从恭维语看中西美文化差异-Comparision-between-Chinese-and课件.ppt

1、从恭维语看中西从恭维语看中西(美美)文化差异文化差异Comparision between Chinese and American cultures From the Perspective of ComplimentsOutline1.Definition of compliment2.Aim of the study3.The topics concerned about the compliments3.1 On the appearance 3.2 On the achievement or ability4.The different attitudes and responses

2、 towards the compliments5.The different cultures between China and America -notes6.What makes the differences?7.Conclusion1.Definition of compliment Compliment is one of the most frequently used language phenomena in both Chinese and American societies.The differences of social systems and cultural

3、backgrounds between china and America lead to the dissimilarities of compliment performance and response.This paper discusses the similarities and differences between Chinese and American cultures from the implementation of and response to compliments.2.Aim of the study Avoid misunderstanding,troubl

4、e,and help us Help to deal with the problems coming from cultural diversity3.The topics concerned about the compliments What complimentors say are affected greatly by their values,social regulations,cultural backgrounds,etc.Both differences and similarities exist.3.1 On the appearance 3.1.1 To prais

5、e a woman A male will say:You are the most beautiful woman I have seen!A female will say:You certainly look elegant today!The difference.MenMen Focus on the knowledge of outer world,their thinking is creative and outgoing,the character is straight,independent and competitive.WomenWomen Focus on the

6、knowledge of inner world,they use the instinct,imagination and inspiration to see the world in a whole,they are veiled,mild and harmonious.Some pundits reckon Western Western(American)(American)thinking thinking modesmodes Close to manClose to man Chinese Chinese traditional traditional thinking thi

7、nking modesmodes WomanishWomanish Examples.3.1.2 In the US,when a man meets a woman wearing beautiful clothes:To a close female friend:“Sexy skirt”To a common female friend:“nice sweater”Notes:But to male friends,no compliments will be used.Similarly,in Chinese culture,most men think“Appearance is t

8、o women what ability is to men.”3.1.3 More differences about the compliments in social occasions In the English and American culture They often praise their own families,including their spouses,parents and children.In the Chinese culture The compliments receivers are usually others family members in

9、stead of their own.3.2 On the achievements&ability 3.2.1 Complimemts themselvesIn the US The compliments are more about the result instead of the conditions of the person.In Chinese culture The compliments are based on someones talent and personality.3.2.2 Compliment purposeIn the US The compliments

10、 often come from the superior to the subordinates to maintain good relation between them.Notes:In the US,compliment on ability and achievements is a very serious thing,only one who is qualified enough can pay compliment to others.In Chinese Exactly the different It is rare for Chinese to praise othe

11、rs work ability and achievements of the same level,but its common to flatter their superiors on the ability and achievements to get a favorable impression.4.The different attitudes and responses towards the compliments Generally speaking,peoples attitudes and responses are limited by the rule of“agr

12、ee”and“modest”,still,under the different cultural background,their responses are different.4.1 Americans responses Mostly,we hear American reply“Thank you!”to the compliments.Still,some other replies are also typical.4.1.1 The compliment receiver show agreement first,then evaluate it from an objecti

13、ve way to avoid getting compliment directly.Eg:A:I like your shoes.They are lovely.B:I got them three years ago,but I still love them very much.4.1.2 Compliment back In this way,the compliment will come back to the giver.Eg:A:You are funny.B:No,you are a good listener.4.2 Chineses responses4.2.1 Obs

14、cure and inexplicit reply.Most Chinese are introverted and veiled,they usually choose not to unveil their inner heart,and sometimes it is difficult for us to judge the truth from a Chineses words or facial expression.So,some people think Chinese culture is a kind of“Block Culture”(墙文化).EgChinese A:你

15、的毛衣真漂亮！B:还凑合吧，昨天买的。American A:Thats a nice sweater,I like it.B:Thanks,Im glad you like it.Notes:According to the conversations above,we can see,American reply is straight,frank and makes compliment giver comfortable.While Chinese choose to say something else,it sounds rather wasting others good inte

16、ntion.4.2.2 negative reply.In this kind of reply,speaker think the person or something is not worth the praise,the reply sounds that the compliment doesnt tell the truth.Chinese often focus on the veiled meaning,and they will never praise themselves in public.So,when they hear the compliment,they ar

17、e likely to negate or low themselves to show modest.Below is a typical example to show this A:祝贺你荣获大赛第一名！B:惭愧惭愧！我真不配得这个奖，我的作品其实比别人的差多了4.2.3 Weakening reply.In this way,the speaker think the praise is too heavy,so speaker picks out some weak points and express the praise is overstated.Eg:A:你做的新发型真漂亮！

18、B:哪里哪里，看起来人老了好多。Notes:Hearing others compliments,Chinese are accustomed to pick some shortcomings.For this is based on its cultural background,sometimes its hard for foreigners to understand.5.Comparison between Chinese and American culture showed in compliments 5.1 Similarity A.The compliments on b

19、eautiful appearance are mostly for women.B.Both Chinese and American focus on peoples achievement and ability.5.2 DifferenceA.Different attitude to oneself.Chinese respect others but low themselves.But American respect both others and themselves.不同之处在于中国人的恭维体现在“卑己尊人”上，而美国人则“尊人”不“卑己”。“恭维语的社会功能必须以交往者共

20、享的文化取向、价值观念以及社会结构特点为基础。而中美文化中恭维语实施方面的差异，说到底是文化差异的反映。”（贾玉新，1997）B.Different focus on manner and cooperation Manner includes praise and modest.Cooperation includes truth and appropriate.G.Leech（1983）Chinese focus on the manner,especially the modest.American will focus on the agreement and truth.When t

21、hey cant get both the manner and cooperation,they will choose cooperation.6.What makes the difference?American culture -respcting themselves Short history and revolution for freedom Equality Individualism Geographic environment Thinking modesChinese culture -respecting the others Long history and co

22、nservative mind Inner-land traditional culture Treat human and nature a whole(“天人合一”)(吴针锋，2002)Group awareness Rank mind7.Conclusion Language is undivided with culture,it is the carrier of the culture and tool,which records the developmental history of human culture,and reflects the progressional fr

23、uits of social civilization.As for certain social occasions,certain person and certain linguistic situations,the compliment focus can be different.But those researches and studies on the differences can be effective ways to know about the western culture.In language learning,while we get to know and

24、 master the language forms and regulations,we should also try to know the cultural knowledge and social custom on the back actively.Only in this way,can we communicate with the native speakers freely.Reference 1 Leech,G.N.(1983).Principles of PragmaticsM.London:Longman.2 贾玉新.跨文化交际学M.上海外语教育出版社，1997.3 吴锋针.恭维语在实施过程中的文化差异J.台州师专学报，2002.Bye!End