ELLIPSES IN TEXTS OF E-COMMERCE.

ELLIPSES IN TEXTS OF E-COMMERCE

A THESIS

Submitted to

the Graduate

Prog.ram of English

Applied Linguistics

In Partial Fulillment for the Degree of :

MAGISTER OF HUMANITIES

- - - · · ·

By:

!

MIUK PERPUST AKt,AN

\ UNIMElJ

·

-ALI AMRAN

Sntdent Reg. No : 045010144

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS

GRADUATE PROGRAM

STATE

UNIVERSITY

OFMEDAN

A THESIS

ELLIPSES IN TEXTS OF E-COMMERCE

has

Arranged

by :

ALI AMRAN

Reg. No. 045010144

(fi!lLIK PERPUST AKA

AN,

I

U·

l"•j "

rv~

Fl= [)

1

:. I'CD...

I

-·---~

committee, on August,

22nd,

2006 and declared

to

have fullfilled the requirements.

Approve

by:

Consultant commissions

Consultant I

Prof. Dr. Jawasi Naihaho

Head of English Applied Lingui~tics

~

-- - -- - - -~)

1

----

- --

..._,

L - -- ._;:;,

Pro.

Dr .• Jawasi Naibaho -NIP. 130095890

I

Consultant II

Name

: Ali Amran

Approved on

: August

22nd, 2006

1. Prof. Dr. Jawasi Naibaho

2. Prof. Dr. Amrin Saragih MA,. Ph.D.

3. Prof. D.P. Tampubolon, Ph.D.

4. Prof. M. Butar- Autar , Ph. D.

5. Dr.

Busmin

Guming, M.Pd

6. Dra. Meisuri, M.A.

Approved by

m

Director of Gradu

...

P.rof.

Dr. Belfrik

Manulane

NIP. 130518778

J

/

ACKNOLEDGRMRNTS

The completion of this thesis would have never been finalized without having some prolessional help of several trusted pe(:)ple. On this occasion, the writer would lik-e to express his sincere indebtedness to those wllo have given his some valueable advice, professional suggestions in writing this thesis.

First and foremost, God the Almighty with His Blessing and GuiJan0e, that this thesis could be completed.

Second, the writer's deepest appriciation and gratitute is directed to both

the late of his beloved parents, brothers and sisters, and his beloved wife Yaya, who morally supports his post graduate study programs and hi~ two bdowd sons

Yoga and Yogi, and his beautiful daughther ferel. I love you all.

Third, his very special thanks go to Prof. Dr. Jawa.<;i Naibaho,

consultant who keeps giving him the courage to accomplish his thesis and Prof Dr. J\mrin Saragih, MA. Ph.D his second consultant, who never feels tired of giving him more and more challenge to deepen his knowledge in learning

English.

Fourth, his very special thanks are addressed to those of his former and present English teachers, lecturers, professors, who aJways give him the courage to be always successful in mastering English.

finally, many thanks are extended to Mr. Djamaluddin H.A.( Director of PT. Hanaria Indah ), Mr Syamsul Bahri ( Director of CV. Putra Danna). Ms. Diane Guslander ( President Director of The Great Northern Coffee Company, Wyoming, USA) who supports his financial studies at Post Graduate Program at State University of Mcdan. And at last but not least, thanks to Dra. Meisuri, M.A, the head secretapr of English Applied Linguistics Program ( LTB1- UNlMED )

Medan , Augu~l,22nd , 2006

I

The writer

ABSTRACT

Ali Annan, 0450101444.

Ellip!ies

ill Text.<;

of E-Commerce,.

Thesis: School of Applied English Linguistics. State University of Mcdan ( UNIMED ).

This thesis locuses on dlipsts of written business language communication of exports and imports written English messages. This study attempts to investigate and <:tnalyse those written English messages conducted through the International

Network ( Internet ) by the international business people as the importeFs. [t also tries to find out some English terminologies and abbn.:vialions written in English business messages, perticularly, on export and import husiness activities. The most important point of this research is that how lhosc local business people as the exporters and those foreign business people as the importers who have never known and met one another, who have many diiTcrcnccs ( they are diflerent in terms of languages, cultures, citizenships, personal backgrounds, levels of knowledge, levels of their aconomy, and so on ) which eventually c~m obtain some business transactions. The findings indicate that there are some special business tenns used or produced by these business people, namely : abbn:viations and acronyms. The iindings also describe that using words in abreviations, acronyms and numbers which are automatically related to some business activities in bankin . shi ina and ex orts and im orts businesses. The findin s also describe that using tem1inologies in abbreviations and acronyms were the dominant ones of spccail tcrrns used. This shows that the linguistic realizations found out in the special terms used by these business people ( exporters and importers ) through the International Network ( Internet ) had not been so surprised in perticular aspect both in languistic and sociological aspects. It is expected that findings of this research can give some positive advantages for those local business people as the exporters, perticularly, and any person who reads this research in general.

