从英国人言行规则理解和区别某些英语表达法论文

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中英文表达上的差异

中英文表达上的差异

中英文表达上的差异一、思维方式的文化差异英汉文化差异在思维方式中也有明显地反映。

英语文化注重细节分析和对个体成分独立作用。

因而,英语句子注重形式联系,注重结构的完整形式和逻辑性。

汉语的思维方式是和中国人在哲学上注重体验、感悟密切相关,在艺术上主张神似密不可分的。

汉语句法不受形态成分的约束,词语的组合非常灵活,不拘于形式,注重意合。

英汉在思维方式的方面差异也反映在英语与汉语的篇章结构中。

英美人写文章一般都直截了当、开门见山。

英语段落也呈线性式,或者是直线式发展的,一般都有主题章节、段落或主题句,先提出论点,然后对一些支持性的材料进行阐述说明。

汉语就有所不同,汉语文章的段落思维方式一般是螺旋型的,围绕着主题由远到近、由表及里地来进行论述,表现出汉语说话委婉、含蓄的思维特点。

曾经有调查表明英汉间的思维差异。

在200个中国人提出的请求中有129个先说明请求理由,后提出请求事项,而在200个英国人提出的请求中,有131人先提出请求事项,再说明理由。

在时间概念上,中国人和英美人在思维方式上有着明显的不同。

守时是英美人最重要的行为规范之一。

在赴宴时,英美人一般是准时到达。

而我们中国人则认为提前几分钟更礼貌。

故事:是“这星期六”还是“下星期六”一次,一个外国学生拜访他的中国老师,老师想请他吃饭,就说:“你下星期六来我家吃饭,好吗?”学生很高兴地接受了邀请,并约好了具体时间。

过了两天,到了星期六,学生来了。

老师感到很意外。

由于毫无准备,老师很尴尬。

幸好跟这个学生很熟,于是就说:“前天我说的是下星期六请你。

你看,今天我什么也没准备……”学生说:“前天你说下星期六请我吃饭,不就是今天吗?”这场误会完全是对“下星期六”的不同理解造成的。

在不少教材中和课堂上,给学生讲“上星期”就是“last week”,“这星期”就是“this week”,“下星期”就是“next week”。

这样讲不能说错,但在实际运用中,如“上星期六”和“下星期六”与英语的“last Saturday”“next Saturday”有时却不是对应的,其区别是英语和汉语观察时间的参照点不同。

英语作文英国礼仪与中国的差异

英语作文英国礼仪与中国的差异

英语作文英国礼仪与中国的差异**English Etiquette Versus Chinese Customs**In the realm of cultural diversity, the differences between British etiquette and Chinese customs are as vast as the two countries' histories and traditions. Understanding these disparities is crucial for anyone hoping to navigate social interactions gracefully in either nation.**Greetings and Introductions**In Britain, greetings tend to be more formal and reserved. A handshake is common upon meeting someone, and titles and surnames are often used, even among friends. By contrast, Chinese greetings are warmer and more personal.It is common to greet friends and acquaintances with a smile, a nod, or even a hug. Business cards are exchanged with both hands, and titles are used with great respect.**Dining Etiquette**At the dinner table, British etiquette emphasizes the importance of proper table manners. Forks and knives are used for cutting and eating, and hands are kept in view atall times. Conversations are usually light and avoid controversial topics. In China, dining is a much moresocial experience. It is common to share dishes and use chopsticks. Hands are often used to gesture and emphasize points during conversation, and topics can range from the lightest of banter to serious discussions.**Gift-Giving**When it comes to gift-giving, British culture tends to be more practical and understated. Gifts are often chosen with care, reflecting the recipient's interests or needs, and are wrapped neatly. By contrast, Chinese gift-giving is more generous and elaborate. Gifts are often wrapped in red paper, symbolizing good luck and prosperity, and are often given with great ceremony and expectation of reciprocation. **Social Gatherings**Social gatherings in Britain are often more structured and planned. Invitations are formal, and RSVPs are expected. Dress codes are often specified, and guests are expected to adhere to them. In China, social gatherings are moreinformal and spontaneous. Invitations are often extended verbally, and guests are expected to arrive a bit early toshow respect. Dress is less formal, and the focus is moreon enjoying the event and making connections.**Conclusion**In conclusion, the differences between Britishetiquette and Chinese customs are numerous and reflect the distinct cultures and values of these two nations. Understanding and respecting these differences is essential for successful cross-cultural communication and interaction. By embracing the unique aspects of each culture, we can foster greater understanding and appreciation among people from diverse backgrounds.**英国礼仪与中国习俗之比较**在英国与中国的文化领域中,两者之间的礼仪和习俗差异犹如两国的历史和传统一样丰富多彩。

