PART ONE DIPLOMACY AND DIPLOMATIC

LANGUAGE - A STYLISTIC

STUDY OF DIPLOMATIC ENGLISH

1. Diplomacy and Diplomatic Language

1.1 Linguistic Guide to the Study ofDiplomatic Language

1. 2 Definition of 'Diplomacy' and the Important RoleLanguage Plays in Diplomacy

l. 3 The Origin and Evolution of Modern Diplomacy and Its Cuitural Background and the Evolution of Diplomatic Language

1. 3.1 The Origin of Diplomacy

1. 3. 2 The Cultural Background of Modern Diplomacy

l. 3. 3 The Evolution of Diplomacy and Diplomatic Language

1 4 Diplomatic Activities

1 4.1 Functions of Diplomatic Activities

1 4. 2 Diplomatic Rules and Procedures

1. 5 Questions

The Past and the Present of Diplomatic

Language

Diplomatic Language

Guarded Understatement

Technical Terms in Diplomacy

The Actual Language Used in Diplomacy

Latin

French

English

Questions

Main Features of Diplomatic Activities and

Diplomatic Language

Main Features of Diplomatic Activities

Conservativeness

Formalism

Rigid Hierarchy and Precedence

Causes of the Above-mentioned Features

Linguistic Analysis of Diplomatic Language

Users of Diplomatic Language (dialect)

Uses of Diplomatic Language (register)

Field of Discourse of Diplomatic Language

Tenor of Discourse of Diplomatic Language

Mode of Discourse (medium) of

Diplomatic Language

General Features of Diplomatic Language

Trend of Diplomatic Language

Questions

4 Varieties of Diplomatic Language and Their Respective Linguistic Features

4.1 Functions of Language

4.2 Classification of Diplomatic Language in Terms of Function

4.3 Varieties of Diplomatic Language and Their Respective Linguistic Features

4.3.1 Conversation on Social Occasions (phatic function)

4.3.2 Speeches or Talks on Diplomatic Occasions (conative, emotive and poetic functions)

4.3.3 Diplomatic Documents concerning Protocol Matters (phatic and emotive functions)

4.3.4 Diplomatic Documents for Publicity (conati-ve function)

4.3.5 Diplomatic Documents for Communication (referential function)

4.3.6 Diplomatic Documents for Identification (referential function)

4.3.7 Legal Diplomatic Documents (referential and metalinguistic functions)

4.4 Questions

5 Conclusion

PART TWO SELECTED READINGS IN

DIPLOMATIC ENGLISH

(CLASSIFIED IN TERMS

OF FUNCTION)

1. CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL OCCASIONS (phatic function, omitted)

2. SPEECHES OR TALKS ON DIPLOMATIC OCCASIONS (conative, emotive and poetic functions)

2.1 Discussion on the Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina at Security Council (Dec. 18, 1997)

2.2 Qian Qichen Talks about International Issues and China's Foreign Policies (March 12,1997)

2.3 Towards a China-US Relationship for the 21st Century (April 29,1997)

2.4 Speech by President Jiang Zemin at the White House State Dinner (October 29, 1997)

2.5 Remarks of President Clinton at Arrival Ceremony (October 29, 1997)

2.6 President Nixon's Toast at the Banquet Given by Premier Zhou Enlai (Feb. 21, 1972)

2.7 President Nixon's Toast for Reciprocal Banquet (Feb. 25, 1972)

2.8 Questions

DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS CONCERNING

MATTERS OF PROTOCOL (phatic and

emotive functions)

Speech on Presentation of Credentials

by Chinese Ambassador to India

(Translation)

Chinese Leader's Condolences on the Passing

Away of Ohira (June 12, 1980)

To Express Sympathy over an Assassination

Attempt (October 8 1959)

Telegram of Thanks to President Clinton by

President Jiang Zemin (November 3 1997)

Questions

DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS FOR PUBLICITY

(conative function)

Statement of the Government of the People's

Republic of China on the Complete prohibition and

Thorough Destruction of Nuclear Weapons

(Translation) (July 31, 1963)

Joint China-US Statement

(October 29, 1997)

Joint Sino-French Declaration on the

Establishment of a Comprehensive Partnership

(May 16, 1997)

Announcement on President Nixon's Visit to China

(January 15, 1971)

Joint Communique between the People's Republic of

China and the United States of America

(Issued in Shanghai, February 28, 1972)

Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic

Relations between the People's Republic of China and

the United States of America

(January 1, 1979)

Foreign Ministry News Briefings

(November 10 12, 1998)

Questions

DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS FOR

COMMUNICATION (referential function)