TARLE OF CONTENTS

Page Acknowledgements ... . .. ..

Abstract . . . .. 11

Table of Contents .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . .. . .. .... iii

List of Appendix l. . .. . . .. . . .. . . ... . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. .. iv

v

List of Appendix J ... .. .. Vl

List ofT abies ... . ... .. Vll

CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION

l. !.Background of Lhe Study . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . . .. . .. .. . .. . . .. . .. l 1.2. The Problems of the Study .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. ... 5 1.3.Thc Objectives of the Study... 5 1.4.The Scope of the Study... 6

1 .5.The Significance of the Study ... . ... ..

2.1. Systemic Functional Linguistics.

2.2. Ellipsis . . . 8

2.3. Abbreviations and Acronyms ... .

2.2.1. Abbreviations ... ..

2.2.2. Acronyn1s ... .

2.4. Business Language ... : ... .. ... . .. ..

2.5. Business Communication ... . .... ..

2.5 .I. Elements of Business Communication through the Internet ...

2.5.1.1. Exporters ... .. ... . 2.5.1 ?, hnpoortcrs . ... .. ... . .. .. ... .. ... . ... ..

2.5. 1.3. Business Messages .. .. ... .. ... .. ... . ... .... ... .. 2.5.1.4. Internet Operators .. .... ... , ... .. .. ... .

2.5.2. Types of Business Communication ... . .. .. ... .

2.5 .2.1. Intrapersonal Communication . . . 22

2.5.2.2. Interpersonal Communication... 22

2.5.2.3. Group CommuniGation ... ... . .. ... .... .. ... ... ... 23

2.5.2.4. Mass Communication .. . .. . . . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. 23

2.5.2.5. lntepreted Communication .. . . .. . .. . .. ... .. . .. . .... .. .... ... 24

2.6. Interactions... . ... 24

2.5.1. Bases for Interactions . .. . .. .. . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. . . .. .. . . . .. .. .. 24

2.5.2. Fonnal and

InJormal

Interactions ... c... ... ... 25

2.7. I. The lntcrnct Service Providers .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. ... 27

2. 7.2. The Unique Benefits of the Internet .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . .. .. .. . ... 28

2.8. Searching the \Vebsite of the Importers .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .... 28

2.9. Offerin~ The Goods and Waiting for the Reply... 29

2.9.1. Offering Lhe Company Products Lo the importer ... .. 2.9.2. Waiting for the Kcply iron the importer ... .. ' · • • • • • ~ ~ • • p • • • • • • • ~ . . . ... . . .. .. ' 2.1 0. 1. The Balance of Power . . .. . . . .. . .. .. . . .. . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . 35

2.1 0.2. Cross-Border Rights and 0\igations .. . .. . . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 36

2.10.3. Cross-Cultural F.xpcctation.s.. ... ... ... .. . .. ... .. ... 36

2.1 0.4. Personal Commitment . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. . 37

2.11. Documentations ... .. ... .. ... .. 2.11.1.

Sales

Contract ... . ... ... ... . .. . A. Th~ Example of Foreign Sales Contract .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 39

D.

The Example of Local Sales Contract . .. . . .. .. .. . . . .. . .. .. . . . .. .. 40

2 .11.2. Shipping Instruction. . .. .. . . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. . . . .. . .. .. .... 41

2. 11.3. Com men:ial Invoice . . . .. ... ... ... .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. 42

2 .11 .4. Packing List. . . . .. . .. . .... . .. . .. .. . . .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . . .. . .... 43

2.11.5 . Rill of Lading ... .. ... .... .... ,~ ... 45

J.l. Tfie Design of the Study ... ... .... .. .. ... .... ... 47 3. 2. The Data Sources . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 4 7

3.3. The Proccdun:s ofthe Study . . . .. 48

3.4. The Techniques of Collecting Data... 48

3.5. The Techniques of Analyzing Data .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 49

CHAPTER IV: THE RESEARCH FINDINGS... 50

4.1. The examples of each types of ellipses ... . .. 4.2. The data analysis ... . 4.3. The research findings ... .

A. (~onclusions ... .

n.

Suggestions ... . ... .

REFERENCE ... .. ... .

65

66

LIST OF APPENDIXES.

70

160

3. Appendix ). T.ist of Business Pictures ... .. ... . ... .

.CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study.

