Differences between Chinese and English Language英语专业毕业论文.doc

Differences between Chinese and English Language Abstract Politeness is an universals phenomena in human society。 It has pragmatic differences in different cultures, centering round Leechs politeness principle, this thesis is intended to explore the pragmatic differences of the use of politeness language in communication, privacy, modesty, form of address and so on. At the same time, it will explore the importance of the use of politeness language from intercultural communication.Key words: politeness principle; pragmatic difference; intercultural communication.i摘 要礼貌，作为人类社会一种普遍存在的现象，在任何国家都有不同的意义，在我国就非常注重这样礼貌用语。从小就受到礼貌的大环境影响，这也是我国被称为文明古国的重要依据。所以我重点写到中西礼貌用语的不同之处。在不同文化中具有文化不同性。本文将从利奇的礼貌原则角度试图探讨英汉礼貌用语在交际、隐私、谦逊与客套语及称呼等方面的语用差异及其在跨文化交际中的重要性。关键词：礼貌原则；语用差异；跨文化交际iiContentsAbstracti摘要iiContentsiiiIntroduction11. Politeness Principle11.1 The Famous Linguist Leech Propose the Politeness Principle21.1.1 Tact Maxim21.1.2 Generosity Maxim21.1.3 Approbation Maxim21.1.4 Modesty Maxim31.1.5 Agreement Maxim31.1.6 Sympathy Maxim32. The Pragmatic Differences of Politeness between Chinese and English Language32.1 The Difference of the Communication Language32.1.1 Different Greetings32.1.2 Different Thanking52.1.3 Different Apologizing52.1.4 Different Farewells62.2 The Difference of the Privacy Language6iii2.3 The Difference of the Modesty and Compliment Language72.4 The Difference in the Form of Address83. The Relation between Cultural Differences of Politeness and Intercultural Communication93.1 The Effects of Cultural Differences on Communication 93.1.1 Cultural Difference Influences Getting the Information103.1.2 Cultural Difference Mislead Getting the Information.103.1.3 Cultural Difference Bring about Communication Obstacle.103.2 How to Improve Intercultural Communication .113.2.1 Developing Cultural Awareness.113.2.2 Intercultural communication competence.123.2.3 Pragmatic Empathy.12Conclusion.13Bibliography.15Acknowledgement.16ivIntroductionPoliteness, this is social cultural phenomenon, has a deep relation with the language. One hand, politeness control the use of language, and on the other hand, language is very important method to express politeness, so, the study of pragmatic include the study of polite invent ally. In the past twenty years, some studiers have made a deeper study on the politeness phenomena at home and abroad. For example: in 1978,Brown and Levinson delivered a thesis named Universals in language usage: politeness phenomena which studied system to the politeness and face for the first time and explored that the politeness is the common phenomena in the usage of language. Brown and Levinson are autholonogy. The problem to the politeness and face, which he proposed, is based on the philology and autholonogy. However, the publication of this theory raised many linguists interests, following the Grices cooperation principle, the English linguist Leech proposed the politeness principle, which included six principles and used as the basic rulers in our daily life. However, the theories of Brown、Levinson and Leech aims at exploring the universal of politeness phenomena, but not study the politeness actual usage in different cultures. In fact, politeness itself has the cultural university and obviously the difference of culture. The cultural differences become the obstruct of communication.1. Politeness PrinciplePoliteness is a very important way of communication, in our daily life, so everybody must have good manners, at the same time, also must pay attention to the use of politeness language、politeness principles and so on. Politeness is a necessary line, which ties the success of human communication up. In speech of communication, because of the wrong speech, that will give rise to misunderstanding each other. It will bring about communication failures. In order to pledge the communication developing successfully , people should make use of politeness principles.1.1 Leechs Politeness Principle in WesternLeech who is a famous linguist in England, proposes some politeness principle, which is based on the study of politeness phenomena, Following example is Grices cooperative principle. It is a common maxim in human language, people must observe it.1.1.1 Tact Maxim:Minimize cost to otherMaximize benefit to other1.1.2 Generosity Maxim:Minimize benefit to selfMaximize cost to self1.1.3 Approbation Maxim:Minimize dispraise of otherMaximize praise of other1.1.4 Modesty MaximMinimize praise of selfMaximize dispraise of self1.1.5 Agreement MaximMinimize disagreement between self and otherMaximize agreement between self and other1.1.6 Sympathy MaximMinimize antipathy between self and