從稱贊應(yīng)答語(yǔ)看中美文化差異

Title:AnAnalysisonComparisonBetweenChinaandAmericaonCultureFromComplimentResponses題目:從夸獎(jiǎng)應(yīng)答語(yǔ)看中美文化差異摘要語(yǔ)言是社會(huì)交際的工具，語(yǔ)言的使用反應(yīng)著一種社會(huì)文化生活的方方面面。任何語(yǔ)言不僅體現(xiàn)該民族的風(fēng)土人情、文化習(xí)慣以及歷史的演變和發(fā)展，并且還蘊(yùn)藏著該民族的人生觀、生活方式和思維模式。簡(jiǎn)而言之，根植于不一樣社會(huì)文化歷史背景下的不一樣民族，其語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣相差甚遠(yuǎn)。其中，夸獎(jiǎng)?wù)Z作為一種社交語(yǔ)言即社會(huì)交際用語(yǔ)，不一樣文化背景自然產(chǎn)生不一樣的夸獎(jiǎng)?wù)Z模式。同步，作為一種配對(duì)性構(gòu)造，夸獎(jiǎng)與回應(yīng)的共現(xiàn)又反應(yīng)著不一樣的文化淵源。也就是說(shuō)：被夸獎(jiǎng)人必須對(duì)夸獎(jiǎng)做出回應(yīng)——接受或拒絕。在不一樣文化背景的影響下，人們的夸獎(jiǎng)內(nèi)容、運(yùn)用的場(chǎng)所及對(duì)象、形式對(duì)比、價(jià)值觀念、采用的禮貌原則以及應(yīng)答語(yǔ)的模式也會(huì)存在著差異。假如不理解文化之間的差異，跨文化交際就會(huì)因語(yǔ)用失誤產(chǎn)生交際障礙，甚至導(dǎo)致交際失敗。因此，文章擬從中美兩國(guó)的夸獎(jiǎng)?wù)Z及其應(yīng)答模式，看中美文化的差異。以其能盡量防止語(yǔ)用失誤，更好地增進(jìn)兩國(guó)人民的交流。關(guān)鍵詞：夸獎(jiǎng)?wù)Z；應(yīng)答語(yǔ)；模式；文化對(duì)比；分析AbstractLanguageisatoolofsocialcommunication,whoseusereflectsvariousaspectsoftheculturallifeofaspecificsociety.Anylanguagenotonlyembodiesthecustoms,culturalhabits,historicalevolutionanddevelopmentoftheracespeakingthatlanguage,butalsocontainsthephilosophy,lifestyleandwayofthinkingofthatrace.Simplyput,differentraces,basedondifferentsocialculturesandhistoricalbackgrounds,willproducedifferentlanguages.Itisalsonaturalthatcomplimentsderivingfromdifferentculturalbackgroundswillgeneratedifferentpatternsintermsoftheiruseandresponses.Meanwhile,asanadjacencypair,thecoexistenceofcomplimentsandresponsesinturnreflectsdifferentculturalbackgrounds.Inotherwords,personcomplimentedmustrespond—eitheracceptorrefuse.Underdifferentculturalbackgrounds,thecontents,contextsandobjectsforms,conceptofvalue,theprincipleofpolitenessofcomplimentsandtheirresponsesdiffer.Amisunderstandingofthedifferencebetweencultureswillleadtoconflictsevenfailureincommunication.So,thispapertriestomakeanelementaryprobeintothesimilarityanddifferenceofSino-UScomplimentsandtheirresponsesfromtheperspectiveofsocialculturewiththehopethatpragmaticmistakescouldbeavoidedtofacilitatethecommunicationbetweenpeopleofthetwocountries.Keywords:compliment;response;pattern;culturalcontrast;analysis ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\uThusitcanbeseenthatChineseandAmericancomplimentsreflectthecultureandarerestrictedbycultureatthesametime.Onlybyunderstandingtheculturaldifferencesbetweenthetwocountries,canweusethecomplimentbetter--thispositivenon-verbalcommunicationbehaviorsoastoachievetheexpectedeffectofcommunication. 1AnAnalysisonComparisonBetweenChinaandAmericaonCultureFromComplimentResponsesChapter1IntroductionAsweallknow,differentcountrieshavedifferentculture.Cultureisthecollectiveprogrammingofthemindwhichdistinguishesthemembersofonecategoryofpeoplefromanotherandrepresentstheirowncharacteristic.IntermsofthedifferentprocessofthesocialdevelopmentbetweenChinaandAmerica,thecultureofeachotherrepresentstheirowncharacteristic,especiallyinthelanguageuse.Languagecultureistheonepoint.Languageisthereactionofthecultureandthereflectionofthecultureandthereflectionofvalues.Complimentresponsesisthefrequentlylanguagewhichisusedinourdailylifeandfamiliartopeople,itiseasyforpeopletounderstandtheculturedifferencefromcomplimentresponses.Duringtheprocessofcross-culturalcommunication,ChineseandAmericanusuallymisunderstandeachotherforunknowingother’sownculture.ThisessaylistsalotofexamplestoanalyzetheculturaldifferencefromcomplimentresponsesbetweenChinaandAmericainordertomakepeopleunderstandtheculturaldifferencebetterandimprovetheabilityofcross-culturalcommunication.ThusitcanbeseenthatChineseandAmericancomplimentsreflectthecultureandarerestrictedbycultureatthesametime.Onlybyunderstandingtheculturaldifferencesbetweenthetwocountries,canweusethecomplimentbetter--thispositivenon-verbalcommunicationbehaviorsoastoachievetheexpectedeffectofcommunication.Chapter2ConceptofComplimentResponsesComplimentshavebeensaidto‘greasethesocialwheels’andthustoserveas‘sociallubricants’.Weallhavegivencomplimentsandweallreceivethemoccasionally.Complimentsareprimarilyaimedat‘maintaining,enhancing,orsupportingtheaddressee’sface’.Herbertarguesthatthereseemstobeawidespreadpopularagreementoverwhatitisthatconstitutesacompliment.Henotesthatmostdefinitionsofcompliment,particularlythosebasedonstudiesofWesternlanguages,specifytwoconditions:thefirstoneisthatcomplimentsmustcontainanexpressionofadmirationonthepartofthespeaker,theotheroneisthattheymustconcernapossession,accomplishment,orpersonalqualityoftheaddressee.Contrastivestudieshavebeenconductedcomparingcomplimentresponsesindifferentlanguagesandlanguagevarietieswith(mostlyAmerican)English.Thesestudiesillustrateaclearcontrastamongdifferentlanguages.Ontheonehand,ArabicandSouthAfricanEnglisharemorelikelytopreferacceptanceofcomplimentsandlesslikelytorejecttothemthanAmericanEnglish.Ontheotherhand,speakersofAsianlanguages(Chinese,Japanese,Malay,andThai)tendtoavoidacceptingcomplimentsbutratherrejectthemcomparedtoEnglish.Thespeechactofcomplimentresponsesisselectedsimplyfortworeasons.First,studiesonitinseveralvarietiesofEnglish,aswellasinotherlanguagesandotherpolitenessformulaearemany,whichprovideabasisforcomparativeanalysis.However,thepresentstudyseekstoaddressanimportantomissioninpreviousscholarlyanalyses,astherehavebeenveryfewChineseandAmericanEnglishcross-culturalstudiesonthecomplimentresponsesspeechactset.Indeed,therelevantliteratureisconfinedtoacoupleofstudiesonmainlyAmericanandEuropeanlanguages.Second,complimentresponsesprovideaninvaluablebutunder-utilizedinsightintospeakers’reactiontoexternalappraisalsoftheirpersonalandsocialidentity.Thedataofthestudycomefromtheresultofthepresentresearchworks,whichexaminethesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthecomplimentresponsesstrategiesofChinesenativespeakersandAmericannativespeakersandtorevealtheinterlanguagecharacteristicsofChinesenativespeakersinrespondingtocompliments.Chapter3ComparisonsBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentResponsesinDifferentContextDuetothedifferenthistoryandconcept,ChinaandAmericacomplimentresponseisundeniablydistinctfromeachother.Contextisveryimportantforlanguagelearnerstolearnalanguage.WedoneedtoconsiderthedifferentcontextsintheuseofAmericanandChinesecompliments.ThispartwillmainlytalkaboutthecomparisonsbetweenAmericanandChinesecompliments.3.1ComparisonBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentsatHome3.1.1ChineseComplimentsatHomeAmericancouplesandChinesecouplesaresimilar.Theybothareadvocatedtoconstancyforloveandundyingloyaltytolovers.Thefundamentaldifferenceisthattheirculturalbackgroundsaredifferent.Theyarelivingindifferentcountries.Differentculturebackgroundisthekeyreasonfortheirdifferentlanguagepatterns.Tolstoyoncesaid,‘Allhappyfamiliesarealikeoneanother,eachunhappyfamilyisunhappyinitsownway.’Thequestionwhatisahappyfamilyusuallycomestoourmind:mutualtrust,understandingandcommunication,compromise,tolerance,managementandsoon.TraditionallythelovebetweenChinesehusbandandwifeisimplied.Ashamed,theycouldnottellthespouseoftheirlove,especiallyinoldChina,theydidnotsay‘Iloveyou’or‘YouaretheoneIlovebest’overthecourseofthewholelifetime.Complimentisakindoftheembodimentofthelove.FormostChinesepeople,complimentusuallyoccursinloveperiodornewmarriage.Amaninlovewilltakeeveryopportunitytogivecomplimentstohisgirlfriend.Theydosobecausetheywanttoimpresshisgirlfriendormakeherhappy.Asforanold-marriedcouple,theyseldomcomplimenteachother.Theythinktheloveisneedlesstosayout.Theypaymoreattentiontousingactionstoexpresstheirlove.SometimesChinesespeechcommunityignorestheirfamilymembers,seldomusecomplimentarywordstopraisethemforappreciation.ButthisisnottosaythatemotionbetweenChinesefamilymembersisindifferent.Justthewaytheyexpressemotionsisimplicit,isloveyoumorethanIcansay.Infact,theChinesekinshipismuchstrongerthantheAmericanpeople;andthefamilyconsciousnessisevenmoreintense.TheChinesepeopletakemorecareandsupportobligationsthantheAmericanpeople.Butwiththeopeningofideas,Chinesecouplesbegintobeboldandbravetospeaktheirlove,especiallytheyoungcouples.Theybegintotakeavarietyofwaystoshowtheirloveinthebottomoftheirheartboldlytotheirlovers.3.1.2AmericanComplimentsatHomeItssocietywithindividualismpopular,marriageisjustacombinationoftwoindividuals.Andmarriageisbasedonloveandsexintheiropinion;marriagewithoutloveisimmoralandoflowquality.SowesaythatwesternweddingisahumanrightandtheChineseweddingismorelikeanobligationforfamily.Respectandfreedomisthemostbasicprincipleintherelationshipofmarriage.Nomatterhowdeepthemaritalloveis,theAmericancouplesdonotignorethesetwoprinciples,respectandfreedom.Theyknowtheimportancetoholdonthetwobasicbottomlinesiftheywanttomakealastingmarriage.BecauseofthedifferencesofChineseandwesternculture,peoplehavedifferentviewsandmeansofexpressionsforthesamethings.Intheaspectofexpressingcompliments,theChineselanguageisimplicitandeuphemistic;theAmericanlanguageisenthusiasticandstraightforward.Mostwesternerswithstrongsenseofselfconceptwouldliketopaythebestcomplimentstotheirfamilymembers.Theyknowspousalrelationshipisthemostfundamentalandimportantinterpersonalrelationship,whichconcernsthehappinessoflife,familyharmonyandcareersuccess.Soahusbandoftensaystohiswife,“Oh,yourdressiselegant.”,“Youhavesuchagorgeoussmile”and“Youareunique”.Iamproudofyou,mydarling.”Similarlyawifewillsaytoherhusband,“Yourhandwritingissoperfect.”,“Youlookverycooltoday,honey.”,“Ilikeyoursenseofhumor.”Americancomplimentsarereflectedineveryaspectoflifeandeverymoment.ThatiswhyweseetheAmericancouplesaremorelovingandconnected.Comparativelyspeaking,AmericancouplesunderstandthesignificanceofmarriageandmanagemarriagebetterthanChinesecouples.ThemostimportantchangeofChinesemarriedcouplesaftermarriageisthattheynolongerappreciateeachotherandignoreeachother’sadvantages.Thereisnocompliment,onlysarcasmandirony.Theyignoreeachotherforeverythingtheyhavedone,andtakeeverythingforgranted,notfromtheheartofthanksgiving.However,theBritishcoupleisexactlytheopposite.Theytakeeverythingtheirloverhasdoneintheeyesandinthemind.Theydulygivecomplimentsandthankstotheirlover,whichmakestherelationshipsweeterandmoreharmonious.Happinessandfoundationinthemarriage,ofcourse,isloveandloyalty.Whetherthecouplescanfinallygetrealhappinessdependsonthegoodhabitsoffeelingsbetweenhusbandandwife.Sowesaygoodhabitsdetermineahappymarriage.ThebigdifferencebetweenChinesefamiliesandAmericanfamiliesisAmericanfamilieshasformedthegoodhabitofexpressingtheloveandcompliments.Loveisanart;loveistwopeoplegrowtogether.Itmusthavecommunication.Therewillbeadeeperloveifthereisacommunicationtounderstand.3.2ComparisonsBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentsatSchoolThehealthygrowthofstudentscannotgowithoutteachers’properguidance.Everystudenthasatendencytopursueprogress,hasagoodside:positive,smartandstudious.Atthesametime,teachersmustbecommoninmindtolookattheireachmeritandregardtheireveryprogressaspositive.Naturally,theteacherswillbegoodatdiscoveringstudents’merits;appreciatingtheirvalue,soastoestablishthestudents’self-confidenceandpride.Itrequiresthatteachersshouldseebeautyofhumannature,andmakingcomplimentstowardsstudentsisthepenetrationintheprocessofthehumanisticspiritintheeducationteaching,embodiestheequalityofthepersonalityanddignitybetweenthestudentsandteachers.Ifwecantreatthestudents’failuresandmistakeswithabroadmindandunderstandingwithtoleranceandencouragement,atthesametime,pointoutthesolutiontocorrectthewrongdoingforthem.Teacherswillprovideaharmoniousatmosphereofmutualtrustforalongtime;itisgoodforstudentstoformapositivehealthypsychologyandanactiveattitudetolearnnewknowledgeandexplorenewmethodstostudythenewproblem.Inthisway,thelifejourneywillbefulloflaughter,applause;fullofdeterminationandconfidence.Specialtyisthechildren’sshines.Theteachersmustbegoodatcatchingthestudents’brightspots,givetimelycomplimentsinordertosetuptheirconfidence.Whenbeingcomplimented,thestudentswillfeelasenseofsatisfaction,canmakeacomprehensiveanalysisofhim,andcanrealizehisinsufficiency.Atthesametime,hecanalsoaccepttheopinionsofothers,graduallyperfectinghiswish.Aphilosophersaid:onlythetruestcomplimentwilltouchtheheartofaperson.Theteachers’complimentsshouldstartfromthestudents’triviallife,seektruthfromfactsanddonotsimplysaytothestudent,“Youareagoodstudent.Youaregreat.Youaresosmart.”Themorespecificyourcomplimentis,themoreclearthestudentswillfeelabouthisgoodbehaviorandsoisthemorepossiblythestudentswillobeytherulesofsuchbehaviors.Fortheyoungchildren,theteachersshouldgivetimelycomplimentforeverysmallprogress.Forexample,theteachercancomplimentastudentlikeyoumaketheclassroomsoclean,oryoumakeyourhandbagsotidy,oryouareexcellentthatyoucansolvetheclassmates’difficulties,etc.Ifyouareateacher,pleasedonotmakecomplimentstingy,forcomplimentisspringbreeze,whichmakesstudentsfilledwithwarmthandgratitude;pleasedonotlookdowncompliments,forcomplimentisafire,whichcanlightthelongingandhopeintheheartofstudents.Ifeveryteacherisfullofspirittoenjoyencouragingwordtostudents,complimentswillbeabletomoisteneverythingsilently.Wesincerelyhopethatthestudentscanhealthilygrowintheteachingwithcorrectcompliments.3.3ComparisonBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentsinWorkplaceAccordingtoanalysis,therearethreemajortopicsincomplimentinginAmerican.Abilityandtraitsareoftenreferredtoindailycommunication,sharingthehighestproportion,appearancerankssecondonlyalittlelowerthanabilityandtraits,andthenpossessionsrankthird.IntheAmericanculture,thepositivecommentsonlooksorappearanceoccupyaverylargeproportionbecausetheyliketocomplimentmutually.Ifothers’appearancehasanychange,itisdeservedtobecomplimentedinordertoshowone’scareorrespecttoothers.Inthispartwemainlytalkaboutthegenderdifferenceintheuseofcompliments.Alotofresearchandexperimentshowthattherearemanydifferencesbetweenwomenandmenintheuseoftopic,syntax,vocabulary,strategyandfunctionaboutcompliment.Muchcorpusfindscomplimentisunevenlydistributedinmenandwomen.Womenusecomplimentsmorethanmendo.InEnglish-speakingcountries,thecontentofcomplimentsmorefocusonintelligence,skills,performance,clothing,furniturecars,onsuchgoodqualityandvesselswithhighquality.Inwesternculture,individualstruggleandpersonalityreflectionisanimportantnotionwhichpursuestheselfvalueperformance.Thus,positivecomplimentonappearanceandhairstyleoccupiesthemainandthemostprominentposition.Thecomplimentrecipientsaremainlywomen.Womenoftenreceivethecomplimentsfrommen,“Youlooknicetoday!”,“Youlooksexy!”Womenwillbepleasedtosay“Thankyou”onhearingsuchcompliments.InChina,mendonotoftencomplimentwomen’sappearancedirectly,otherwisetheywillberegardedtobefrivolousorhaveulteriormotives.Influencedbydeep-rootedorthodoxculture,menoftenusesuchadjectivestocomplimentwomenasvirtuous,gentle,beautiful,intelligent,highlyculturedandsteepedinpropriety;educatedandreasonableandsoon.Menneedwomen’scompliments,butheonlyneedstoknowhispositionintheeyesofwomen,whichisenough.Hedoesnotneedthenaggingwords,doesnotneedtherepeatedcompliments.However,womenneedtobecomplimentedrepeatedlyfrommen.So,inasocialsituation,itisimportanttogiveawomanpropercomplimentwhichcanmakethecommunicationeasier.However,inthelife,therearefewmenwhocangivepropercomplimentsnaturallytowomen.ThismaybeakindofuniqueChineseconnotation.Menshouldlearntocomplimentwomen,appropriatecomplimentwhichcanmakecommunicationmoreharmoniousandcaneliminatethecontradictioninthecommunicationandcanmakethemfeelbetterandblissfullyhappy.Itneedsanappropriatescaleformentocomplimentwomen’sappearance.Itshouldbepractical.Menshouldnotsaybeautifultoallwomen.Incompliments,itneedsmentoquicklyfindeachwoman’sbiggestadvantageinthefirstplace.Forexample,somewomenarenotpretty,butwithgoodtemperament;somewomenareveryshort,buttheskinisverydelicate.Inshort,everywomanmusthavetheadvantageshereallydeservestobecomplimented.Peoplesaythatwomenarelivingwithears;complimentisthesunshineinthelifeofwoman.Infact,manisthesame,theyliketoheartheaffirmationandcomplimentfromothers,whichwillgivethemasenseofvalueandmakethemfullofconfidence.Becauseoftraditionalmalerolesinthesociety,tosupporttheirhome,itmakesamancareabouthisimageintheeyesofothers,hisprideandhiswork.Careeriscloselyrelatedtothework;anyworkevaluationwilllethimsensitive.Chapter4CulturalDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmericaonComplimentResponsesAsthepositivespeechact,bothAmericanandChinesecomplimentsarewidelyappliedintheinterpersonalcommunication.Correspondingly,therearemanydifferencesbetweenAmericancomplimentsandChinesecompliments.4.1ComplimentObjectDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmerica4.1.1TheObjectofComplimentResponseinAmericaComplimentinEnglishiswidelyusedinthecountry,especiallyAmericansprefertousepraisedthewaytogreetothersorsayhello.Generallyspeaking,EnglishComplimentobjectsincludeeveryone,juniorsorseniors,familyorfriends,superiorsorsubordinates,distantrelativesorneighbors,andevenstrangers.Inside,ontheroad,intheofficepraisedthemanneringreeting.Inaddition,peopleoftenEnglish-speakingcountriestotheotherpraisedtheirimmediatefamilymembersorrelatives,includingtheirownhusbandorwife,parentandchild.Forexample,parentspraisetheirchildrensmart,outstanding,willuseevenwhatmusicalinstrument,whatwonawards,whilehiswifealsooftenpraisedhowherhusbandworkhard,howtobereused,andhowbeingafriendoftrustandsoon.It'sallverywellforthemsincethehearerisnaturalthing.4.1.2TheObjectofComplimentResponseinChinaCoverawiderangeofcountriesthanintheUnitedStatepraisedtheobject,theobjectoftheChinesepeoplepraisedrelativelymuchsmaller.First,theChinesepeoplemeetforthefirstfewstrangerspraised,especiallymenpraisedthefirstmeetingwomen,togivepeopletheimpressionoffrivolousormalicious.Thefirsttimewemeteachotherinanotherunfamiliarsituationcarriedoutunderconditionspraisemaycausemisunderstanding.Moreover,theChinesepeoplewillnotpraisehisfamilyinfrontofoutsidermembers,andotherfamilymembersaregenerallybasedontheobjectofpraise.Forexample:"Yoursonisreallysmart"or"yourdadisreallygreat"or"Yourwifeisreallyvirtuous,"etc.InthetraditionalChineseconcept,thefamilyisthemostimportant.Closetohim,toomuchpraisebutseemedpoliteandunfamiliar.Usuallytheparentsofthechild'sperformanceofpraise,theeldersarelessorthesamegenerationwithCompliments.Intimatemaritalrelationship,usuallydonotneedtouselanguagetoexpresshisaffectionbetweenhusbandandwifeandthereforethebehaviorofmutualpraiseisrare.Inaddition,theChinesepeopleinthepraiseofothers,unlikeEnglish-speakingcountriesconductedasfrequentlyanddirectly,butbehavemoreeuphemistic,unemotional.4.2ExpressionsDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmericaInmostofthetime,wegetcomplimentsandgivecompliments.Interestingly,differentcountrieshavedifferentkindsofwaystopraiseother.Americansasexpressingopenlyanddirectlytheirappreciationandacceptanceofthecompliment.Theyexpressgoodwill,solidarityandencouragement.Moreover,Americansarealsogoodatgreetingpeople,expressingthanksandgettingoverembarrassmentthroughcompliments.TheChineseoftencomplimenttheothers,itismeantomakingothersfeelgoodforthetraditionalpursuitofharmonious,toshowingone’sappreciationonsomething,totryingtomakeuseofcertainpeople.Chinesecomplimentsdon’temphasizeonnegotiatingsolidaritywhileAmericanreallydo.Ontheotherhand,Chineseculturallyusethe‘deny’responseto‘pushaway’praiseasawaytocommunicatemodestly.Actually,‘deny’inchinaresponsetootherasoneofthemostobviousculturenormswhicharedifferentwithAmericans.Onthecontrary,Americansarepositivetocomplimentsandmakethemdeservethecompliments.4.3ValueDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmericaInChinesesociety,peoplegenerallyacceptthetraditionalviewpointthatcollectiverestrictiononindividualshouldbestressedandinterpersonalharmonyshouldbemaintainedinthesocialcommunication.InChina,suchideasthatapersonshouldserveothersfirstandthinkofothersareconsideredtobeunselfishandacceptable.Expressedinthespeechact—compliments,wefindthatChinesepeopleusecomplimentsmainlywiththepurposeofmaintainingtheharmoniousinterpersonalrelationshipwithothers.Theyholdthepointthatindividualsdonotstandoutsoastocausetheunpleasantnessfromothers.Thevalueandexpectationofindividualareweakened.ItisthusclearthatChinesepeopleareaccustomedtocomplimentothersbutnotaccustomedtoacceptcomplimentsaboutthemselvesfromothers.Otherwise,theywillbeconsideredtobearrogantandshowing-off.Atthesametime,ChinaisanagriculturalsocietywithConfucianethicsasthegoverningruleofmostinterpersonalrelationships.ChinesepeopleinfluencedgreatlyanddeeplybytheConfucianethicsbelieveinmodesty,self-abasement,other-respectandcollectivism.Intermsofpsychologicalexperience,Chinesepeoplealsoliketohearcomplimentingwords.Butorally,especiallywhentherearealotofpeopleorthepublic,mostpeopletendtorefusecomplimentsfromothers.ThisresponsepatternisstronglyinfluencedbytraditionalChinesevalues.Chinesepeopleregardmodestyasavirtue.Fromthepasttillnowadays,Chinesepeoplegenerallybelieveunityisthekeyforceofone’ssuccessbothinfamiliesandinthesociety.SoeveryChinesepersonstressestheharmoniousrelationshipwithanyoneelse.Theydonotwanttocauseuncomfortablefeelingstoothersandtheydonotwanttobethepeoplewhoarenotlikedbyothers.Butwiththedevelopmentofsociety,Chinesepeople’straditionalconceptsarealsograduallychanging.Manypeople,especiallyyoungpeople,therearemoresituationsinwhichtheyacceptcompliments.Manypeoplethinkthattoomuchhumilityisakindofhypocrisy.Mostyoungpeopledonotimmediatelyrejectthecomplimentsfromothers,whiletheywilltakedifferentapproachestoacceptthem.Someexpressagreement;someexpressappreciation;othersgiveasmile;theothersgiveacounter-question.WhilemostAmericanpeopleareindividual-oriented,theytendtoacceptcomplimentsfromothersnaturally.Therearetwoimportantpointsforthemtomeet:thepositivefaceandthinkingpositivelyaboutoneself.Sofacingacomplimentfromothers,theAmericanpeopledonotexpecttorefuseorrejectbecauseiftheydoso,thevalueofindividualismwillbeviolated.Intermsofthewesternvalueofindividualism,itisfoundthatitisdeeplyrootedintheAmericansocialhistory.Inthelongandfiercefightsagainstsevereandterriblenaturalenvironment,theAmericanpeopledependedonthemselvestostrugglefortheirbetterlife.ThiscanbeseeninthefamousEnglishsayings,like“Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves”byBenjaminFranklin.ThesayingtellsusthattheAmericanpeopledependonthemselvesnotstrangersoranybodyelse.Andalsoindividualismhasitsownreligioussource—Christianitywhichbelievesthatmenareequallyborn.Sointhesocialactivities,notonlydailycommunication,butalsointhepersonalinterest,theyemphasizetheindividualfeeling,andvalues.4.4DifferenceinSocialFunctionsBetweenChinaandAmericaAsameansofpositiveevaluation,complimentactsmanysocialfunctions,playingairreplaceableroleindailycommunication.ThefunctionofChinesefunctionismainlytokeeporpromotetheunityandpeacefulrelationbetweenthespeakerandaddressee.ChinesecomplimentsaretocreateorpromoteinterpersonalharmonyintheChinesespeechcommunityjustlikesociallubricants.ThemainfunctionsofChinesecomplimentsistoexpressappreciationwhichisthemostbasicfunction;tobeusedbetweenacquaintanceandoldfriendsasaritualgreeting;tostartaconversationbetweenstrangerswhichisbeneficialtothedevelopmentoftheconversation;tobeuseasacknowledgementandcongratulationswhicharehelpfultoestablishrapportbetweenthespeakerandaddressesandsoundsmoresincereandacceptable;tobeusedasencouragementwhichisoftenemployedbyteachersinteachingactivitiessoastocheerstudentsupphysiologicallyandpsychologically,thusachievingsatisfactoryteachingeffect;toeasecriticismtoneinwhichwestresstheadvantagesbeforewepointouttheshortcomingsormistakesofcolleagues,classmatesorstudents,becausepolitecriticismsavesthecritic’sfaceandachievesthepurposeofcriticism;toflatterwhichisacommonly-usedcommunicativestrategypeoplewillsaytheirrequestsaftertheyflatterotherswithcomplime