探究英国人的言行潜规则

探究英国人的言行潜规则

探究英国人的言行潜规则作者:王兰来源:《现代交际》2019年第22期摘要:学习英语语言,必须了解语言背后的文化,培养跨文化交流能力。

研究《新概念英语》文本里隐含的英国文化,揭示英国人惯用冷幽默礼貌地表露不满、掩饰尴尬;节制谨慎、不沉迷美味享受,热衷打理花园、保护隐私、拘谨、不善与陌生人交谈,敏感的阶层意识体现于日常用语和虚伪的谈钱禁忌。

英国文化不仅有别于中国文化,与美国文化也有很大差异。

了解英国人典型的言行潜规则,分清英美文化的异同,有助于在全球化时代顺利实现跨文化交流,建立本国文化自信。

关键词:英国文化言行规则《新概念英语》跨文化交流中国文化自信中图分类号:G642.4; 文献标识码:A; 文章编号:1009—5349(2019)22—0080—02现代社会经济协作全球化,交通通信便捷,互联网普及,跨文化交流活动日益密切。

顺利实现跨文化交流,与不同文化背景的人实施有效适当的交流,需要了解他国文化,比较本国文化。

“任何文化都体现了人们的行为方式、办事规则和共处规范。

”[1]不同语言背后隐藏不同的文化。

语言不仅是交流的工具,还是民族文化的重要载体和组成部分。

文化差异使不同文化背景的人对同一事物的理解不同,并且导致不同的行为,因而有时会引起误解。

[2]跨文化交流不仅仅是语言的交流,更是各国文化的沟通理解。

“文化是调控人的行为模式的知识信念系统,文化知识是可以学习的。

”[3] 学习者在学习语言技能的同时,必须以尊重、开放、包容、好奇的态度,学习其他民族的社交礼仪、行为规范、生活习俗、价值观、社会政治、宗教、历史和地理等文化知识,有意识地观察分析,自觉调整,以实现跨文化交流。

