从恭维语看中西(美)文化差异_Comparision_between_Chinese_and

2. Aim of the study
• Avoid misunderstanding, trouble, and help us • Help to deal with the problems coming from cultural diversity
3. The topics concerned about the compliments
4.1 American’s 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 objective way to avoid getting compliment directly. Eg:
• A: You are funny. • B: No, you are a good listener.
4.2 Chinese’s responses
4.2.1 Obscure 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 Chinese’s words or facial expression. So, some people think Chinese culture is a kind of “Block Culture”(墙文化).
Eg…
Chinese • A: 你的毛衣真漂亮！ • B: 还凑合吧，昨天买的。 American • A: That’s a nice sweater,I like it. • B: Thanks,I’m 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 other’s good intention.
3.2 On the achievements & ability
• 3.2.1 Complimemts themselves…
In the US • The compliments are more about the result instead of the conditions of the person. In Chinese culture • The compliments are based on someone’s talent and personality.
• 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:
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 doesn’t 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 are likely to negate or low themselves to show modest.
从恭维语看中西(美)文化差异
Comparision between Chinese and American cultures
—From the Perspective of Compliments
Outline
1. 2. 3. Definition of compliment Aim of the study The topics concerned about the compliments 3.1 On the appearance 3.2 On the achievement or ability 4. The different attitudes and responses towards the compliments 5. The different cultures between China and America ---- [notes] 6. What makes the differences? 7. Conclusion
Men • Focus on the knowledge of outer world, their thinking is creative and outgoing, the character is straight, independent and competitive. Women • Focus on the knowledge of inner world, they use the instinct, imagination and inspiration to see the world in a whole, they are veiled, mild and harmonious.
4. The different attitudes and responses towards the compliments
• Generally speaking, people’s attitudes and responses are limited by the rule of “agree” and “modest”, still, under the different cultural background, their responses are different.
1.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 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.
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…
• 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 to women what ability is to men.”
In Chinese
• Exactly the different • It is rare for Chinese to praise other’s work ability and achievements of the same level, but it’s common to flatter their superiors on the ability and achievements to get a favorable impression.
3.2.2 Compliment purpose…
In the US • The compliments 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.
• 3.1.1 To praise 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...
• What complimentors say are affected greatly by their values,social regulations,cultural backgrounds,etc. • Both differences and similarities exist.
3.1ຫໍສະໝຸດ BaiduOn the appearance
Some pundits reckon…
• Chinese traditional thinking modes • Womanish • Western (American) thinking modes • Close to man
Examples...
3.1.2 In the US,when a man meets a woman wearing beautiful clothes:
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 instead of their own.