E-Commerce has something lo do with the intcmcl and one cannnol avoid it any

longer. The letter "E" stands actualb' for an Electronic. Commerce is a business. So this

kind of business needs an electronic machine then. According to Oded Shecker and

Yadong Luo ( 2004 : 138 ) there arc live points that we have to have in our mind when

we talk about the Internet. First, the Internet is a global network, enabling business

people to connect to the rest of the world. Second, the intcmt::l provides easy access to

the global market, matching buyers and sellers across national boundaries. Third, the

lnlernet is an efficient distribution tool

small business play in a big business arena. Finally, the Internet shortens a company's

time tu market. As we can imagine, if a buyer has to make a telephone call, he has to

spend more money. The more time he needs to talk on the telephone, the more money

that he has to spend for it. And if a buyer, for example, has to vi~ it his customer or cu!;tomers in another country, he has to spend not only a lot of time, energy, and a lot

more money, but he also hao::: to sacrifice something.

It was since 1960, when the iirst computer business appeared, information

technology ha-, changed the way commerce is conducted around the globe ( Alia<>

Award,2002:35 ). Tn nmning

any

kinds of businesses either legal or illegal businesses

accounting system, the personal computer ( PC ) revolution, local area nctworb, and

enl~rprise resource planning have all a hand in shaping today's business organization.

Th~ primary technology for this transfonnation in the Internet ( a universal global data network that moves closer and closer to the iniquity of the telephone with each day).

Th~ internet can link people, particularly, those business people who are running their busin~ss in this world. Ba<;ically, the internet is the infra-;tr·ucturc that can

link

hundreds and even thousands networks. As what Ramstad (1999), explains lhat •• Dy

linldng the large companies that manage individual networks, the Internet becomes an

information highway that makes the information stored on thousands of computers

worldwide available to millions

of

people everywhere". Most business people now use

e p run and economiz.c their

businesses. That is one of the r~asons why they need the Internet. As what Ramstad ( 1999), says that" For all directions the Intemet has taken and all the companies

it

has

spawned, this technology was first developed as a toll for people to keep in touch with

one another".

Be sid~s the Internet, business peopk use a language to express what business

infom1ation that they have in their mind. Human beings use a language in their lives for

many purposes. ln order to achieve the purposes, the language is adjusted to the context

in which it is being used. The context of the language used will influence the right

language choice ( .Butt, Spink, and Yallop, 1995: 10 ). ln running a husi ness normally a

forn1al language is used instc<:td of an__infonnal one. Because world class bu:siness is

u~u a lly conducted in a formal situation so automatically formal language is used.

It

is believed that the use of a language is normally associated with the fom1 of a language

which means that the purpo::;e

is

realized through the form of the language u:se. For

example, the language used in business negotiation ( buying and selling processes )

between or among some business people is much different from that the language used

by those people

in

a casual m eeting, and it is also much difierent from the language

used in adve rtisement~.

As what we realize in the global markets is that ~omc business people can run their business merely just in a very short time, one or two times doing business

tr.:msactions, then bu::;iness is gone. Some can run in a bit longer time. Rut some can

cv

very satisfied.

In running international class business activities, the writer finds out that there

are actually two main factors to manage a long btL~iness term and business relationship. The first is that -business person mus1 have some related and eligible infonnation.

Information i:s the second most expensive one in running a business and it is still

regarded very expensive for some certain class of people, of course. It depends vcr.y

much on how much capital one has to spend in order to obtain a piece of world business

in1onnation. In fact, the writer has spent a lot of money to learn English and to master

computer programs

and

stilt he is able to run an internet -program right lrom the

beginning till he can obtain and process this world cla ~s business infonnation. The

second one is that "tmsl''. According to the v.'liter ~ trust" is the most expensive thing in

running any business in this world. The writer strongly believes that if your business

partners can not trust you any longer it can destroy the busine:>s that you have built up

previously.

In

another words, if

you have

lots of

business

inionnation in your hand,

but

there

is

no one can

trust

you. Then the questions

is

that how can you run a business if

there is no business people can trust you? How people can trust us in ruiUling a

business , that is another problem. And the answer can vary fi·om one to another. Then

L>iane Guslander, 2003, ( a coflee importer from Wyoming, USA ) further says that ' l'

trust is the number one quality in rwming a world or global business".!.