[4]英语学习与相关文化知识的研究,相辅相成,缺一不可。

学界已有不少中西文化比较研究,但是没有专门就具体的教材来对西方人言谈举止背后的文化做研究的,区分研究英国人和美国人的也不多。

《新概念英语》(New Concept English,简称NCE)是享誉全球的英语教材,每年中国的使用者超过数百万。

中国和英国礼仪差异英语作文

中国和英国礼仪差异英语作文

The礼仪Differences between China and theUnited KingdomThe world is a mosaic of diverse cultures, each withits unique traditions and etiquette. Among these, the differences in social behavior and protocol between China and the United Kingdom are particularly noteworthy. This essay explores the key distinctions in the two countries' etiquette, focusing on greetings, dining customs, and gift-giving practices.Firstly, greetings in China and the UK differ significantly. In China, greetings are often warm and personal, with handshakes and sometimes hugs or bows, depending on the closeness of the relationship. Verbal greetings often include inquiries about health and family, reflecting the importance of personal connections and mutual concern. In contrast, British greetings tend to be more formal and reserved. Handshakes are standard, but hugs and kisses are generally reserved for close friends and family. Verbal greetings often focus on neutral topics like weather or recent events, reflecting a preference for privacy and avoiding personal inquiries.Dining customs also vary widely between the two countries. In China, dining is a social event, often centered around a round table where everyone faces each other. The host typically takes the lead in ordering dishes and ensuring that everyone is well fed. Conversation during meals is lively, and it is considered polite to offer food to others. In contrast, British dining culture is more formalized, with a set order of courses and a focus on individual plates. Conversations during meals are more subdued, and it is customary to wait for the host to begin eating before following suit. Offering food to others is less common, reflecting a greater emphasis on personal choice and independence.Gift-giving practices also differ between China and the UK. In China, gift-giving is a significant aspect of social interaction, often reflecting the giver's respect and regard for the recipient. Gifts are often wrapped elaborately and presented with ceremony. It is customary to decline a gift initially as a show of humility, before ultimately accepting it with gratitude. In the UK, gift-giving is more casual and less frequent. Gifts are often simple and practical, and wrapping is less elaborate. It isconsidered polite to accept a gift without much fuss, andit is not uncommon to thank the giver and then put the gift aside without much attention.In conclusion, the differences in etiquette between China and the UK reflect the unique cultural values and social norms of each country. Understanding these differences is crucial for successful cross-cultural communication and interaction. By respecting and adapting to local customs, individuals can foster stronger relationships and avoid misunderstandings in both personal and business settings.**中国和英国礼仪差异**世界是由各种文化组成的马赛克拼图,每种文化都有其独特的传统和礼仪。

中英礼仪差异英语作文

中英礼仪差异英语作文

中英礼仪差异英语作文**English Composition: Differences in Chinese and English Etiquette**In the tapestry of cultural diversity, the nuances of etiquette can significantly vary.The disparities between Chinese and English etiquette are particularly noteworthy, reflecting the distinct historical, social, and value systems of the two cultures.In Chinese culture,礼貌(politeness) plays a pivotal role.The concept of 面子(face) is deeply ingrained, dictating how individuals interact.Greetings are often more formal, with a nod or a slight bow being common.Addressing others with titles and surnames is a sign of respect.Moreover, gift-giving is imbued with symbolism, and the act of presenting or receiving gifts is done with great thoughtfulness and ceremony.In contrast, English etiquette tends to prioritize efficiency and informality.Handshakes are the standard greeting, and while titles can be used in formal settings, it is more common to address individuals by their first names.Punctuality is highly valued, with being late seen as disrespectful.English people also tend to value personal space, and direct eye contact is seen as a sign of honesty and engagement.Dining etiquette is another area where differences are evident.InChina, meals are social events where sharing is a cornerstone.It is common to serve others and to sample from a variety of dishes.On the other hand, English dining can be more individualistic, with each person ordering their own food and eating it separately.Ultimately, understanding and respecting these differences in etiquette are crucial for effective cross-cultural communication.It is through such understanding that mutual respect and appreciation can flourish.**中文作文:中英礼仪差异**在丰富多彩的文化多样性中,礼仪的细微差别显著地表现出了不同。

中国英国手势差异英语作文

中国英国手势差异英语作文

中国英国手势差异英语作文In the intricate tapestry of nonverbal communication, gestures play a pivotal role, often conveying messages and emotions that words alone cannot express. The differences between Chinese and British gestures, however, can be asvast as the cultures themselves, reflecting distinct values, traditions, and social norms. This essay delves into the disparities in gesture usage between these two cultures, exploring the underlying reasons for these variations and their impact on cross-cultural communication.In China, gestures are often used to emphasize speechor to add a layer of emotional expression. For instance, nodding the head is a common gesture of agreement, but in China, it is often accompanied by a smile or a verbal affirmation to convey sincerity. By contrast, in Britain, nodding the head is often a unilateral action, with less emphasis on additional expressions of agreement. This difference reflects the Chinese tendency towards a more collective, harmonious communication style versus theBritish preference for a more direct, individualistic approach.Another significant difference lies in the use of hand gestures. In China, raised hands or waving motions are often used to indicate a greeting or farewell, with the palms facing towards the recipient. This gesture is interpreted as a sign of respect and warmth. In contrast,in Britain, raised hands or waving motions are more likely to have the palms facing downwards, which can beinterpreted as a more casual or even dismissive gesture. This difference highlights the varying degrees of formality and respect expected in social interactions between the two cultures.Finger pointing is another gesture that exhibits significant disparities. In China, pointing directly at someone with an index finger is considered disrespectful and aggressive, often avoided in favor of more subtle gestures or verbal cues. By contrast, in Britain, finger pointing is a more common and acceptable form of gesturing, often used to emphasize a point or draw attention. This contrast reflects the Chinese emphasis on harmony and indirect communication versus the British preference for directness and clarity.The reasons for these differences can be traced back to the historical, social, and cultural backgrounds of the two nations. China, with its long history of Confucianism and collectivism, values harmony and respect for authority, reflected in its more subdued and indirect gesture usage. Britain, on the other hand, with its historical roots in individualism and the Protestant work ethic, tends towards a more direct and pragmatic approach to communication, reflected in its手势使用。