Formal Note to Notify the Arrival of a Charge

d'affaires a i. (to dean of the diplomatic corps)

(Translation)

Verbal Note to Inform Another Embassy of

the Establishment of an Embassy and

the Designation of its Charge

d'affaires a. i (Translation)

Formal Diplomatic Letter to Invite

a Leader for a Visit (Translation)

Informal Diplomatic Letter to Request Assistance

in Providing Facilities for Covering a Visit

Personal Message from Prime Minister Nehru to

Premier Zhou Enlai (September 14, 1956)

Letter from Premier Zhou Enlai to Prime Minister

Nehru (October 19, 1956)

Memorandum Concerning a Protocol Retorm

(Translation)

Telegram to Notify Decision to Establish

Diplomatic Relations

Questions

DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS FOR

IDENTIFICATION (referential function)

Sample of a Standard Passport of

the United States of America

Letter of Credence for Ambassador of

Ceylon Accredited to China

Full Powers

A Chinese Example (translation)

A British Example

An American Example

Letter of Introduction (Translation)

Letter of Appointment of a Consul-General

Exequatur

Questions

LEGAL DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS

Treaty on European Union (Extracted)

(Maastricht, February 1992)

Sino-American Trade Agreement

(July 7, 1979)

Agreement between the Government of the Republic

of Austria and the Government of the People's

Republic of China Concerning Cooperation

in Matters of Health (May 13, 1998)

Protocol on Economic Cooperation between China

and Australia (September 22 1981)

7. 5 Charter of the United Nations (Abridged) (July 26. 1945)

7. 6 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (April 18 1961)

7. 7 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted and

proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution

217 A(III) of December 10, 1948)

7. 8 Notes Exchanges between China and

Japan on Japanese Loans to China

(September 4 1997)

7. 9 Memorandum of Understanding Concerning

the Construction of the New Airport

in Hong Kong and Related Questions

(September 3, 1991)

7. 10 Regulations of the People's Republic of China

on Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities

(September 8, 1986)

7.11 Notice to Military Attaches of Foreign Embassies

in the People's Republic of China

(August 1, 1988)

7. 12 Power of Attorney, Certificate and

Samples of Authentication

7.13 Questions

Language as a meaning potential can be characterized in two

ways, 'the context of culture' and 'the context of situation'.

Interpreted in the context of culture, it is the entire semantic

system of the language. Interpreted in the context of situation,

it is the particular semantic system which is associated with a

particular type of situation.

There are two major types of language variety, dialect and

register. The former is defined as variety according to the user.

It is what a person speaks, defined by who he is. The latter is

defined as variety according to the use. It is what a person is

speaking, determined by what he is doing at the time. Register

can also be defined as the semantic resources that the member of

a culture typically associated with a situation type. It is the

meaning potential that is accessible in a given social context.

Since these options are realized in the form of grammar and

vocabulary, register is recognizable as a particular selection of

words and structure. Register refers to the fact that the language

we speak or write varies according to the type crf situation. In

other words, situational factors determine linguistic features of a

text.

There are two dimensions of language study: diachronic and

synchronic study. The former is the study of the historical

development of language while the latter is the study of the

present state of language. In order to know the present state of

language, we have to study the history of it, as all uses of

language, throughout all stages of cultural evolution, have left

their imprints on linguistic structure.

If we regard language as social behaviour, this means that

we are treating it as a form of bahaviour potential. It is what the

speaker can do. Language is a potential which is the linguistic

realization of the behaviour potential; 'can mean' is 'can do'

when translated into language. The meaning potential is in turn

realized in the language system as lexico-grammatical potential,

which is what the speaker 'can say'. Thus 'cando', 'can mean'

and 'can say' are united.

From the above linguistic ideas we get the following

inspirations for our study of. diplomatic language:

1. Diplomatic language is what a diplomat can say, can

mean and can do verbally. Therefore, in order to know

diplomatic language, we have to study diplomatic language.

2. Diplomatic language is a part of the substance of

diplomacy which forms a part of the social system and has grown

up in a certain culture. The features of the culture and social

system must have their reflections in diplomatic language.

Therefore, to know the general features of diplomatic language,

we have to study the context of culture in which it is motivated

and used.

3. Diplomatic language, as a use of language, is a meaning

potential associated with a particular type of social context

(consisting of the situational factors: field of discourse, tenor of

discourse and mode of discourse) which determines the general

features of diplomatic language. To know the general features of

diplomatic language, therefore, we have to study the social

context (the context of situation) of diplomatic language.

4. Diplomatic language is also a social dialect defined as a

variety according to its user. To know diplomatic language,