浅谈中西语言文化差异

Introduction to the Differences of Language of Chineseand Western CultureZHANG Ru-qinAbstract: As the carrier of culture, language is an inseparable part of culture, it reflects the culture, is also influenced by culture.In different social environment, the use of language is different too.This article mainly discusses the differences between Chinese and western language and culture, this paper compares and analyzes briefly language differences of Chinese and western language in greetings,appellation, farewell, plot everyday conversations, table languages etc.Key words: language and culture, the differences, society, the westernI.Introduction"Except by the structure of rules , the pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and so on, the use of language also will be restricted by the rules. The rules for using here refers to the social culture, the language belongs to the social culture to determine whether the way and content of the language use appropriately."(From the mankind of an introduction to intercultural communication) Due to the migration and development of social culture, language is also developed, transformed.In the process of development, the regional difference is very obvious, the farther the distance, the greater the regional difference.Cultural difference comes from the international language, religious beliefs, values, history and culture, race, climate, geography, etc, are different for a certain impact on the formation of the different language and culture.For China and western countries, the differences in language performance in all aspects of social life.II. The differences between the greetingGreeting is the most common etiquette.But Chinese and western greetings’ objects, methods and content is not the same.In western countries it is natural that his greeting, even don't know the passers-by.Not they say "hello", the purpose of the object, but not in order to have further contact with you, just used a form of life etiquette.In China, if for no reason at all to this stranger greeting will cause their vigilance, think what's wrong with you.So, generally do not ignore stranger in China, most just laugh it off, there is no language communication.Actually no matter to anyone, in the face of someone smile to say hello, will be affected, like see the sunshine mood follow up, a naturally smile.As a result, tourism in western countries, if the oncoming person said hello to us, don't show a puzzling expression, even ignored!That's very impolite.The Chinese way of greeting is unique, very close to the life and personal, commonly used to say "where you going?""What's wrong with you?"Or "have a meal?""This period of time?"Although the use of interrogative sentences, but does not need the exact answer, because it is only a greeting, to see each other, with all these words instead oflanguage, not the problem.But in western countries, it is to detect a faux pas that others privacy.If you meet a ask: "did you eat?"They often misconstrued as you want to ask them to have dinner together.So, to meet with foreigners, the most simple and appropriate greeting is "good morning!", "hello!""Hello!"And so on does not involve privacy and personal information.III. The differences between the appellationIn China, only those who are familiar with each other can be generally "first-name basis", nickname is only applied in intimacy between people.But in the west, "first name" than in Chinese range is much more widely.In the west, always use "Sir" and "lady" to call a stranger who don't know its name, for more than ten or twenty years old, can be called "miss" daughter of married women can be called "woman" or "lady", etc.Between family members, and initiated the pecking, general but claimed to name or nickname.In the home, can be directly call mom and dad's name.For all the male elders can be referred to as "uncle", for all women elders can be called "aunt".It is not in our China, we must distinguish between degress, young and old, such as relationship, otherwise, will be think not polite, do not conform to the etiquette.IV.The differences of content in conversationChinese conversation content are mostly not stick to one pattern, what all can say that, the more close conversation are more close to the daily life and the privacy of others. Strangers often ask some personal information such as age, work, friends;Between friends relatives are often involved in marriage, education, the growth of children.Job promotion salary, and some trivial life.So the Chinese conversation is homely, surrounding the personal life through talking to release the pressure of life,Also promote friendship and affection.While western countries even for acquaintances also don't like talking too much privacy, they would be in a personal information Meaning.If a meeting ask other people (especially women) age, marital status, work situation, will be regarded as disrespect.Because these is regarded as privacy in western countries.Most western countries during a conversation with the weather, dress, leisure for the topic.In western countries, the weather is changeable, and because the economy is relatively developed, people pay attention to the way of life, seek personal to relax, so where these topics will not fade.People to travel abroad meet foreigners weather real fitting.V.The differences between the farewellThere are many kinds of different Chinese and western language farewell.In patients and goodbye, for example, Chinese people often say "drink lots of water", "put on more clothes", "go to bed early," said the patient's care, hope they can restore health at an early date.But westerners will never say "drink water", because that would be considered.General: they would say "take care" or "I hope you will get well soon" and so on.VI.The table of the language differencesSaying claims, where this is the absolute principle.Eating is a great event in China, the Chinese people pay attention to diet, pay more attention to table atmosphere, while saying "food, lay