谈英汉礼貌用语的差异及对英语教学的启示的论文

谈英汉礼貌用语的差异及对英语教学的启示的论文

谈英汉礼貌用语的差异及对英语教学的启示的论文摘要:受不同文化、价值观等影响,英汉语言的礼貌用语也有所不同。

这种差异往往会影响跨文化交际的有效进行。

因此教师在英语教学中有必要使学生了解英汉礼貌用语的差异,以培养学生的跨文化意识,提高他们的跨文化交际能力。

关键词:礼貌用语差异跨文化意识1引言礼貌是各种文化普遍存在的一种社会现象。

礼貌用语是人们日常语言交际过程中的重要手段,不同的文化背景下有着不同的礼貌用语。

恰当使用礼貌用语,对调和及融洽人际关系起到了意想不到的作用。

随着对外交流的不断加强,跨文化交际也日益频繁,了解中西方礼貌用语的差异,无疑可以避免跨文化交际的失败。

2英汉礼貌用语的差异表现在不同场合,不同社会背景和文化的人会话时所采用的表达方式不尽相同,礼貌用语也有天壤之别。

下面主要从称呼语、称赞语、致谢、禁忌语与委婉语等方面来谈谈英汉礼貌用语的差异。

2.1称呼语不同的称呼语体现了不同的民族文化,反映了不同的文化取向、社会格局、人际关系等。

中国素以“礼仪之邦”甲天下,一直遵循“上下有礼,长幼有序”称呼原则,称呼繁杂;而西方崇尚民主自由,称呼简单明了。

中国文化主张尊老讲辈分,各种称呼五花八门。

上辈直系亲属的称呼就有“舅舅”、“伯父”、“叔父”、“姨父”、“姑父”、“舅妈”、“姨妈”、“姑妈”等。

同辈中则有“堂哥”、“堂弟”、“堂姐”、“堂妹”、“表哥”、“表弟”、“表姐”、“表妹”。

在英语国家中,由于不同的价值观念,亲属的称谓比较笼统且简单,上一辈中只有“unle”、“aunt”,在同辈中也只有一个“usin”。

晚辈和长辈之间、同辈之间都可以直呼对方的名字,甚至对父母也可直呼其名。

而在中国传统教育中,孩子不能直呼父母、长辈的大名,学生不可直接叫老师的名字,下属不能直接叫上司的名字。

否则,就会被视作缺少家教、没有教养、不守规矩等。

在社会交往中,汉语称呼语可用两种表达式来概括:“姓氏+官衔或职务/先生/女士//小姐/老”和“老/小、+姓氏”,如“张局长”、“王先生”、“郑老”、“老陈”等。

中英礼貌用语差异对比研究毕业论文

中英礼貌用语差异对比研究毕业论文

毕业设计(论文)题目:中英文化中礼貌语的对比研究A Constructive Study of Politeness in ChineseAnd English Culture学生姓名:蔡美玲学号:0807060128专业班级:B08英语(国际商务)1班指导教师:唐红梅学院:外国语学院2012年4 月中英文化中礼貌语的对比研究摘要语言礼貌是一种普遍的社会现象,广泛地存在于人类社会生活之中。

