Abstract:Address terms are the words speakers use to designate the person they are talking to in communication and they are an indispensable part of human verbal communication. The address terms can be used to establish, maintain, enhance or break down all kinds of interpersonal relationships. Therefore, people are much sensitive to the use of address terms in their daily communication. However, there are great differences of address terms in English and Chinese on account of their distinguished languages and cultures. This thesis mainly explores the differences between Chinese and English address terms. It also attempts to reveal the causes leading to differences of address terms in two cultures. The finding of the study shows that traditional cultures — collectivism of Chinese and individualism of western people — can affect the address terms in Chinese and English. By listing examples of cultural differences in Chinese and English address terms and discussing reasons for variation, this thesis aims at making English learners know more about address terms in different cultures. What is more important is to help them acquire more knowledge as to how to use and understand address terms correctly in order to avoid cultural conflicts caused by them in intercultural communication.
Key Words: address terms; cultural differences; intercultural communication
摘要：称呼语是指说话人在谈话交流过程中用来称呼他人的词，也是人类语言交际中不可或缺的一部分。称呼语可以用来建立、保持、提高或中止各种人际关系。因此，人们在日常交际中对称谓语的使用非常敏感。然而，因为语言和文化的不同，英汉称呼语之间存在着很大的差异。本文主要探讨英汉称呼语之间的差异，并试图揭示导致两种称呼语文化差异的原因。研究发现传统文化，即中国人的集体主义和西方人的个体主义，会影响英汉称呼语。通过列举英汉称呼语差异的例子和讨论其产生差异的原因，本文旨在使英语学习者们了解不同文化中的称呼语。更重要的是帮助他们掌握更多关于如何正确使用和理解称呼语的知识来避免由此在跨文化交际中产生的文化冲突。
关键词：称呼语；文化差异；跨文化交际
注：本文全文为英语所写的英语论文。只有摘要是中英语写的，全文为英文。
