中英思维模式差异及分析(英文)

Philosophical foundation
China and England have different philosophical foundation. Chinese philosophy is based on Confucianism and Taoism while English philosophy is based on ancient Geek philosophical. While Chinese people tend to emphasize the direct experience of oneness via intuitive concepts and contemplation, English people view the faculty of the intellect as the primary instrument of worldly mastery. While Chinese people tends to conclude in more or less vague, imprecise statements with flexibility, English people prefer clear and distinct ideas by means of categorization and the linear analytic logic of syllogism. While Chinese people look for the drive for growth in spiritual attainment of oneness with the universe, the English people seek it in material progress and social change.
Integrative Thinking vs. Analysis Thinking
Linguist Nelson also gives a new vision of it. He called his Chinese students“global leaners”, which means their thought pattern is integrative thought pattern. Those global leaners begin with the whole picture when they think. Nelson called western students who have analytic (abstract ) thought“analytic leaners. While the analytic leaner begins with the separate parts and pieces them together to make a whole when he thinks.
On the contrary, an English expository paragraph usually begins with a topic statement, and then, by a series of subdivisions of that topic statement, each supported by example and illustrations, proceeds to develop that central idea and relate that idea to all the other ideas in the whole essay, and to employ that idea in its proper relationship with the other ideas, to prove something, or perhaps to argue something.That is to say, English thought pattern is linear pattern.
English, belonging to the Indo-European Language system, is phonemic language which form just stands for sound rather meaning. As sound is different from image, it can be visualization (expect onomatopoeia). There is no directed connection of meaning between the word meaning and form. So, it need a series of abstract concept to arousing association, form image so that express meaning clearly. It is clear that westerner pay more attention on abstract thought. It is called abstract thought patterБайду номын сангаас.
Circular Thinking vs. Linear Thinking
Kalpan says Chinese thought pattern is characterized by circular type while English one is linear type according to the study of their different paragraph format.
Factors contributing to the differences
Learning those different characteristics of two cultures, people begin to search what is causing those differences. The author looked up various information and found that since both two nation had found their own society, the differences had been decided. There are three factors can be contributing to those differences: philosophical foundation, economic system and geographic environment.
Key words:Chinese and English thought pattern; comparative study; differences; cause
This context studies three thinking mode counterparts: circular thinking vs. linear thinking, concrete thinking vs. abstract thinking and integrative thinking vs. analysis thinking.
According to the study of Kaplan,the development of Chinese paragraph is screw-type which means the theme of the paragraph isn’t pointed out directly but using a roundabout way to explain. Though former narration has informed the theme, it paves the way of theme with repeated spiral hint rather telling clearly. So, the Chinese thought pattern is circuitous one.
J. Needham pointes out that Chinese thought pattern was likely to be related to Chinese characters. Most acknowledge of its words and characters is beginning with the acknowledge of image. To perceive graphic retrieval, first you must pay attention to the whole image then to the details. So, it is a kind of cognitive action called global precedence or concrete thinking.
Economic system
China’s traditional economy is a typical self-sufficient natural economy. After the Spring and Autumn Period, China stepped into the period of private ownership economy while Chinese people had a lack of the outside world, tunnel vision and thinking occlusion. They attached great importance to the family ethical morality. People took the concept of family as the most important things in the group action. They were amenable to some of the specific authority of the rights of individuals and did not like to insist personal right.