它协调着人们的社会关系和交际活动,是维系人际和谐的工具,避免交际冲突的手段。

随着中国加入WTO,中国与西方国家在政治,经济,文化方面的联系变得越来越紧密,社交越来越频繁,礼貌用语也显得越来越重要。

在此过程中,言语交际成功与否,在很大程度上取决于能否选用恰当的礼貌表现形式。

本课题将通过对中英文化中礼貌语的对比研究,阐明中西礼貌用语的共性和差异性,以及在不同文化背景下,中英不同的礼貌原则和各自的侧重点。

通过对此课题的研究,使人们在社交过程中,根据不同的场合,正确的使用合适的礼貌语,避免不同文化下不同礼貌用语带来的各种冲突。

同时,能使英语学习者更加透彻的了解西方文化,掌握交际语言。

最后,若用于英语教学中,将提高学生的综合素质,以及跨文化交际能力。

关键词:礼貌用语; 礼貌原则; 文化; 差异对比A CONSTRUCTIVE STUDY OF POLITENESS IN CHINESEAND ENGLISH CULTUREABSTRACTLanguage Courtesy is a kind of common social phenomenon, which widely occurs in the human society of life, coordinating the people's social relationships and communication activity, maintaining interpersonal harmony,and avoiding the communication conflicts. As China entering the WTO and the forming of the globalized market, the relationship between China and the western countries has become closer, with more frequent activities in politics, economy and culture. So language courtesy is taking a more important role in our social life. In this process, the successful cross-cultural communication, to a great extent, depends on the selection of the appropriate politeness. This paper expounds the common features and different courtesy between Chinese and the western through a constructive study of politeness in Chinese and English culture. On the other hand, the paper expounds different politeness principle and the emphasis of the respective in different cultural background.Therefore, the study of this subject can conduct people to use the right polite language, avoiding the conflict that brings about the different culture courtesy and different culture according to the different occasions in the social process. At the same time, the paper can make the reader understand and master the western culture and the right way of communication. Finally, if the politeness principles are used in the English teaching and Learning, it will improve the students' comprehensive quality, and the ability of cross-cultural communication.Key words: polite language; politeness principle; culture;Contents1. Introduction (1)2. Different Principles of Politeness in Chinese and English (1)2.1 Politeness Principles of English (1)2.1.1 Brown and Levinson’s “face” theory (1)2.1.2 Grice Cooperative Principle (2)2.1.3 Leech’s Politeness Principle (2)2.2 Politeness Principles of Chinese (3)3. A Comparison between Chinese and English Politeness (5)3.1 Terms of Address (5)3.2 Humility Language and Formal L anguage (5)3.3 Terms of Privacy (6)3.4 Terms of Greeting (6)3.5 Terms of Thanks (7)3.6 Terms of Goodbye (8)3.7 Terms of Invitation (8)3.8 Differences Politeness of Cooking Culture (8)3.8.1. The Politeness of Atmosphere on T able (8)3.8.2 The Politeness of Customary Actions on T able (9)4. Reasons for the different & countermeasures (9)4.1 Reasons for the Difference (9)4.1.1 Confucianism and Christianity (10)4.1.2 Philosophy D ifferences (10)4.1.3 Differences of Culture, Thinking and V alue (10)4.2 Countermeasures (11)4.2.1 Countermeasures in English teaching (11)4.2.2 Countermeasures in communication (11)5. Conclusion (13)References (14)1.Introduction“As a universal phenomenon, politeness is observed in every society; its main functions are maintaining social order; maintaining friendly interpersonal relations; reducing conflicts and misunderstandings by means of polite speech acts so as to attain the aim of communication.”[1]Both English and Chinese language has much different restriction in the pragmatic, among which the most important is the restriction of cultural factors. British linguists, Leech listed the six politeness principles according to the English culture characteristic, while Gu YueGuo analysed Chinese culture characteristic and had conclude five politeness principles in his work Politeness, Pragmatics and Culture. Comparing the politeness principles of Gu YueGuo and Leech we can find that there are many politeness norms of differences. It is an effective way to prevent pragmatic failures and promote the communication smoothly by analyzing and comparing these differences scientifically.2.Different Principles of Politeness in Chinese and EnglishPoliteness is the common phenomenon existing in social and group which is the symbol of human civilization and the tool of maintaining interpersonal harmony. People should comply with the politeness principles in order to avoid the failures that cause by different politeness 2.1 Politeness Principles of English2.1.1 Brown and Levinson’s “face” theoryPoliteness, in the interaction, can then be defined as the means employed to show awareness of another person’s face. [2]Early in the 1950s, E Goffman, the United States Scholar, had put forward