A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRAGMATIC DIFFERENCES OF POLITENESS LANGUAGE IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE

Аннотация

English and Chinese have different polite language. The pragmatic differences in polite language between English and Chinese can lead to pragmatic obstacles and pragmatic failure. This article aims to compare the differences in the specific application of English and Chinese polite language, and analyze the cultural factors that cause these pragmatic differences, so as to help learners reduce and eliminate pragmatic barriers and pragmatic failures. KEYWORDS: - English and Chinese polite language; pragmatic differences; cultural factors; each nation has its own polite language, which can reflect a nation’s cultural background, customs, political history, etc. common. «Pragmatic differences» refer to the polite I NTRODUCTION cultural differences in pragmatics, that is, people with different cultural backgrounds have Language is the carrier of culture, and the different differences in the way of expressing polite language, usage of polite language in different countries which leads to pragmatic barriers and pragmatic reflects different cultural phenomena. failure. China is known as the «state of etiquette». Chinese T HE MAIN RESULTS AND FINDINGS people also follow the principle of etiquette in their interactions with Westerners. However, the cultural This article aims to explore the specific conflicts and communication barriers caused by manifestations of such pragmatic barriers and people from two different cultural backgrounds are analyze the cultural factors that cause these even It is that communication failure is very CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGICAL 75 SCIENCES ISSN – 2767-3758 https://masterjournals.com/index.php/crjps CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2(12): 75-78, December 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/philological-crjps-02-12-16 ISSN 2767-3758 ©2021 Master Journals Accepted09thDecember, 2021 & Published 14thDecember, 2021 pragmatic differences, so as to help learners reduce denials. They find it difficult to understand the and eliminate pragmatic barriers and pragmatic modesty of Chinese people, but hope that the other failures. 2. Pragmatic differences in social language party can happily accept saying «Thank you» or 1. Pragmatic differences between thank you and «Really? I'm glad you think so.» The pragmatic apology The most commonly used thank you in difference of the banquet is a guest in a Chinese Westerners is Thankyou. It is not completely home. The host will set up a table of hearty meals, equivalent to the Chinese «thank you». but what he says is: «Today’s food is not good, please bear with me. .» or «There is no food today, Westerners say Thank you much more often than it's just a casual meal.» Westerners will find it very Chinese say «thank you». Under normal difficult to understand, and they don't feel good circumstances, Chinese people seldom say «thank about it. Why do you want to entertain me? When you» to their family members, such as husband and visiting a Westerner, they will say: «This is the most wife, mother and child. Among close friends, they distinctive restaurant in our region.» or «This is my often express gratitude in other more euphemistic wife's specialty. terms, such as Having to use such a polite language will make the other person feel strange and Chinese people like to persuade their friends to eat uncomfortable, and widen the distance between food constantly during the banquet, and even each other. personally pick up dishes for them to show their hospitality. Westerners are very uncomfortable Westerners talk about «Thank you» and say that to because they usually only say «He| p yourself.» anyone. When others thank you'Thank you very when entertaining friends. (iß much.' If Chinese people say «Never mind» or «It Pragmatic differences in daily greetings Chinese doesn't matter.» according to the virtue of humility, people like to ask each other: «Have you eaten?» it would be very out of date. Because Never mind. Translated to Westerners Or It doesn't matter.—It's usually used to reply to Is it «Have you had meal?» or «Have you eaten?» the other party's apologies. Westerners usually say They will not understand it, and even mistakenly «»m glad you think SO.» or «You're welcome.» think that you want to eat with him. The Chinese go to the airport to meet Western friends to visit and The apology terms commonly used by Westerners play. When the guests get off the plane, the Chinese include So Ting and Excuse me. So generally refers will say: «Welcome, welcome, all the way to apologizing to the other party after doing Thanks for your hard work. «Translated into something wrong, and Excuse me is often similar to English is «Welcome.» our Chinese meaning of «Excuse me». Pragmatic differences between compliments and You must be tired all the wa Westerners will be congratulations. Westerners never spare good surprised to hear such greetings, they will reply words. They often put compliments to others on Replied, «No, no. I'm nottired at a» The greetin