Differences between Chinese andWestern cultural communicationByYu Li NaUnder the supervision ofYang Dong MinA THESISSubmitted in partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the degree ofBACHELOR OF ART Intercultural communication 错误!未找到引用源。

Shaanxi Normal UniversityJune,2013Differences between Chinese andWestern cultural communicationAbstract： What is culture？Simple to say, culture is one of those you don't know why but also willing to accept, rules and knowledge from the start, in practice most people can experience the benefits, or that can bring benefits, so that these rules and knowledge has become the most people choose, this constitutes the main content of culture. But if this rule or understanding has been completely objective practice proves impossible do not insist, renewal ability is also culture has. So the culture is the difficult to give the rules and knowledge about (belonging to the values and Philosophy), and has some subjectivity, continuity, group, beneficial four characteristics.Key words： culture；subjectivity；continuity, group, beneficial four characteristics.1 IntroductionFor example, the Spring Festival, everyone should think over the Spring Festival, but get used to it, it is difficult to say. We must have the spring festival what necessity, but can tell some benefits, so naturally continue down. But is this kind of natural inertia, has a powerful social force, unless the social upheaval, or completely oppressed the erosion of alien culture. The process for China's traditional culture is not more than once, but they were conquered by the Chinese culture has its own rationality and strong cohesion. Here the two Chinese cultural characteristics, reason and cohesion. To give credit to the acts of such a phenomenon exists in every society groups in society, exist in a variety of language and culture, the different levels and in different degrees, reflecting the people's social activity, it can not only shorten the distance between communication, and can contact feelings, to consolidate and strengthen the communication between United, played the role of social lubricant. Pomerantz American linguists point out that language is a kind of support to give credit to the sexual behavior (supportive action), is also a sexual evaluation (assessment action), that is to say, there is praise, not only praised the language of nature, there is also the nature of the evaluation. Let us explore the Chinese and English culture in the praise of thespeech act on the similarities and cultural differences, and the resulting failure to make a pragmatic analysis, which allows us to better understand the Chinese and English in cross-cultural communication how to appropriately praised each other and know how to praise each other's right to appropriate the language of response, which is our day-to-day communication, English language teaching and research have a vital role.Two, to give credit to the behavior of Chinese-English cultural similarities1. Others focus on politenessEmbodied in the Speech Communication degree of courtesy, in a sense marks on the degree of civilization of a society, reflects the spirit of a nation. China is a country with an ancient civilization,people attach great importance to modest, respectful attitude and polite language. English culture is also fully reflected in the speech act of the embodiment of the principles of courtesy. Leach (Leech, 1983) at the basis of previous studies, from the pragmatics of interpersonal communication and rhetorical point of view of activity on the communication of politeness principles into new and classification, that is, by the appropriate criteria (tact maxim) , generous criteria (generosity maxim), praised the guidelines (approbation maxim), modest criteria (modesty maxim), the same criteria (agreement maxim) guidelines and sympathy (sympathy maxim) constitute six criteria. Later, a number of Eastern and Western scholars have been from a different point of view of verbal communication in the situation discussed courtesy to become politely Pragmatics one of the important issues covered. Principles reflected in the acts of courtesy, in praise, such as expression of appreciation, the Chinese and English, there are many similarities. For example,(1) you make the meal delicious.(2) Thank you for your help.2. To promote modestyIs generally believed that Chinese culture, modesty is a virtue has, however, in the English culture is also an important content. Modesty in the Chinese expression for praise from the other side and evaluation, generally do not agree with the use of a comprehensive response, and the "downsizing" to the strategy agreed. For example,(1) A: Just now you sing really good to sing.B: Really? But I think I did not open big.(2) A: You have a nice one-room apartment.B: Yes. The rent is expensive. It is a burden.People speak through agreed Recognition to praise each other's behavior, listen to people through the humble, polite attitude response, thereby creating a "and" atmosphere, which is in Chinese and English language at a typical example of conversation. Bring credit to the acts of the characteristics of the social etiquette in daily life to maintain a successful relationship between people.3. Pay attention to the harmonious co-ordinationEastern countries, including a lot of Chinese history has been on the social structure of the family are to form a polymer model, which is characterized by a strong sense of conformity, do not want to highlight the individual, focus on others "and for You." Is not difficult to find at our school, some teachers speak about art criticism is when students speak of strategy, such as your article was very well written, if more on the pretty words and then even better. Calligraphy Teacher criticized and praised the combination of article, and has reduced criticism of taste, ready to accept students, the maintenance of harmonious relations between teachers and students played a good role. China has to "and" as the axis of the culture, Chinese people usually unconsciously, the subtle use of this "and" culture