and memos collected from multinational companies. In addition, interviews with professionals and language instructors were conducted to identify the key skills required for writing effective business correspondence. The analysis reveals that clarity, conciseness, and formal tone are vital elements that define successful business writing. Moreover, intercultural awareness and pragmatic competence significantly impact the tone and appropriateness of communication in diverse business environments. Findings also indicate that learners of English for Business Purposes (EBP) often struggle with vocabulary selection, cultural politeness norms, and organizational structure in written messages. The study concludes that mastering English business correspondence requires a combination of language proficiency, cultural sensitivity, and real-world practice. It recommends incorporating authentic business writing samples into teaching materials, developing learner awareness of formal language structures, and providing consistent feedback. These findings are particularly useful for English educators, corporate trainers, and international business professionals aiming to enhance communication competence.
References
Abuarqoub, I. A. S. (2019). Language barriers to effective communication (Barreras del lenguaje para una comunicación efectiva). Utopía y Praxis Latinoamericana, 24(Esp.6), 64–77. Universidad del Zulia.
Adi Isma, A., Januarti Putri, A. M., & Sardi, A. (2024). Examining university students' business English writing performance: Frequent errors and pitfalls. RIAL: Research and Innovation in Language, 2(2), Article 4446. https://doi.org/10.31963/rial.v2i2.4446 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31963/rial.v2i2.4446
Bargiela-Chiappini, F., & Nickerson, C. (2003). Intercultural business communication: Between tradition and innovation. Business Communication Quarterly, 66(3), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/108056990306600303
Bargiela-Chiappini, F., & Nickerson, C. (2003). Intercultural business communication: Past, present and future. Business Communication Quarterly, 66(3), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/108056990306600302 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/108056990306600308
Belamaric, E. (2023). The interrelation of politeness, culture, and speech acts in multilingual corporate communication. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294906231176516 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23294906231176516
Bhatia, V. K. (1993). Analyzing genre: Language use in professional settings. Longman.
Bhatia, V. K. (2004). Worlds of written discourse: A genre-based view. Continuum.
Bingol, M. (2023). The challenges and solutions in teaching writing to non-native English speakers. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 10(3), 341–347. https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v10i3p341 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v10i3p341
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511813085
Charles, M. (2007). Language matters in global communication. The Journal of Business Communication, 44(3), 260–287. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943607301346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943607302477
Clyne, M. (1994). Inter-cultural communication at work: Cultural values in discourse. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511620799
Cogo, A., & Dewey, M. (2012). Analysing English as a lingua franca: A corpus-driven investigation. Bloomsbury Academic.
Crossman, J., & Bordia, S. (2009). Business communication: For the global age. McGraw-Hill Education.
Crossman, J., & Bordia, S. (2009). Academic “visiting” in a cross-cultural context: The influence of English communication skills. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 33(6), 486–497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2009.05.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2009.03.001
Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Ehrenreich, S. (2010). English as a business lingua franca in a German multinational corporation. Journal of Business Communication, 47(4), 408–431. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943610377303 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943610377303
Ellis, M., & Johnson, C. (1994). Teaching business English. Oxford University Press.
Evans, S. (2013). Designing email tasks for the business English classroom: Implications from a study of Hong Kong’s key industries. English for Specific Purposes, 32(4), 267–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2013.05.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2013.05.002
Ferris, D. R. (2014). Responding to student writing: Teachers’ philosophies and practices. Journal of Second Language Writing, 13(1), 49–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2004.05.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2004.05.001
Gimenez, J. (2006). Embedded business emails: Meeting new demands in international business communication. English for Specific Purposes, 25(2), 154–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.04.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.04.005
Guffey, M. E., & Loewy, D. (2021). Business communication: Process and product (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Guffey, M. E., & Loewy, D. (2021). Business communication: Process and product (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Culture and interpersonal communication. Sage Publications.
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Books.
Hamza, A. A. (2007). Cross-cultural linguistic politeness: Misunderstanding between Arabs and British speakers of English [Doctoral dissertation, Sheffield Hallam University].
