A Brief Analysis of the Politeness Maxims in English and Chinese Cultures.doc

A Brief Analysis of the Politeness Maxims in English and Chinese Cultures Abstract : This paper gives an analysis of the politeness maxims in English and Chinese cultures, and attempts to explore the distinctions of politeness in language communication between Chinese and English situations with reference to different culture values and to reveal its significance to cross-cultural communication. Key words: politeness maxims; intercultural communication; culture values浅析中英文化中的礼貌准则摘要：本文通过比较中英文化中各自的礼貌准则，分析英汉两种不同文化背境中的价值观，揭示了英汉文化中语言交际的礼貌差异，表明了它在跨文化交际中的意义。 关键词： 礼貌准则；跨文化交际；文化价值观 I. Introduction In intercultural communication, people from different cultural backgrounds encounter difficulties concerning both language usage and culture differences, which often hinder their smooth communication. As a social convention, politeness phenomenon possesses cross -cultural homogeneity and also specific cultural characteristics. Though being polite is preferred universally, the connotation of politeness might vary across culture. People of different countries observe different politeness principles, so what is polite in one culture is not in another. Thats to say , Politeness phenomena in Chinese and English Cultures are not the same. Different cultures do things in different ways. The variety of ways we express politeness and respond to speech acts featuring politeness is determined by underlying, cultural-based values. II.Cultural Values Reflected in Different Politeness Phenomena What is politeness? This sounds like a simple question .In daily life, we often make judgments about what is polite and what is not polite .For example, to offer your seat to the elderly on a bus is considered a polite behavior, and to interrupt when someone is talking is considered impolite .So politeness can first of all be conceived as a phenomenon, an observable social phenomenon. As an observable social phenomenon, politeness is something superficial but to account for what is perceived at the surface we should delve into the depth where different cultural values are rooted .1. Modesty and Self - denigrationChinese is a very gracious people! In particular, Chinese frequently compliment foreign friends on their language skills, knowledge of Chinese culture, professional accomplishments, and personal health. Curiously, however, Chinese are as loathe to accept a compliment, as they are eager to give one. This is a manifestation of the Chinese virtue of modesty. The Chinese conception of politeness is to some extent moralized. Modesty is an important component of Chinese politeness. Modesty is of key importance in Chinese culture, and that to blatantly accept a compliment is considered impolite. Compliments are rejected more frequently in Chinese than in English, and rejecting complements does not reduce social solidarity, for complimenters do not expect their compliments to be accepted. Chinese speakers actually enhance their self images through self-denigration and humility. Denying a compliment is to show modesty (Self-denigration Maxim).When being complimented, the English speaker is being polite to the extent that by accepting and showing appreciation of the compliment, they tend to accept a compliment with gratitude. On the other hand, Chinese speakers tend to reject the compliment, even when they know they deserve the credit or recognition, which has been awarded them. Self -denigration has been at the core of the Chinese notion of politeness for over two thousand years. The Chinese in order to show modesty will go to such lengths as to underrate what he himself has achieved and deny the truth of a complimentary remark.Then let us cite an introducing each-other interaction to demonstrate the self -denigration phenomenon.It is quite common among the Chinese to introduce each other by getting to each other s names ,particularly surnames .The following exchanges are held between a Mainland Chinese (M)and a Singapore Chinese (S)(all literal translation).(1) M: nin gui xing? M: Your precious surname?(2) S: xiao di xing Li? S: Little brothers surname is Li.(3) S: nin zun xing ? S: Your respectable surname?(4) M: jian xing Zhang. M: My worthless surname is Zhang. When M refers to Ss surname (1), he elevates it as precious surname, whereas in mentioning his own surname (4), he denigrates it by calling it worthless surname.S, on his part ,though he does not denigrate his surname in response to Ms enquiry (2),denigrates instead himself as little brother (implicating that he is inferior to M).In his enquiry about Ms surname ,on the other hand ,S exhilarates it as respectable surname (3).It may be of interest to note that this introducing each other interaction will differ from an English one under similar circumstances. The English tend to self introduction, to start with the speakers own name rather than ask for the others name, as the Chinese tend to do .The English practice can probably be explained as being motivated by the desire of avoiding potential face threat. The Chinese way, in one hand, is more likely to be due to the constraint of the Self denigration Maxim: to take the first chance to elevate others. 4Some acts such as visiting, reading, etc. performed and referred to by self are also subject to the regulation of the maxim. When self pays a visit to other, his visiting is described by self as baifang ,or baijian ,or baiwang.The morpheme bai ,literally means to prostrate oneself at the foot of the other .If selfs visiting is a return visit ,he huibai . Similarly, selfs reading others writing is baidu (i.e.to prostrate self to read others writing). If self requests the other to read his writing, he begs the latter to cijiao .2. Privacy and IndividualismPrivacy is highly valued in English speaking countries. The term "privacy" underlines this emphasis of the importance of individuals. The right to private property is really just an extension, within the framework of a naturalist worldview, of the right to one's own life. It is when one engages with the rest of the world in the unique way one will do so, and when another will do this in his or her unique way, then privacy becomes important. It will then be possible to actualize and to protect who one is and one's manifestation in the world-one's own art, productivity, creativity, innovation and so forth. Others, as well, may use none of those, without the individual's consent to whom they belong. On TV or movies, you will probably notice that children in the host families will go to their rooms and close their doors to be alone. This is perfectly normal, and demonstrates the English attitude toward privacy.If you greet an English speaker