the “Face Behavior T heory”from sociology. Then in 1978, Brown and Levinson had further put forward the “Mature Face T heory”which tried to take face as a common language phenomenon to research on the basis of Goffman in their work of Universals in Language Usage: Politeness Phenomena. The Mature Face Theory of Brown and Levinson is the firsttime to discuss the face problems of politeness systematically from anthropology and philosophy. They thought that face i s ,for every social member ,wanted to gain for the public self-image of them. In the process of interaction, people hope each other can maintain each other's face. Along with the face threat increasing, people use the higher politeness strategies to maintain their face. The face threat level depends on the difference of social distance and social power between the communications.Brown and Levinson divided the face into positive face and negative face. Then politenes s is also divided into the positive manner and negative manner. [3]2.1.2 Grice Cooperative PrincipleGrice, an American linguist, has put forward the Cooperative Principle in people’s conversation. He thought that, “in all the communicati on, the speaker and listener should follow some principles which make the process of communication develop toward the tacit understanding and cooperation. There are four maxims to embody the Cooperative Principle: (1) Quantity Maxim: the information you offer should accord with the conversation, justthe right amount(2). Quality maxim: what you said should be reasonable and true.(3). Relevant maxim: what you said should be related to the content of the front(4). Manner maxim: the word you said should be terse, clear, and systematical. [4]But some people do not comply with this social principle; even some of them violate those in social communication. In other words, the Cooperative Principle can't completely contain the kinds of conversation. According to this, the English linguist Leech thought the root of people violating the Cooperative Principle is that they want to comply with another principles — Politeness Principle. From the Pragmatics and Interpersonal Rhetoric, Leech summed up and classified the Politeness Principle during the social communication. Leech pointed that: the Cooperative Principle guides what we should say, so as to meet the expectations. However, the politeness principle can be maintained the friendship. So the Cooperation Principles and politeness principles can make a supplement each other which restrict people's conversation behaviors.2.1.3 Leech’s Politeness PrincipleEnglish scholar Leech, in his principles of pragmatics, put forward his politeness principle on the basis of Gricean framework. He believed that,”besides Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle guides and constrains rational people’s conversation as well. It is closelyconnected with Cooperative Principle. Yet on the other hand, it solves the problem why people prefer to use indirect speech in conversation, which cooperative principle can not explain”. Leech’s Politeness Principle is elaborated into six maxims.(1). Maxim of tact: minimize cost to other, maximize benefit to other(2). Maxim of generosity: minimize benefit to yourself, maximize cost to yourself.(3). Maxim of approbation: minimize dispraise to other, maximize praise to other(4). Maxim of modesty: minimize praise of self, maximize dispraise of self,(5). Maxim of agreement: minimize disagreement between self and other; maximizeagreement between self and other.(6). Maxim of sympathy: min imize antipathy between self and other’, maximize s ympathybetween self and other. [5]This is the main content of Leech’s politeness principles. The above criteria have the different emphasis. For example, the maxim of tact and the maxim of generosity, maxim of approbation and maxim of modesty, which is the same, have two different aspects. The maxim of tact is referring to how to treat others which is applied to causative Verbal Behavior “request”. But the maxim of generosity is referring to how to treat self which is applied to commitment Verbal Behavior “promise to help”. Analogously, Approbation maxim is referring to how to treat others while Modesty maxim is referring to how to treat self. The Agreement maxim points out that it is not suitable to express directly the diversity viewpoint with other person. The last maxim, sympathy, stresses out that we should express common mood with others when people are in bad mood.2.2 Politeness Principles of ChineseLike the English speaking countries, the ancient Chinese have made an important discussion on politeness. “道德仁义非礼不成”, “人有礼则安。