of mutual understanding, to achieve a harmonious relationship with each other. English-speaking countries are mixed foreign country, as a discrete model is characterized by mutual alienation, pay attention to the individual alone. However, they are not the community at "coordinate" efforts. Western philosophers and language experts Gricean pragmatics (Grice) in 1968 put forward a conversation on the need to coordinate the four principles: (1) said that if straight, is not to say that there is no grasp of the words; (2) the number of access to information , not to give in excess of the required information; (3) that the relevant details of the case, not to digress; (4) speak to a crisp, concise, coherent. The four principles of communicative language be considered the general principles of conversation.Three, to give credit to the behavior of Chinese-English cultural differences1. Differences in the way of praiseA Chinese American students and students were invited to a friends house to go to Japan, although the United States after the Chinese students, said students did not meet hisJapanese food tastes, but after a guest at dinner and say goodbye, he has been kept at the owner said before how delicious meal. Students feel that the United States said the Chinese students lie, it sounds very hypocritical. He believes that if it is in their own words, he would say some appreciation, but also not straightforward to say that the food tastes. In this regard, the Chinese students is that the delicious meals are an expression of appreciation, a compliment is not hypocritical. English culture, people used to put on each other's respect and gratitude of the speech act different show, if want to praise them, but also the use of critical and restrictive, but also praised the high-profile way; and China face the same object , the praise, words of appreciation are not with the evaluation of a comprehensive affirmative, low profile, often seen as too modest to be Westerners, and are false, compliment the performance of flattery.2. To give credit to the range of differences and different conceptsChinese and English in different cultural traditions and values to give credit to the scope of the cause of the differences in the Western cultural background, religious belief, income, age and other taboo topics are required, such as the issue of our praise for such a topic would embarrassing situation, the impact of further exchanges between the two sides. And English words in praise of the relative ratio, the higher the frequency of Chinese words related to the praise of each other's personality, character and spirit inherent in praise and admiration, as usual will be able to hear the following words of greetings.(1) very good temper you, so have patience for children.(2) total from you so early!(3) you really study efforts!Traditions and values is also reflected in the different award points for the same concept of people's different. A culture is generally recognized that the value or behavior in another culture is not recognized, or be rejected; think a culture of civilization, appropriate language, in another culture, but consider are backward, rude behavior. Let us on the following topics to explore, which will have a profound understanding of comparison.① weight. This is one of two languages at a high frequency of occurrence of the topic. The past, the Chinese people to meet each other if the "Fu of hair", "weight" is a compliment, but now people's living standards have brought to the health and aesthetic needs of peopleactually willing to listen to a lot of people say that they "lost "can we still can not deny that at the influence of traditional culture, saying that the other side" of the hair Fu "" the fat "still contain the living conditions of compliment each other the meaning of superiority, and said the other" lost "under normal circumstances also expressed their health concerns; in English culture, there is no such meaning, as people put excessive weight is an unhealthy sign, said the other side so fat will be interpreted as alluding to the other side of physical decline, and said the other "lost" there is no doubt compliment are saying,② money. Of the Chinese people, praised each other's family background, economic status is a compliment, in many cases with such a compliment would admire the composition; in English culture is not, it is more important to individuals through the efforts of the above-mentioned wealth, such a concept at Benjamin Franklin (Benjamin Franklin) writings reflected - "God helps those who help themselves" (God helps those who help themselves).③ friendship. Chinese-English in the context of two cultures who value friendship, but the orientation of China's relationships with emotion as the center and consider a friend, in particular, are good friends should help each other, mutual讲义气, so we often heard the words "really mean "" enough buddy "" loyalty enough, "this kind of compliment, which are in English culture had not heard it. English culture in the context of interpersonal orientation to the job, interests and activities as the center, a friend still emphasize independence, autonomy and competition, there is no mutual obligations and responsibilities. Therefore, if a person did not give him the Friends themselves in a difficult position to help are quite normal and understandable.④ appearance. Chinese women in public or husband by the presence of the opposite sex in praise of their appearance, most people would feel embarrassed, and sometimes may find indecent, disgraceful; English appearance of women, such as makeup and clothing are praised very common, very natural, but also a great degree of freedom is basically not subject to age, status, degree of occasions and are familiar with the restrictions.