Another related question is that,

if

one has no information in hand at all, bur

there arc lots of people who can trust him. Then the possible question that we can rise is

business relation is not as simple as of buying a pair of shocks. Communication

through the telephone and e-mail or letters remain merely insufficient. Sometimes a

visit or paying a visil is essential. By having a !ace to face communication, a deeper and

further business relationship can be conveniently built up. The things that we have to

have in mind is that, how a business person can run a business with the people that he

has never kno'Wll, has never met before, and that the people who have come from

dillerent countries, different religions, cultural backgrounds, countries' philosophies,

different level of knowledge, and different ways of thinking. In fact, even they have a

lot of diflerences, but the buyer can eQSily transfer some amount of hig money' to the

seller's Bank account number. The answer is that since they both trust each other, so

there is no problem for the impm1ers ( buyers ) to transter that amount of money.

Based on the background of this research, it is essential that written business

messages be studied in running those export and import business activities. Despite the

fact that some Local exporters are not able how to write English business messages.

They arc very familiar with those export and import written messages ( business tetxs )

and some business terminologies. The writer often finds out that they ask their staff or

pay somebody to manage and set up this problem. And also based upon these

phenomenon written above, this research is conducted. One of the most prominent

characteristics of c-commcrce is its brevity, resulting in almost aJl elliptical expressions.

The proolem is how much is the e-commerce text elided. This is the basis for:

conducting this study.

The problems in this study are formulated as follows :

~

I.

What elements of experiential function are normally elided in texts of c- commerce?

2. What is dominantly elided experientially in e- commerce texts?

3. Why are the texts of e- commerce elided they way they are?

1.3. The Objectives of the Study

The study _{e -commerce texts. In particular the}

objectives are :

1. to investigate elliptical elements,

2. to derive the dominant ellipses, and

3. to reason, in terms of contextual basis, the occurancc of ellipses in the

c-commerce texts.

1.4. The Scope of the Study

Firstly this study investigates some ellipses in written English business messages

written l)y a number of local exporters and foreign importers. Secondly, the study deals

with some common abbreviations in export and import business messages. Thirdly\ the

study

is focused on

some

very common terminologies ( including

the

abbreviations and

acronyms

exporters and those foreign importers.

1.5. The Significance of the Study

Theoritically, the findings of the study are expected to add new horizons on the

application of systemic functional linguistics ( FSL ) theories to texts of e-<:ommerce.

Practically, the findings are expected to be significant and useful as an inpul for some

local exporters in developing their own business in the future, and those who want to be

future exporters or importers. It is expected that the findings of this research will

contribute as a reference to plan a better future business communication between an

exporter ami an importer in~ting their business messages on expo11s and imports. In

order words, the 1indings of this study will provide more knowledge and information for

Indonesian exporters, particularly, and those business people who want to be an

exporter or an importer to:

1. he familiar with some omissions in written English business messages,

2. be able to communicate verbally with their foreign customers,

3. be able to tr.mslate those business of export and imports terminologies,

4. be able to Widerstand read new business contmct eac;ily,

5.

be ahle to monitor their the running of their business activities through the

internet and

6. be able to read those business abbreviations in export and import businesses.

CHAPTERV

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

A. Conclusions

Rased on the analysis that has been conducted in this study, there are some

conclusions which carefully drawn, they an: asfollows;

(1). The most domenant ellipses.

Ellipsis does take place in writing business communication. The most dominanT

ellipsis in e- commerce is that a phrasal ellipsis, then followed by lexical ellipsis and

(2). The dcversit.

Abbreviations and actonyms in international business activities are not always the

same as those appear in other di1ferent fields.

(3). The number of the elliscs.

There is no guaranttee that the longer the business text, the more ellipses will take

place. It widely depends on the writer.

( 4 ). The privacy of the texts.

In international business communication, the more personal and more complex the

communication, the longer the message will be written. Therefore the more clauses that the text (.;an produce.

(5). The size of the text.

ln normal business communication, the text seems to he much shorter than those

casual or personal communication.

In an international business letters must be further discussed by the two parties for mutual understanding and mutual profits.

B. Suggestions

In relation to the conclusions, suggestions are staged as follows :

(1 ). The costs and efficiency.

In writing a tbusiness letter as a business communication one is advised to use

ellipses, abbreviation and acronyms to reduce the price.

(2). The community.

It is suggested that the buo:;iness persons should use abbreviations and acronyms in

international business activities and consider the community unless they are going to be

useless. Also one should be extra carefull in writing his business letters, parti~:ularly in using the right ellipses. So that the reader or listener can understand the mcssagt': easily.

(3). Personal or non-personal.

One must consider writing a business letter rcagarding with lhe company's

privacy. One also must consider the length and the shortness of the business texts.

( 4 ). Information.

writes must be true. Besides they are related to the legal documents and olher legal

certificates.

(5). Knowledge and skills

One should learn foreign cultures to easily adopt and apply when s/hc runs a

cross-border business. In another words, one should be aware of mastering either

spoken and written English and the computer knowledge.

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