CuluraldifferencesinEnglishandChineseaddresserms_开题报告

Address term as an important part in a language system, receives attentions from various scholars. Many scholars believe the use of address term has reflected people’s thinking habit and cultural difference, so they study on it from these aspects.

1.1 Studies Abroad

   In the studies of address terms, Brown and Gilman are two representative figures for their research (1986) is comprehensive and influential. In their studies, they used the interviews and questionnaire to collect data in order to guarantee the facticity of their research. Basing on the collected data, they further analyzed the use of address terms in famous literary works and other influential texts written in various languages, including English, French, German and Italian (Chinese was included). In the research result, they find that the inner mechanics of using the addressing terms can be summarized into two aspects, which the power and solidarity. Power means the status that people possess; the power can be social status, family status or even age status.  Solidarity means the regardless of the power of people, the intimacy degree of two people will determine the use of address terms. For example, two close friends will use the address terms to call each other which are different from those of two strange people regardless their status; two people with same gender will use address terms to call each other which are different from those of two people with different gender. Therefore, the solidarity will also influence on the use of address terms.

Apart from Brown and Gilman, there are some other representative scholars in this field, such as Roger and Ford who proposed the reciprocal and nonreciprocal patterns in 1961; Ervin-Tripp, S (1972) who used computer flow chart to build model and categorized the address terms. German scholar Braun(1988) studied on the terms of addresses in different cultural backgrounds; Levision (1999) took the pragmatic angle to analyze the addresses terms, and he also supported the cultural influence on address uses. In summary, the studies of address terms in abroad possess a relative long history and studies results of which are quire mature.

1.2 Studies in China

    Chinese people always pays attention to the etiquette in communication very much and the address norms are able to reflect the politeness in communication, therefore, the studies of address norms is also a hot topic in China. Generally, the range of researches in China is wide and content of them is systematical. The representative scholars in domestic field include Deng Yanchang (1989), Chen Songcen (1989) and Tian Huigang (1998).

   Deng Yanchang’s major contribution to address terms studies in China is that he has summarized and generalized nearly all the Chinese address terms and offered meticulous description to each of them. As the earliest domestic influential scholar researching on address terms, his research result possesses milestone significance in this field. For Chen Songcen(1989) , he has divided the Chinese address terms into six types, the classification of which is the most acceptable one nowadays: (1) kinship titles; (2) occupational titles; (3) rank titles; (4) common titles; (5) despicable titles; (6) names. Tian Huigang (1998) is the first scholar who made a comprehensive comparative study about Chinese and English uses of address terms. Basing on his research result, he drew some conclusions about the difference of them; for example, the “sir” and Mr/Mrs/Miss are the most popular forms of address terms in western society; the counterpart of which are 先生 and 小姐 in China. Most of his conclusions are made subjectively so the research results lack sufficient objectivity. Lv Wenhua (2000) found that foreign people may avoid using the address of 老XX when in learning Chinese. Zhu Wanjin (1994) has summarized the Chinese social address system, providing great referencing value to scholars. Also, Tang Xinghong and Liu Shaozhong (2004) analyze the differences of address terms norms and miuses in the cross-cultural communications from pragmatic perspective. Tan Ying (2002) chooses to explore the cultural connections of the address terms systems in China and the West. 

    In summary, for the studies of Chinese address terms, the results of which are rich and mature as well. Although the comparative studies between Chinese and English address terms are made, most of them are not comprehensive enough and the analysis of cultural difference between them are even fewer. Therefore, to make a study between the use of address terms in Chinese and English language to find out the cultural differences behind them possess important significance.

2. Outline

1. Introduction

2. Comparison of Chinese and English Address Terms in Various Categories

2.1 Comparison of Kinship Address Terms

2.2 Comparison of Social Address Terms

2.3.Comparison of Person Address Terms

3. The Cultural Difference Between Chinese and Western Address Terms

3.1 Different Concepts of Family Relationship and Kinship

3.2 Different Concepts of Ranks

3.3 Different Concepts of Modesty

4. Conclusion

3. References

 Braun, Fredericke. Terms of address: Problems of patterns and usage in various languages and culture. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. 1988

Brown, R.& A. Gilman. The Pronouns of Power and Solidarity. In Language and Social Context[M], ed. Giglioli, P. P. 252-282. London: Penguin Books. 1986. 

Brown, R., & Ford, M.. Address in American English. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62(2), 375, 1961.

Ervin-Tripp, S. On Sociolinguistic Rules: Alternation and On-occurrence. Gumperz and Hymes, 1972.

Levinson, Stephen C. Pragmatics and social Deixis [A]. In Chiarello,Christine (ed). Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistic Society . Berkeley, CA:Berkeley Linguistics Society.pp.206–223. 1999.

陈松岑. 礼貌语言初探[M]. 北京：商务印书馆, 1989.

邓炎昌，刘润清. 语言与文化—英汉语言文化对比 [M]，北京：外语 

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吕文华、鲁健骥. 外国人汉语学习过程中的回避策略分析[M].北京：北京语言大学出版社, 2000. 

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祝畹瑾，汉语称呼语研究－一张社会语言学的称呼系统图. 胡文仲主编，文化与交际[C]. 北京: 外语教学与研究出版社, 1994。

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