otherMaximize sympathy between self and otherWe can see that two kinds of politeness principle between Chinese and English culture have a lot of resemble position, but different languages have different cultural background、judgment standard and manifestation form, As a matter of fact, politeness has cultural common and cultural difference which will impede intercultural communication.2. The Pragmatic Difference of Politeness Between Chinese and English Language2.1 The Differences of the Communication LanguageThe pragmatic difference are obvious in the aspect of greeting, thanking, apologizing, farewells and so on. 2.1.1 Different GreetingIn speaking English countries, when people meet and acquaintance each other, they usually greet , the purpose of the greeting is to establish or maintain social contact, not to transfer information. So formulaic expressions are often used. If Chinese sometime speakers say that 你好早上好in the moming or they say 你来了上班去下班了and so on. English speakers heard that, it will get rise to repugnant, however, just like: where are you going? have you eaten yet? they will make a mistake,becaus they consider that as inquire not greet, in English phrases like the following are common:Good morning /afternoon/eveningHello!How are you?How are you doing?At the same time, they use the greeting of lovely weather, isnt it? they consider that it is a good way of greeting, just then the listener will say “yes, its really a beautiful day”, sometimes, Chinese people ask that why British People talk about the weather so often, perhaps the question should be reversed, why do Chinese people talk about eating so much? In fact, there is no real answer, although there may be geographical or historical factors, which underlie the issue. Nowadays the choice of topic is almost completely a matter of convention. Commenting on the weather is certainly a very popular form of greeting, in England. English people have a very strong sense of privacy and weather is an impersonal topic, which suits them well. So Chinese greeting where are you going? is particularly distasteful to English people . If English people are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture, they do not recognize it as a greeting, which they can answer in a vague way, so both English and Chinese people may also or comment on other matters as a means of greeting people. The two cultures differ in the way people do this, and so care needs to be taken to avoid offence or misunderstandings.2.1.2 Different ThankingThe expression thank you is used both in English and in Chinese to show gratefulness for help or for a present、invitation or offer and so on. But the exact way of expression is used in the two languages is somewhat different, in Chinese, the frequency with which thank you is used is connected with the relationship between the speakers, if the relationship is very close, such as between family members or close friends, it is not used so often. In fact, the use of it implies some distance, but in English this is not the case, thank you is used extremely frequently and is just as common between close friends as between casual acquaintances, if it not used it seems that the other person is being taken for granted, sometimes this difference between two countries lead to misunderstanding.2.1.3 Different Apologizing对不起express apology in China, but in England, poloyy has two kinds of expressions. Such as Excuse me and sorry. Excuse me is used to ask about the information from stranger, cut to other hort speech, entreat somebody making way, also used to make a mistake in making speech, reading and so on. if you step on somebodys foot carelessness, you will say Im sorry and sorry. we can judge that “对不起” may be applicable excuse me and sorry.2.1.4 Different FarewellsOrdinary, daily farewells are between Chinese and Ameri- cans in two phases. In the first phases, the idea is explicitly introduced that one or more of the parties should depart, in the second phase, one or more of the parties actually does depart from the home、office or other location. Among the Americans phase one tends to be played out as follows, among the Chinese, phase one tends to occur in a very short period of time. A Chinese also offers a reason for leaving, but it is unlikely to be related to the leavers own personal situation. among the Chinese, phase two is typically played out over an extended time, and over an extended space, it is not uncommon for a host to accompany the guest down several flights of stairs and out of the building before saying the final good-bye, the final words of the hosts are usually “慢走” “走好” “慢点儿骑”“不远送了” “有空再来”etc. Often accompanied with a smile and a gesture of farewell. The