英语语言中的礼貌用语

The Polite Language in English Language

Name: JiaYing Student Number: 10021070208

Class: one

(Foreign college in ChiFeng University)

Abstract: The expressive ways of politeness is closely associated with the typical behaviors of some particular social groups. Generally, polite discourses such as address, greeting and leave-taking, thanks, apology and compliment play a vital role in people’s daily life, so studying communication manners to be a polite man is essential. This paper makes a detailed analysis to the polite discourses in English culture. According to the analysis, people can learn English better as well as have a deeper understanding of polite language in English.

1. Introduction: People all communicate with others all time. No matter how well they understand each other, how familiar each other, politeness are often at the root of communication challenges. The polite language influences how people approach problems, and how they participate in groups and in communities. When they participate in groups they are often surprised at how differently people approach their work together. To have a better discourses with people need some ways of politeness.

2. The importance and definition of polite language

In order to appeal to people build a modern civilization colorful world, we must lay stress on material civilization and spiritual l civilization, especially spiritual civilization. The spiritual civilization’s build need all of people’s efforts and joints. So speaking polite language and know what is polite language and how important it is become necessary.

2. 1The importance of polite language

At present, we are in the time of across-culture, the appropriate words and deeds are playing a decisive role in achieving successful communication. To be polite is an important part of communication, especially when we talk to others. Polite language is not only important in people’s communication, but also essential in tourism, business and others work areas. From the visitor’s viewpoint, the benefit of cultural awareness makes them receives a positive first impression, feels more relaxed, senses a feeling of warmth, sees company as being enlightened, encouraged to do business again. Likely to recommend company to others, and from the business’s viewpoint, businesses that are culturally aware set themselves apart from their competitors by: finding out about their foreign client , their likes, dislikes and expectations by: equipping their key staff, especially front and some ground rules for looking after

them, Avoiding giving offence to their visitor through ignorance or assumptions. From these above words we can know the importance of intercultural communication with polite language, so learning polite language is necessary.

2. 2 The definition of polite language

What is polite language? Generally speaking, the courteous language in the broadest sense of the word means all the manners and the caused consequences by using polite language. While the narrow one only means some special words expressing ceremony which are reasonable and acceptable in various communication occasions. To be polite not only demands the sentence “reasonable”, but also “acceptable” in the specific group.

3. Expressive ways of polite discourses

How should we express ourselves make others comfort? When we addressing, greeting, thanking, apologia and compliment with people, what should we say is polite for your listeners? Here you some knowledge of western culture in polite language.

3. 1 Addressing

The forms of address in every language reflect social status of the speakers, of the address, of the relationship between them. Polite language in English language has its own system due to the western culture address reflects the relationship between people. In the intercultural communication, it is very important to address properly. 3. 1. 1 The polite language in English language according to western culture on formal or informal occasions, the westerners are likely to minimize social or class in equality, and reduce hierarchical structures. On formal occasions, they address people of high statuses with Professor Smith, Chairman Brown, etc. but they never address them “teacher” or “manager”. And on common occasions, everyone prefers himself to be called with his give name to show intimacy to others.

3. 1. 2 The way to address a stranger often use the terms “Mr. ”, “Miss”, “Mrs. ”, “Sir. ” and “madam” are widely used among people. “ Mr.”, “Miss.”, “Mrs.” are used together with a surname while “sir” and “madam” are usually used alone.

3. 1. 3What is more, the attitude on the title of old people, the old people do not like the word “old”. They think old is the meaning of useless, so “old” is the taboo to them. Thus they often use elderly people or senior people instead of old people, and use get on year instead of become old. Especially women are sensitive to age.

3.2 Greeting and leave-taking

One can not start a talk without greet, and one can’t keep on the relationship

without bidding farewell at leave-taking. In daily life, greeting is a polite language whenever one meets others and wherever he or she is. Commenting weather is the often used in English. And greeting in English is generally such verbal routines: Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening, Hi, Hello, How are you, how are things with you? How is everything? How are you getting on? What a lovely day! And so on.

In western culture it is common to indulge in a minutes’ talk, as preparation for leaving. This maybe the along the lines of: Well, it is been lovely to see you again, but I must be going soon. I hope we’ll be able to get together again before long. To westerners, a smile and a gesture of farewell would be enough.

3. 3 Thanks

How to respond to thanks is also associated with culture norms. Below is an example showing how English native speakers may respond to thanks in the formal situation.

A customer: thank you for your excellent service.

English waiter: Don’t mention it. (Compare: this is what I should do.) “This is what I should do.” is associated with a sense of duty, maybe this is a moral obligation. To say what you have done is what you should do shows that you are modesty and courteous, since the response indicates that one need not to be thanked for what one should do. Modesty and courtesy that the English native speakers’ response reflects are not linked with moral obligation. Westerners may feel upset and offended.

3. 4 Apologies

Apologizing is a speech act address to the offended person’s face-needs and intended to remedy an offense and thus to restore the friendship between the two. For the native English speakers, an apology is necessary whenever inconvenience or offence is made with little consideration of the status or social power of the people concerned. For example, a manager will say sorry if she or he has to answer a phone call during a conversation with her or his clerk. In English society in responding to an apology one can reject the need for apologizing. But what the hearer can not do is to accept the apology. That is the reason for the fact that the English speakers may seem polite and insincere enough.

3. 5 Compliments

Culture affects ways of compliment and responses even more. In giving a compliment, the speaker is attempting to get the address to recognize the former’s

positive evaluation about later. Generally speaking, people like getting along with somebody who shares the same views. We know that compliment may be used to start a conversation, even between strangers. Furthermore, compliments are like “lubricating oil”, which can make conversations go smoothly in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere. Take the verbal interactions of compliment in America as an example.

(1)

A: This is really a nice sweater.

B: I am glad you like it.

(2)

A: You did a good job.

B: Thank you /Thanks.

According to the example, saying thanks is the primary consideration for the group of English when they respond to compliments. Many westerners feel somewhat inhibited about talking about price of possessions. Also, that is very likely to be taken as a rejection of native English of native English speaker’s ability to judge.

In giving compliments frequency of the sentence pattern “I like/love it”in American English is great. In responding to compliments, Americans’ tend to accept them as a kind of recognition of their individual efforts will be socially acceptable. 4. Conclusion

This thesis mainly talks about politeness. It sets the importance and definition about the polite language in English language, and then sets several detailed expressive ways of polite discourses as examples; this can help the speakers’ behavior politely and properly when communicating with others.

Everyone wants to leave a perfect impression on others when they meet for the first time; therefore, it is extremely necessary to study polite English and people’s customs and behaviors. Most importantly, the language learners also can learn to see world as native speakers of that language see it as well as learn the ways in which their language reflects the ideas, customs, and behaviors of society, so as to understand their “language of the mind”.

Bibliography

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Acknowledgement

For the compliment of this paper, people gave me support and help during my process of writing. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all these people.

Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor, zhangLing who teach me how to write the paper. Without her patient teaching, instruction, insightful criticism, the completion of this thesis would not have been possible.

Secondly, I would like to thank my friends and my fellow classmates who gave me their help and time in listening to me and helping me work out my problems during the difficult course of the thesis.

Thirdly, I would like to thank my parents, not only because they told me to work on the paper in earnest, but also because their profound love makes me clearer about myself, and drives me to mature.

Finally, thanks again to all the above people.