by asking him or her “where are you going ?”or “have you eaten yet ?” ,the Englishman might feel very uncomfortable, because asking these questions could be interpreted as an invasion of privacy. But in the Chinese culture, these are appropriate greetings ,which do not invade the other persons privacy. English speakers are not willing to let others know their income, age, marriage, and other privacy, especially to strangers. English people think high of privacy. They stress on private affairs, private business, private concerns and so on. These “privates” are regarded as sacred and not to be violated. It could be understood as the right of an individual to self -determination as to the degree to which the individual is willing to share with others information about himself .So unless your partner first refer to them, its better to avoid the following expressions: How old are you? Where do you come from? When did you buy your house? Where did you buy your watch? How much did you pay for that car? How much did that dress cost you? How many children do you have? So youre divorced, what was the reason? Couldnt you two get along? Whats your religion? Are you Catholic? Why did you vote for him? Privacy is observed even in families. English parents always want their children to depend on themselves . Children are expected to depend on themselves .In an oriental family, however, the parents are the representatives of the closely knit social unit. Children are not allowed to keep privacy from their parents who have the right to know everything about their children. The parents can read their childrens diaries and personal letters without asking for permission. Grown-up children are allowed to read freely their parents diaries or personal letters as well .Although changes can be observed in this connection ,cultural tradition is still exerting strong influence upon peoples social life .Ones family members are still treated as ones extended self.Individualism is another characteristic that defines English culture and one that you will notice everywhere at work and at home. The gist of individualism is, then, that everyone must consent to being used by another. This is because each is important, valuable in his or her own right. And if an individual is important as such, then there is a sphere that constitutes the individual's realm of sovereignty and others ought to respect it, the realm within which one must make effective judgments about one's life. And indeed in classical liberal, political, and legal theory there's a great deal of emphasis on individual rights rather than rights of families or other groups, bearing on this individualist element of the position. The right to private property is, in turn, the most practically relevant of those individual rights. Englishman say so many “thank yous” .When they pay the money and get the things bought from shop assistants, they would say so when Chinese wont say “thank you” in this case ,because we think the assistants are doing their duty .The foreigners think high of each individual and respect individuals rights. So they form the habit of respecting people by using a lot of “please, thank you ,and excuse me s” Individualism can also be found in foreigners casual attitudes towards hospitality. At a dinner table ,they never put food on your plate but just ask you to help yourself .If you ,as a guest ,are shy or modest ,waiting for the food to be put on your plate ,you will remain half-starved. The Chinese would feel disappointed at British hospitality because they use the Chinese way of showing hospitality to judge the British one .The foreigners lack of hospitality is partially due to his belief that guests are independent entities who can make their own decisions; once having offered food or drink ,it is not necessary to go any further ,the same as gift giving .English people never force the guest to receive a gift .Chinese peoples care for others and advice giving often make English people embarrassed, or could be interpreted as an invasion of individualism. For example :(1) Englishman :(when part) Good -bye!Chinese: Take care. Walk slowly.Englishman: Embarrassed. 3(2) Englishman (meet at the airport) Did you enjoy your trip?Chinese: you must have had a hard journey.Englishman: Embarrassed.(3) You should take care of yourself .I advice you not to smoke any more .Put on more, or youll catch cold. Keep quiet. Dont make noise .For the expressions above, English people tend to use euphemistic words ,such as :If I were you, I would or Would you pleaseAccording to the Address Maxim, choice of an address term depends on the consideration of multiple variables. They include (1) kin or non -kin,(2) politically superior or inferior,(3)professionally prestigious or non -prestigious , (4)interpersonally familiar or unfamiliar,(5) male or female ,(6) old or young,(7)on a formal or informal occasion ,（9）in public or at home.2But in English ,it is not so complex .Their culture scores high on individualism, the individualism tend to believe in equality,their communication norms stress equal treatment of subordinate and superior, friend and stranger, which will be seemed unusual and unnecessarily polite to Chinese people .III. Advice on Communication First , we should have this point in mind :different cultures own different politeness maxims Its hard to tell which one is better .It is only because their culture values are not the same .The most important thing is to make them appropriately used . Therefore , speakers from both cultures should understand the similarities and differences in their politeness principles and respect each other s politeness maxims.1Second , knowledge needs not only depend on personal contact ,reading about the background of the new cultural is also of great help in fostering understanding .Members of the host culture are an important source of information .Last , but not least ,watching movies , especially original ones , can help us understand the culture of English speaking countries .IV.Conclusion Politeness is universal in all languages but ways to judge it in different cultures are different . The culture-specific of politeness would inevitably cause cross -cultural pragmatic failures .Only the culture gap on politeness caused by different cultures between China and western countries is understood can errors of language usage be avoided and reach the successful purpose of communication among different cultures . Speakers from both cultures should understood each others politeness maxims , so that they will make willing efforts to adapt themselves to eath other.References:1邓炎昌，刘润清:语言与文化M.北京:外语教学研究出版社,1989.2杨艳华.英汉礼貌用语差异及交际策略J.东北电力学院学报,2003,(6).3叶淑霞.和外国人沟通技巧M.北京:世界图书出版公司,1996.4