Handriani, P., Dinata, A. P., Siregar, F. A., & Yunita Siregar, D. (2023). Politeness strategies in cross cultural communication: A pragmatic approach. Semantik: Jurnal Riset Ilmu Pendidikan, Bahasa dan Budaya, 3(1), 35–52. https://doi.org/10.61132/semantik.v3i1.1353 DOI: https://doi.org/10.61132/semantik.v3i1.1353
House, J. (2000). Understanding misunderstanding: A pragmatic-discourse approach to analyzing mismanaged rapport in talk across cultures. In H. Spencer-Oatey (Ed.), Culturally speaking: Managing rapport through talk across cultures (pp. 145–164). Continuum.
Hyland, K. (2003). Second language writing. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667251
Kankaanranta, A., & Planken, B. (2010). BELF competence as business knowledge of internationally operating business professionals. Journal of Business Communication, 47(4), 380–407. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943610377301 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943610377301
Louhiala-Salminen, L., Charles, M., & Kankaanranta, A. (2005). English as a lingua franca in Nordic corporate mergers: Two case companies. English for Specific Purposes, 24(4), 401–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.02.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.02.003
Louhiala-Salminen, L., & Kankaanranta, A. (2012). Language as an issue in international internal communication: English or local language? If English, what English? Public Relations Review, 38(2), 262–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2011.12.021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2011.12.021
Macro, S., & Ott, U. F. (2024). The evolution of the ability to effectively innovate in a transnational organization – A configurational analysis. Journal of International Management, 30(6), 101200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2024.101200 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2024.101200
Nickerson, C. (2005). English as a lingua franca in international business contexts. English for Specific Purposes, 24(4), 367–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.02.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.02.001
Phillips, E. M. (1992). The effects of language anxiety on students’ oral test performance and attitudes. The Modern Language Journal, 76(1), 14–26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4781.1992.tb02573.x
Poláková, M., Suleimanová, J. H., Madzík, P., Copuš, L., Molnárová, I., & Polednová, J. (2023). Soft skills and their importance in the labour market under the conditions of Industry 5.0. Heliyon, 9(8), e18670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18670 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18670
Pratiwi, J., Erjani, N. R., Hidayat, B. R., Febrianto, R., & Suha. (2023). The impact of intercultural business communications in the era of globalization: Dampak komunikasi bisnis antarbudaya dalam era globalisasi. INVEST: Jurnal Inovasi Bisnis dan Akuntansi, 4(1), 281–287. http://journal.al-matani.com/index.php/invest/index
Ranalli, J., Link, S., & Chukharev-Hudilainen, E. (2017). Automated writing evaluation for formative assessment of second language writing: Investigating the technology-pedagogy interface. System, 66, 53–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2017.03.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2017.03.008
Sahadevan, P., & Sumangala, M. (2021). Effective cross-cultural communication for international business. Shanlax International Journal of Management, 8(4), 24–33. https://doi.org/10.34293/management.v8i4.3813 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/management.v8i4.3813
St. John, M. J. (1996). Business is booming: Business English in the 1990s. English for Specific Purposes, 15(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(95)00026-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(95)00023-2
Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings. Cambridge University Press.
Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills (3rd ed.). University of Michigan Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.2173936
Tanvibulya, P. (2014). Problems in writing English business emails: A case from Thai real estate employees. International Journal of Business Communication, 51(3), 269–288.
Thomas, J. (1983). Cross-cultural pragmatic failure. Applied Linguistics, 4(2), 91–112. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/4.2.91 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/4.2.91
Wolfe, J., Shanmugaraj, N., & Sipe, J. (2016). Grammatical versus pragmatic error: Employer perceptions of nonnative and native English speakers. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 30(3), 284–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/2329490616671133 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2329490616671133
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Majid Wajdi, Rodolfo P. Dizon Jr, Parshuram Sahoo, Zanyar Nathir Ghafar, Md. Kamrul Hasan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