English expressions when parting are “see you “ so long” good-bye” “have a nice day” “take care” etc. with also a smile and a gesture of farewell.2.2 The Difference of the Privacy LanguageThe Chinese emphasize collective function, and personal control. but the westerners emphasize individualism which include personal identification、personal function. Of course the Chinese also admit personal function, but lay particular emphasis on the relation among people in china , for example, when two people person meet, they will ask about family 、age、marriage、son、occupation and income. All these are considered as privacy by the westerners. It isnt allowed to ask in England.2.3 The Difference of the Modesty and Compliment LanguageCompliments and praises which are , parts of verbal communication are important social functions, we can establish good relationship with them, which contributes to the smooth process of communication. Both Chinese and English people obey other peoples intelligence, talents, performance, manners clothes, houses, furniture, cars and good personal qualities, but cultural differences of two countries exist. For example:In Chinese: A: You look smart in your sweater?B: It has a long time. In English: A: You look smart in your sweater?B: Thank you.待添加的隐藏文字内容2We can infer that the Chinese are very modest, but the English do not think so. They do not like this idea. in Chinese duity life , there are usually “请教” “久仰大名” “欢迎光临” “贵校” “寒舍”“高见”and so on. In English, they are usually “will” “would” “may” “might” “can” “could” and so on. All of these are polite we must understand different cultures. However, we have to remember that in both cultures compliment or praise should be natural, sincere and appropriate, whatever how is differences when people of tow responses the compliments. Westerners, Americans in particular, tend to accept compliment with thanks while Chinese generally murmur some reply and not being worthy of the praise.2.4 The difference in the form of addressSince China opened to the world, we have conducted interactions with people from English countries. From our experiences we know that there are differences in the form of addressing between two countries. Nowadays, more and more English speaking people address others by using the first name - Tom. Michael. Linda etc. this is also especially common among Americans. Even when people meet for the first time, this applies not only to people of roughly the same age, but also of different ages, it is not common to hear a child calling a much old person e.g Joe. Ben. Harry etc. A child may even do so to his / her parents or grandparents.In different social ,status people do the samething for example, many college students call their professors by their first names. The professors do not regard this as a sign of disrespect, but rather, as an indication that the professor is considered being affable and a sense of equality. In china seniority is high respected to juniors and supposed to address seniors in a proper way. The use of given names is not allowed to husband and wife, close friends，Juniors and elders or superiors. Hierarchy in china probably accounts for this. In American, it isnt important, no matter ones level or grade or rank, they often call their name directly. In china, people use “同志”“师傅”etc. after persons title, office or occupation. Such as :黄局长，林经理，马校长。But one seldom hears English speakers addressing others as “Bureau Director Smith” “Manager Jackson” “Principal Morris”. Certain of these terms, though, are especially troublesome. In another ,thats a difficult problem.Different politeness language and different speech reaction between Chinese and English will take shape different habit. So, we may make sure long standing historical cultural background. Certainly we must understand cultural background; that can befit and obtain the harmonious communication. The pragmatic difference of the use of politeness language between Chinese and English explain that politeness phenomena has cultural difference in different cultures, as long as you must understand it, that can help increasing consciousness about intercultural communication, overcome the pragmatic failures.3. The Relationship between Cultural Difference of the Politeness and Intercultural Communication 3.1 Cultural Difference Influences CommunicationWe discuss the cultural between different, which appeared in the cross-language, and intercultural communication, the reason is that the different nation mentality, inference pattern can caused many different thing .As the term suggests, intercultural communication occurs when a member of one culture produces a message for consumption by a member of anothe