not language, but whether in ancient or modern, whether formal or informal party, and people are impossible to be silent when repast.If it is not a formal banquet compared with commonly, the table can talk about many topics, may talk to the happy just talking and laughing loudly.Even a formal dinner meal is also very loose, vomiting-inducing toasts, advised food more frequently.In western countries, talking and laughing loudly on the table is quite inappropriate.At home, they may be at the edge of the table top read newspapers to discuss current events, maybe a week plan, may communicate with the children, but I can't laugh out loud.Dinner will not like Chinese meals, noisy noisy, guess, such as wine building-would usually ity with my dinner guests eat vegetables, ask how taste, etc., suitable for a small joke, adjust the mood.If people in western cultures when eating don't talk with his neighbor, lose the etiquette.Especially in a formal dinner or banquet, is commonly used in customs in the west "Turn Off your beeper and cellphone until the dinner is over." "Do not slurp soup or blow on hot foods and beverages." "Do not speak with food in your expressions using. If you must blow your nose, excuse yourself from the table." (to quote the performance in the Chinese and western table manners cultural differences) in the tradition of Chinese dietary culture, others tend to eat food, please say: "nothing to eat, please," and "don't mention it!", and often respond with "where! So many dishes, good enough!"In the west people will say: "Help yourself, both please!", and try to talk to people sitting beside you "in China, when dining the guest to leave the end of the host family often retain, the west is farewell. Chinese guest even if satisfied with the host family for the food is not very also praised the dishes were delicious. And not hypocrisy, but respect for the host family. And the western countries in thanks to the host family to entertain at the same time put forward his own opinions, owners will be willing to accept, but not like in China, into the embarrassing situation. This is the embodiment of the differences between Chinese and western culture on the table language.VII.The application of please, thank you, I'm sorryIn the western countries, "please, thank you, I'm sorry" use frequency is very high, almost everyone use hundreds of times each day.Regardless of the age, identity, object position, in what kind of situation, they use the handy.Such as: Please open feel!""Thank you for your help!""Sorry, I don 't think so." when the interfere with other people, they will say: "Excuse me." and the Chinese is always not good at expressing gratitude and regret, their action to said.Thanks for their relatives and friends, will be redundant, for his fellow students, apology can reduce authority, they can't pull the face.Unlike the west, the child as an individual, to treat them as equal to communicate.VIII.The differences of praise languagePraise is a supportive behavior, is also a kind of evaluative behavior, that is to say,compliment is not only praise of nature, there are evaluation of properties.(" cross-cultural communication ") language differences of Chinese and western in terms of praise language is very obvious.A. The differences of reward wayWestern culture, people used to place the admiration and gratitude to the other party in different speech ACTS, if want to praise them, and use is also critical, restrictive, and is a high-profile praise;And the Chinese are faced with the same object, the words to praise and thank is without evaluation, comprehensive certainly, low profile, often with westerners as too humble, is usually the sign of insincerity, flattery. But it is not the case, is generally believed that Chinese people praise a person is a form of communication, the emphasis is on praise after further communication,not praise this detail.B. Praise range of differences and different conceptsChinese and western culture in the different traditions and values led to compliment range of differences.Under the background of western culture, religion, income, age, marital status, etc are all need taboo topic, if we praise for such problem is easy to make the topic into the dilemma, influence further exchanges on both sides.Praise words compared with people from western countries, Chinese frequency high praise language involves the character to the other party, the inherent character and the spirit of praise and admiration, it is very often.We often can hear the following greetings: "you do things very seriously!""You maintain well, don't see age at all!""That's very kind of you and your wife feelings!"Traditions and values of different also in reward for the same point of people's different ideas.A kind of culture is generally recognized or considered to be valuable, but is not recognised in another culture, or to abandon;A culture that is civilization, and appropriate words, but in another culture is considered to be backward, rude behavior.Let us on the following topics are discussed, this will have a more profound reason. (from the "Chinese-english cultural differences between the praise")IX.ConclusionThe difference between different cultures is due to their respective national cultural and historical background, aesthetic psychology, as a result of the different is established in the development of the society, history of precipitation, a kind of permanent cultural phenomenon.We should know the cultural background knowledge in different regions, different ethnic groups and social customs and habits, always compare it with our mother tongue, make you consciously aware of the root causes of non-standard language and avoid method, strengthen the consciousness of the use of specification language in intercultural communication, thus make our intercultural communication more effective, more smoothly.References[1]胡文仲.英美文化辞典.外语教学与研究出版社.1995.[2]邓炎昌.语言与文化.外语教学与研究出版社.1989.[3]吴国华.论知识文化与交际文化.北京外语教学与研究出版社.1994[4]杨明.文化因素与英汉语用差异.上海外语教育出版社.2000[5]戎林海。