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浅谈从英国人言行规则理解和区别某些英语表达法【摘要】与外国人,尤其是与英国人的交往并非想象般简单,看似随意的表达往往会遭致不解,愤怒或敌意。

在本文中,作者将从人类学角度,浅谈英国人的某些言行规则与衍生出的英语表达法,着重简单的天气、打招呼、请和感谢表达,目的是体察英国文化和英国人的性格特点,纠正以往我们耳熟能详的表达法,增进对于英国人的理解认识。

【关键词】言行规则;天气;打招呼;请;感谢
【中图分类号】g64 【文献标识码】a 【文章编号】
2095-3089(2013)4-00-01
还记得我们在小学或初中初次接触英语对话时,启蒙教师总会介绍一些常用表达法。

比如,他们会经常提醒我们,与外国人开始对话时,最好的方法是谈天气,“beautiful day,isn’t it?”,“terrible weather,don’t you think so?”,“it sure is cold day,isn’t it?”;与他们打招呼时,除了“how are you?”,为了表示亲近友好,可以主动自我介绍,如“my name is…”;要求别人帮忙,要说声“please”,接受别的帮助或赞美,要说声“thanks”。

这些规则看似简单,我们也已然熟记在心,并未深究,但细细品味,仔细琢磨后,其中还会有未解之处。

外国人,尤其是英国人为什么会经常谈“天”?简单的打招呼是不是每时每刻都适用,别人也会欣然接受?“请”和“谢谢”又体现了英国文化的什么特征呢?要解答这些问题,必须要分析英国人的言行规则,从最
根本的角度理解和区别某些英语表达法。

笔者先要解释一下选取英国人作为研究对象的原因。

诚然,美国是当今世界头号超级大国,美国人也喜欢旅游,行走天下,因此我们身边接触的人多是他们。

但是正如英国大文豪萧伯纳所言,英国和美国是被同一种语言区分开来的两个国家。

而今,这种跨大西洋语言差异还在不断被拉大。

英式英语和美式英语表达法的区别体现在各个方面,如逛遍英国的最佳交通方式是乘坐地铁,英国人叫“underground”,有时也把这套轨道网络称作“tube”。

美国则管地铁叫“subway”,这个词在英国人那里指的是过街地下通道;在英国,跟汉堡包在一块的词语“chips”,构成了薯条,而不是美国人说的“fries”,要是薯片呢?英国是“crisp”,美国则是“potato chips”;甚至一些不起眼的词汇单复数上也有差别,英国对于运动“sport”一词,使用的是单数,而美国人则喜欢用复数“sports”,体育馆的看台“stand”则正相反,英国人使用复数“stands”,美国人变成了单数。

但是真正能体现英语文化根本特征和言行规则的还是英式英语,因为英国的历史要比美国长,英国的文化积淀要比美国浓厚的多。

在温斯顿·丘吉尔的巨著《英语民族史》中,他对英式英语的形成做了很好的阐述:由于英国(确切的应该说是英格兰)曾被多个民族,如罗马人、日耳曼人、北欧海盗、诺曼底人所征服和统治过,所以它的语言融汇了多个语种的特点,又自成一派。

美式英语多是对英式英语的再发展,也随着美国人的性格,自由散漫了一些,而这被正统的英国人所不齿。

bbc杂志曾发表了一篇关
于美式英语入侵英国的文章,引起了很多英国人的共鸣。

读者纷纷发来电子邮件,说出了最困扰自己、最让自己恼火的美式英语,表达不满。

因此,为回归英语根本传统,笔者将从英国的言行规则分析英语表达法。

英国人为什么喜欢谈天气或者用天气作为打招呼的方式?我们知道,中国人喜欢见面打招呼喜欢用“吃了吗?”,这是因为在很早之前,中国绝大多数的地方十分贫穷,人民生活艰难,很多人食不果腹,衣不遮体。