⑤ family members. Chinese people tend to praise each other's family members, in particular, are each other's children; English cultural background of people tend to praise each other among family members. The reason why such differences exist because Chinese people are strong family values that families and individuals are integrated, so between the familymembers have praised the "self-praise" suspicion, and praised each other's family is in fact I praised the hearer ; while most Westerners strong sense of self-concept, which often make them independent of their family members hesitate to praise. For example,(1) daughter, you look really pretty!(2) a short period of time so no, you son of a long such a high!(3) (mother daughter) You look so lovely in your new dress!(4) (a husband to his wife) What a nice dinner you gave us!3. Differences in response to the attitude ofLanguage and language award constitutes a response to the adjacent (adjacency pairs). Response to language in the context of language and culture must, to give credit to the language people use to achieve the process of communication of the essential part. Thus, in the words of praise of the cross-cultural study, not only to study what praise, how to praise, but also study how to appropriately deal with praise. Chinese and English at different cultural background, the treatment of compliment and praise the attitude is also very different reaction. English culture readily accepted the use of a direct way, very few to be negative, so as not to reveal the inconsistencies and praise, so that the other party embarrassment; and praised the Chinese response to this very differently. "British people respect others," Chinese are under the specific circumstances of "ceremony" at a concrete manifestation of communication means that elevation of others, to belittle their own. National cultural norms of modesty so that others compliment for us is usually negative or enjoy a manner acceptable to have reservations about the form of verbal communication in a number of unique courtesy, such as "where where" "the award-winning" "Thank you, but also far it "and so on, more subtle and tactful. We can usually carried out two conversations between different cultures are responsible for perceived social value. For example,(1) A: This is really nice clothes!B: Yes, I give my elder sister bought.(2) C: How was your travel to France?D: Fine, thanks.A andB are China, B of A, praised the unconscious use of the "transfer (reassignment)" strategy to answer the question, which is a shift to compliment or praise others things inorder to avoid response boastful way, such acts on the other side can be understood as a tribute. C and D cultures are English people, their habits as a general greeting to talk to. In the conversation, the expression of respect to give credit to the acts are the core of the English culture is not without humility in this, but Westerners have even suggested that self-respect, self-centered emphasis, stressing the independence of character and personality, and respected the achievements of individuals Honor, therefore, in praise of the response pattern language to English culture and background will show the mentality of recognition and appreciation.Fourth, Chinese and English culture to give credit to the acts of Pragmatic FailureThe United States is the earliest practice all the various achievements of civilization into a specific text provisions of the countries, and now it has legal system, perfect policy, public programs, enjoy the freedom of the individual in the rules, or rules reflect a compromise between personal freedom. When rules become provisions, all can become the order, if the rules conform to social production and living needs, so naturally produce higher efficiency, provisions in American society is dependent on good.But the rules only reflect things at the system level, viewpoint of value is the cornerstone of promoting the establishment of the system of. The United States of America values includes two aspects, on the one hand from the French Revolution in freedom, equality, fraternity thoughts, on the other hand is the traditional Western Christian culture transplantation. The United States is a free alliance system, their strength is often from loose and free creation.China has no mature system, legal, policy and statute of fixed rules, but Chinese society is still the overall functioning of rapid development, but also has the self-examination of powerful, because China has a strong and vibrant culture. Culture can restrain the behavior of everyone in every moment, to promote social cooperation. This kind of culture from the historical accumulation, and wisdom of the collision.China still comply with the social composition of the principles, values is the cornerstone of promoting the establishment of the system of. The complexity of Chinese social development and diversity, the cultural level than the United States far-reaching, more profound wisdom. But the institutional foundation of Chinese development, often alien to the monarchy and turn damage. China mature cultural wisdom, is always in the authoritarianand brutal regime and alien domesticated in the struggle. Enlightened period in Chinese history, can often determine the outcome of the culture for some good rules, but subsequent kings are very vulnerable in the system has been destroyed. The Song dynasty literati affairs of state and emerging ideas and quickly alien aggression has been completely ruined, after causing thousands of ideological shackles.Culture is irreplaceable in a society. Because of the social development process is not interrupted, and then design structure. Social development is a natural evolution of not terminated, no choice process. China is how to progress, should be identified correctly and fit their own traditions, their culture will rise to the rules, and the use of their wisdom, obtain new knowledge from practice, and together with the traditional become social system established by the foundation.In my opinion, whether Chinese or foreign culture, culture, are worthy of respect and understanding.References:[1] Jia new. "Cross-cultural Communication Study" [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1987.[2] must Song Lv. "Introduction to Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language" [M]. Beijing: NOCFL published, 1996.。