汉英文化中礼貌原则差异探析
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汉英文化中礼貌原则差异探析
Cultural courtesy is an important part in maintaining interpersonal relationships. While
courtesy varies from culture to culture, Chinese courtesy is particularly unique. Comparing
Chinese courteousness to that of the English is a worthwhile task which serves to illustrate
how different customs may lead to different manners.
The main difference between the ways of courtesy in Chinese and English cultures is in the
expressions of politeness. In the Chinese culture, politeness is often expressed in a more
humble way. People are more likely to bow, curtsy, and use flattering words when speaking
to someone of higher social rank. They also often take on an apologetic posture when
speaking, which manifests in grammatical structure and word choice. For example, if
someone asked for help, they would say :“It is my honour to do a favour for you.”
By contrast, politeness in English culture is usually expressed by recognizing social distance.
People often use phrases like “pardon me,” “excuse me,” and “if you please,” when speaking
to someone of higher social rank or who is perceived to have more knowledge or power.
They also rarely bow, as English custom has it that to do so would imply inferiority.
Furthermore, when engaging in polite discourse, Chinese people often sound like they are
praising their interlocutors and behave in a deferential manner, whereas their English
counterparts speak more bluntly. In terms of forms of addressing people, Chinese people
would often use supplicatory terms such as “Grandfather,” “Uncle,” and “Aunt” to address
their elders, which is uncommon in English culture.
In conclusion, although politeness is the same concept in both Chinese and English cultures,
the expressions and forms of politeness differ greatly. There are distinct rules in each
culture on how one should behave towards people of higher social rank or order. While it is
important to be polite to one another, it is equally important to be aware that these
differences exist, in order to respect each other's cultural backgrounds.