那时候,人们想的是能不能有饭吃,人与人之间最关心的也是能否吃上饭,他们认为现世的一切好处都取决于吃饭。

以此类推,很多专家,甚至包括英国专家都认为英国人谈天气是因为英国天气确实多变。

杰里米·帕克斯曼(jeremy paxman)认为英国天气有着内在的趣味:“英国人对天气的执着一点儿不含戏剧因素,人们对天气现象的不确定性很感兴趣……英国的天气可能没有暴风,但是,由于其大洋边缘与大陆边缘的双重地理位置,英国的天气绝对不是你能预测的。

”然而,笔者经过研究发现,帕克斯曼其实是错了。

英国人的聊“天”并非对天气本身有多关注,它只是用来克服他们天生的保守和羞涩的性格,拉近谈话人彼此的距离。

就像凯特·福克斯(kate fox)所述,英式聊“天”只是一种“载体”,就像灵长类动物能够梳理毛发一样,我们人类也需要此类亲昵载体。

当然,不是梳理毛发,而是相互建立起某种联系,减少心理距离。

以笔者长期与英国人的交往,非常赞同凯特的观点。

英国人性格的保守和羞涩有时到了另人费解的程度。

这涉及到另一
种打招呼方式,自我介绍是我们耳熟能详的方式,但是在英国人身上则不灵光。

在英国人面前,切记不要急于自我介绍。

一旦如此,他们会皱起眉头,怪怪的看着你,仿佛异物。

经询问后方发现,英国人没有自我介绍的习惯(他们认为这是美国人太随便的方式),因为谈话双方彼此还没有建立信任。

因此,英国人会选择别的打招呼的方式(如天气)或话题,直到最后,他们会自己主动选择是否用“by the way,my name is…”来建立和加强对你的信任关系。

另外一个让人忽视的言行规则和表达法是“请”和“谢谢”的使用。

在英国的酒吧点酒和商场购物时,一定要使用“请”,如果忽略了,会被看成大逆不道。

拿到酒或拿到找回的零钱时,一定要说句“谢谢您”。

英国人在每次请求或获得帮助时,都会不厌其烦的说“请”和“谢谢”。

因为英国是一个对阶级高度敏感的社会,礼物用语也体现了英国文化在很多方面非常平等。

服务行业虽然大多属于下层阶级,但是在这些服务的态度中,有明显的绝不卑躬屈膝的成分,“请”和“谢谢”的使用要求人民用礼物和尊敬来对待他们。

热播美剧《唐顿庄园》中的管家的举手投足给了我们很好的诠释,就像其它规则一样,这项规则被违反时,周围的人便会投来异样的眼光,对此皱起眉头。

在与英国人的交往中,“谢谢”的表达有些特殊,“thank you”最常见,但如果你使用了“gratitude”,英国人会抱以赞许和敬佩的目光,因为后者有感激之意,是古时英国上流社会的用语,也最地道,最英国。

综上所述,在与外国人,尤其是英国人的交往中,并非如我们
想象般简单。

看似随意的表达往往会遭来不解,甚至是愤怒或敌意。

打招呼和开始对话以及表达感谢之意,只是其中最简单和常用的,更别说英国人还有其它如衣着、饮食、住宅、工作等接触规则。

要想真正与英国人友好往来,就要深度体察英国的文化以及英国人的性格特征,多从人类学的角度理解和区别所有规则,做到有的放矢,切不要盲目学习和跟从。

参考文献
[1]collyer, peter:rain later, good, bradford on avon,tomas reed, 2002
[2]gorer, geoffrey: exploring english character,london, cresset press, 1955.
[3] kate fox: watching the english: the hidden rules of english behaviour, nicholas brealey publishing, 2008。

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