Abstract:This paper is a comparative study on the different use of polite language between English and Chinese. As an universal phenomenon, politeness exists in all kinds of cultures，which plays a vital role not only in maintaining friendly relationship between human beings but also in creating the harmonious atmosphere conversation. As English-speaking countries and China have different cultures, they use different ways to express their own polite words and deeds, and the different nationalities’ understanding of polite language always affects the effective cross-culture communication between them. What is more, it would causes unsuccessful cross-cultural communication. A comparative study of polite language between English and Chinese, will urge English learners to reduce the faults in using cross-cultural language, and will simultaneously achieve effective human communication through using appropriately polite expressions.
Key Words: polite language; communication; comparative study; cultural differences
摘要:礼貌是人们在频繁的交往中彼此表示尊重与友好的行为规范。礼貌现象存在于各种不同的文化之中，对于保持人们之间的友好关系，建立和谐的谈话气氛起着重要的作用。英汉国家由于受到不同文化的影响，会用不同的方式来表达自己的礼貌言行，而不同的民族对礼貌的理解各不同，这就往往影响英汉双方进行有效的跨文化交际，甚至会导致跨文化交际的失败。通过对比研究英汉礼貌用语的差异，会促使英语学习者在跨文化交际中减少语用失误，同时达到使用恰当的礼貌用语进行有效交际的目的。
关键词：礼貌用语；交际；比较研究；文化差异
Different cultures caused different polite language. Politeness in both English and Chinese language by differential comparison shows, courtesy of the cultural aspects, different nations have different concept of politeness and courtesy standards. Manifestations of politeness in different cultures in the West, the methods and criteria are quite different, it also underlined the Pragmatic Functions of language forms and their cultural background is closely related to, the politeness principle subject to the constraints of a particular culture. People of different cultural backgrounds to communicate, we must understand the cultural differences in order to avoid the Pragmatic Failure, interruption or failure of communication. Therefore, we in the professional learning of Chinese as a foreign language, not only to develop English language skills, but also pay attention to the cultivation of Pragmatic Competence in order to better cross-cultural communication.
From the above comparison of politeness in English and Chinese, we can see that different nationalities, different cultural background may lead to different standards to measure things. With the development of society, with the national unity and the world economic and cultural exchanges between the deepening of foreign language learners, as we, experience deeply:" only understand language but not understand each other's culture is very difficult to successfully communicate". Therefore, in the actual teaching, pay attention to training the students' language ability and the ability of intercultural communication, to meet the needs of society for more and more specifically to the talent needed. Therefore, to investigate and contrast the differences in politeness has its practical significance.
