A CONTRASTIVE STUDY OF GREETINGS AND PARTINGS IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE 英汉问候语与告别语对比研究.doc

A CONTRASTIVE STUDY OF GREETINGS AND PARTINGS IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE 英汉问候语与告别语对比研究 Abstract: This article makes a study in comparison between English and Chinese on linguistic routines and politeness of greetings and partings. The comparisons of the structural features, social functions, and vocabularies of English and Chinese greetings and partings are included. The article gives a quantificational analysis ,based on a language survey, on the differences such as different ways of expressing and their users, and illustrates the importance of the study of politeness to facilitate cross-cultural communication. Although greetings and partings appear to be unexceptional in their structure and function, they are in fact highly complex international phenomena. Key words: greetings; partings; cross-cultural communication; ceremonial greetings; illocutionary acts 摘要: 本文从常规用语和礼貌的角度对英语和汉语话语中的问候语和告别语进行了对比研究，内容包括其结构特征、种类、和社会功能等，并且通过语言调查统计的资料，对英汉问候语和告别语在表达方式和使用对象等方面的差异进行了量化分析，以实际语言事实说明必须加强礼貌语言对比研究，促进跨文化交际。尽管问候语和告别语在结构与功能方面似乎没有什么特别之处，但他们实际上是一种非常复杂的语言现象。 关键词：问候语；告别语；跨文化交往；礼仪问候语；言外之行 INTRODUCTION This article provides a contractive study of greetings and partings in English and Chinese discourse in terms of linguistic routines and politeness. Although greetings and partings appear to be unexceptional in their structure and function, they are in fact highly complex interactional phenomena. This kind of view is highlighted in situations of cross-cultural communication where the potential for miscommunication and misunderstanding has proved to be considerable. For example, misunderstandings and misinterpretation can lead to feelings of offence, insult and suspicion on the part of the individuals involved. In order to alert foreign language learners and users to this potential threat, we need too much research to be undertaken in situations of language contact, where appropriate language terms used are crucial. Therefore, the study explores some common properties of greetin