从称赞应答语看中美文化差异

Title:AnAnalysisonComparisonBetweenChinaandAmericaonCultureFromComplimentResponses题目:从夸奖应答语看中美文化差异摘要语言是社会交际的工具，语言的使用反应着一种社会文化生活的方方面面。任何语言不仅体现该民族的风土人情、文化习惯以及历史的演变和发展，并且还蕴藏着该民族的人生观、生活方式和思维模式。简而言之，根植于不一样社会文化历史背景下的不一样民族，其语言习惯相差甚远。其中，夸奖语作为一种社交语言即社会交际用语，不一样文化背景自然产生不一样的夸奖语模式。同步，作为一种配对性构造，夸奖与回应的共现又反应着不一样的文化渊源。也就是说：被夸奖人必须对夸奖做出回应——接受或拒绝。在不一样文化背景的影响下，人们的夸奖内容、运用的场所及对象、形式对比、价值观念、采用的礼貌原则以及应答语的模式也会存在着差异。假如不理解文化之间的差异，跨文化交际就会因语用失误产生交际障碍，甚至导致交际失败。因此，文章拟从中美两国的夸奖语及其应答模式，看中美文化的差异。以其能尽量防止语用失误，更好地增进两国人民的交流。关键词：夸奖语；应答语；模式；文化对比；分析AbstractLanguageisatoolofsocialcommunication,whoseusereflectsvariousaspectsoftheculturallifeofaspecificsociety.Anylanguagenotonlyembodiesthecustoms,culturalhabits,historicalevolutionanddevelopmentoftheracespeakingthatlanguage,butalsocontainsthephilosophy,lifestyleandwayofthinkingofthatrace.Simplyput,differentraces,basedondifferentsocialculturesandhistoricalbackgrounds,willproducedifferentlanguages.Itisalsonaturalthatcomplimentsderivingfromdifferentculturalbackgroundswillgeneratedifferentpatternsintermsoftheiruseandresponses.Meanwhile,asanadjacencypair,thecoexistenceofcomplimentsandresponsesinturnreflectsdifferentculturalbackgrounds.Inotherwords,personcomplimentedmustrespond—eitheracceptorrefuse.Underdifferentculturalbackgrounds,thecontents,contextsandobjectsforms,conceptofvalue,theprincipleofpolitenessofcomplimentsandtheirresponsesdiffer.Amisunderstandingofthedifferencebetweencultureswillleadtoconflictsevenfailureincommunication.So,thispapertriestomakeanelementaryprobeintothesimilarityanddifferenceofSino-UScomplimentsandtheirresponsesfromtheperspectiveofsocialculturewiththehopethatpragmaticmistakescouldbeavoidedtofacilitatethecommunicationbetweenpeopleofthetwocountries.Keywords:compliment;response;pattern;culturalcontrast;analysis ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\uThusitcanbeseenthatChineseandAmericancomplimentsreflectthecultureandarerestrictedbycultureatthesametime.Onlybyunderstandingtheculturaldifferencesbetweenthetwocountries,canweusethecomplimentbetter--thispositivenon-verbalcommunicationbehaviorsoastoachievetheexpectedeffectofcommunication. 1AnAnalysisonComparisonBetweenChinaandAmericaonCultureFromComplimentResponsesChapter1IntroductionAsweallknow,differentcountrieshavedifferentculture.Cultureisthecollectiveprogrammingofthemindwhichdistinguishesthemembersofonecategoryofpeoplefromanotherandrepresentstheirowncharacteristic.IntermsofthedifferentprocessofthesocialdevelopmentbetweenChinaandAmerica,thecultureofeachotherrepresentstheirowncharacteristic,especiallyinthelanguageuse.Languagecultureistheonepoint.Languageisthereactionofthecultureandthereflectionofthecultureandthereflectionofvalues.Complimentresponsesisthefrequentlylanguagewhichisusedinourdailylifeandfamiliartopeople,itiseasyforpeopletounderstandtheculturedifferencefromcomplimentresponses.Duringtheprocessofcross-culturalcommunication,ChineseandAmericanusuallymisunderstandeachotherforunknowingother’sownculture.ThisessaylistsalotofexamplestoanalyzetheculturaldifferencefromcomplimentresponsesbetweenChinaandAmericainordertomakepeopleunderstandtheculturaldifferencebetterandimprovetheabilityofcross-culturalcommunication.ThusitcanbeseenthatChineseandAmericancomplimentsreflectthecultureandarerestrictedbycultureatthesametime.Onlybyunderstandingtheculturaldifferencesbetweenthetwocountries,canweusethecomplimentbetter--thispositivenon-verbalcommunicationbehaviorsoastoachievetheexpectedeffectofcommunication.Chapter2ConceptofComplimentResponsesComplimentshavebeensaidto‘greasethesocialwheels’andthustoserveas‘sociallubricants’.Weallhavegivencomplimentsandweallreceivethemoccasionally.Complimentsareprimarilyaimedat‘maintaining,enhancing,orsupportingtheaddressee’sface’.Herbertarguesthatthereseemstobeawidespreadpopularagreementoverwhatitisthatconstitutesacompliment.Henotesthatmostdefinitionsofcompliment,particularlythosebasedonstudiesofWesternlanguages,specifytwoconditions:thefirstoneisthatcomplimentsmustcontainanexpressionofadmirationonthepartofthespeaker,theotheroneisthattheymustconcernapossession,accomplishment,orpersonalqualityoftheaddressee.Contrastivestudieshavebeenconductedcomparingcomplimentresponsesindifferentlanguagesandlanguagevarietieswith(mostlyAmerican)English.Thesestudiesillustrateaclearcontrastamongdifferentlanguages.Ontheonehand,ArabicandSouthAfricanEnglisharemorelikelytopreferacceptanceofcomplimentsandlesslikelytorejecttothemthanAmericanEnglish.Ontheotherhand,speakersofAsianlanguages(Chinese,Japanese,Malay,andThai)tendtoavoidacceptingcomplimentsbutratherrejectthemcomparedtoEnglish.Thespeechactofcomplimentresponsesisselectedsimplyfortworeasons.First,studiesonitinseveralvarietiesofEnglish,aswellasinotherlanguagesandotherpolitenessformulaearemany,whichprovideabasisforcomparativeanalysis.However,thepresentstudyseekstoaddressanimportantomissioninpreviousscholarlyanalyses,astherehavebeenveryfewChineseandAmericanEnglishcross-culturalstudiesonthecomplimentresponsesspeechactset.Indeed,therelevantliteratureisconfinedtoacoupleofstudiesonmainlyAmericanandEuropeanlanguages.Second,complimentresponsesprovideaninvaluablebutunder-utilizedinsightintospeakers’reactiontoexternalappraisalsoftheirpersonalandsocialidentity.Thedataofthestudycomefromtheresultofthepresentresearchworks,whichexaminethesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthecomplimentresponsesstrategiesofChinesenativespeakersandAmericannativespeakersandtorevealtheinterlanguagecharacteristicsofChinesenativespeakersinrespondingtocompliments.Chapter3ComparisonsBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentResponsesinDifferentContextDuetothedifferenthistoryandconcept,ChinaandAmericacomplimentresponseisundeniablydistinctfromeachother.Contextisveryimportantforlanguagelearnerstolearnalanguage.WedoneedtoconsiderthedifferentcontextsintheuseofAmericanandChinesecompliments.ThispartwillmainlytalkaboutthecomparisonsbetweenAmericanandChinesecompliments.3.1ComparisonBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentsatHome3.1.1ChineseComplimentsatHomeAmericancouplesandChinesecouplesaresimilar.Theybothareadvocatedtoconstancyforloveandundyingloyaltytolovers.Thefundamentaldifferenceisthattheirculturalbackgroundsaredifferent.Theyarelivingindifferentcountries.Differentculturebackgroundisthekeyreasonfortheirdifferentlanguagepatterns.Tolstoyoncesaid,‘Allhappyfamiliesarealikeoneanother,eachunhappyfamilyisunhappyinitsownway.’Thequestionwhatisahappyfamilyusuallycomestoourmind:mutualtrust,understandingandcommunication,compromise,tolerance,managementandsoon.TraditionallythelovebetweenChinesehusbandandwifeisimplied.Ashamed,theycouldnottellthespouseoftheirlove,especiallyinoldChina,theydidnotsay‘Iloveyou’or‘YouaretheoneIlovebest’overthecourseofthewholelifetime.Complimentisakindoftheembodimentofthelove.FormostChinesepeople,complimentusuallyoccursinloveperiodornewmarriage.Amaninlovewilltakeeveryopportunitytogivecomplimentstohisgirlfriend.Theydosobecausetheywanttoimpresshisgirlfriendormakeherhappy.Asforanold-marriedcouple,theyseldomcomplimenteachother.Theythinktheloveisneedlesstosayout.Theypaymoreattentiontousingactionstoexpresstheirlove.SometimesChinesespeechcommunityignorestheirfamilymembers,seldomusecomplimentarywordstopraisethemforappreciation.ButthisisnottosaythatemotionbetweenChinesefamilymembersisindifferent.Justthewaytheyexpressemotionsisimplicit,isloveyoumorethanIcansay.Infact,theChinesekinshipismuchstrongerthantheAmericanpeople;andthefamilyconsciousnessisevenmoreintense.TheChinesepeopletakemorecareandsupportobligationsthantheAmericanpeople.Butwiththeopeningofideas,Chinesecouplesbegintobeboldandbravetospeaktheirlove,especiallytheyoungcouples.Theybegintotakeavarietyofwaystoshowtheirloveinthebottomoftheirheartboldlytotheirlovers.3.1.2AmericanComplimentsatHomeItssocietywithindividualismpopular,marriageisjustacombinationoftwoindividuals.Andmarriageisbasedonloveandsexintheiropinion;marriagewithoutloveisimmoralandoflowquality.SowesaythatwesternweddingisahumanrightandtheChineseweddingismorelikeanobligationforfamily.Respectandfreedomisthemostbasicprincipleintherelationshipofmarriage.Nomatterhowdeepthemaritalloveis,theAmericancouplesdonotignorethesetwoprinciples,respectandfreedom.Theyknowtheimportancetoholdonthetwobasicbottomlinesiftheywanttomakealastingmarriage.BecauseofthedifferencesofChineseandwesternculture,peoplehavedifferentviewsandmeansofexpressionsforthesamethings.Intheaspectofexpressingcompliments,theChineselanguageisimplicitandeuphemistic;theAmericanlanguageisenthusiasticandstraightforward.Mostwesternerswithstrongsenseofselfconceptwouldliketopaythebestcomplimentstotheirfamilymembers.Theyknowspousalrelationshipisthemostfundamentalandimportantinterpersonalrelationship,whichconcernsthehappinessoflife,familyharmonyandcareersuccess.Soahusbandoftensaystohiswife,“Oh,yourdressiselegant.”,“Youhavesuchagorgeoussmile”and“Youareunique”.Iamproudofyou,mydarling.”Similarlyawifewillsaytoherhusband,“Yourhandwritingissoperfect.”,“Youlookverycooltoday,honey.”,“Ilikeyoursenseofhumor.”Americancomplimentsarereflectedineveryaspectoflifeandeverymoment.ThatiswhyweseetheAmericancouplesaremorelovingandconnected.Comparativelyspeaking,AmericancouplesunderstandthesignificanceofmarriageandmanagemarriagebetterthanChinesecouples.ThemostimportantchangeofChinesemarriedcouplesaftermarriageisthattheynolongerappreciateeachotherandignoreeachother’sadvantages.Thereisnocompliment,onlysarcasmandirony.Theyignoreeachotherforeverythingtheyhavedone,andtakeeverythingforgranted,notfromtheheartofthanksgiving.However,theBritishcoupleisexactlytheopposite.Theytakeeverythingtheirloverhasdoneintheeyesandinthemind.Theydulygivecomplimentsandthankstotheirlover,whichmakestherelationshipsweeterandmoreharmonious.Happinessandfoundationinthemarriage,ofcourse,isloveandloyalty.Whetherthecouplescanfinallygetrealhappinessdependsonthegoodhabitsoffeelingsbetweenhusbandandwife.Sowesaygoodhabitsdetermineahappymarriage.ThebigdifferencebetweenChinesefamiliesandAmericanfamiliesisAmericanfamilieshasformedthegoodhabitofexpressingtheloveandcompliments.Loveisanart;loveistwopeoplegrowtogether.Itmusthavecommunication.Therewillbeadeeperloveifthereisacommunicationtounderstand.3.2ComparisonsBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentsatSchoolThehealthygrowthofstudentscannotgowithoutteachers’properguidance.Everystudenthasatendencytopursueprogress,hasagoodside:positive,smartandstudious.Atthesametime,teachersmustbecommoninmindtolookattheireachmeritandregardtheireveryprogressaspositive.Naturally,theteacherswillbegoodatdiscoveringstudents’merits;appreciatingtheirvalue,soastoestablishthestudents’self-confidenceandpride.Itrequiresthatteachersshouldseebeautyofhumannature,andmakingcomplimentstowardsstudentsisthepenetrationintheprocessofthehumanisticspiritintheeducationteaching,embodiestheequalityofthepersonalityanddignitybetweenthestudentsandteachers.Ifwecantreatthestudents’failuresandmistakeswithabroadmindandunderstandingwithtoleranceandencouragement,atthesametime,pointoutthesolutiontocorrectthewrongdoingforthem.Teacherswillprovideaharmoniousatmosphereofmutualtrustforalongtime;itisgoodforstudentstoformapositivehealthypsychologyandanactiveattitudetolearnnewknowledgeandexplorenewmethodstostudythenewproblem.Inthisway,thelifejourneywillbefulloflaughter,applause;fullofdeterminationandconfidence.Specialtyisthechildren’sshines.Theteachersmustbegoodatcatchingthestudents’brightspots,givetimelycomplimentsinordertosetuptheirconfidence.Whenbeingcomplimented,thestudentswillfeelasenseofsatisfaction,canmakeacomprehensiveanalysisofhim,andcanrealizehisinsufficiency.Atthesametime,hecanalsoaccepttheopinionsofothers,graduallyperfectinghiswish.Aphilosophersaid:onlythetruestcomplimentwilltouchtheheartofaperson.Theteachers’complimentsshouldstartfromthestudents’triviallife,seektruthfromfactsanddonotsimplysaytothestudent,“Youareagoodstudent.Youaregreat.Youaresosmart.”Themorespecificyourcomplimentis,themoreclearthestudentswillfeelabouthisgoodbehaviorandsoisthemorepossiblythestudentswillobeytherulesofsuchbehaviors.Fortheyoungchildren,theteachersshouldgivetimelycomplimentforeverysmallprogress.Forexample,theteachercancomplimentastudentlikeyoumaketheclassroomsoclean,oryoumakeyourhandbagsotidy,oryouareexcellentthatyoucansolvetheclassmates’difficulties,etc.Ifyouareateacher,pleasedonotmakecomplimentstingy,forcomplimentisspringbreeze,whichmakesstudentsfilledwithwarmthandgratitude;pleasedonotlookdowncompliments,forcomplimentisafire,whichcanlightthelongingandhopeintheheartofstudents.Ifeveryteacherisfullofspirittoenjoyencouragingwordtostudents,complimentswillbeabletomoisteneverythingsilently.Wesincerelyhopethatthestudentscanhealthilygrowintheteachingwithcorrectcompliments.3.3ComparisonBetweenChineseandAmericanComplimentsinWorkplaceAccordingtoanalysis,therearethreemajortopicsincomplimentinginAmerican.Abilityandtraitsareoftenreferredtoindailycommunication,sharingthehighestproportion,appearancerankssecondonlyalittlelowerthanabilityandtraits,andthenpossessionsrankthird.IntheAmericanculture,thepositivecommentsonlooksorappearanceoccupyaverylargeproportionbecausetheyliketocomplimentmutually.Ifothers’appearancehasanychange,itisdeservedtobecomplimentedinordertoshowone’scareorrespecttoothers.Inthispartwemainlytalkaboutthegenderdifferenceintheuseofcompliments.Alotofresearchandexperimentshowthattherearemanydifferencesbetweenwomenandmenintheuseoftopic,syntax,vocabulary,strategyandfunctionaboutcompliment.Muchcorpusfindscomplimentisunevenlydistributedinmenandwomen.Womenusecomplimentsmorethanmendo.InEnglish-speakingcountries,thecontentofcomplimentsmorefocusonintelligence,skills,performance,clothing,furniturecars,onsuchgoodqualityandvesselswithhighquality.Inwesternculture,individualstruggleandpersonalityreflectionisanimportantnotionwhichpursuestheselfvalueperformance.Thus,positivecomplimentonappearanceandhairstyleoccupiesthemainandthemostprominentposition.Thecomplimentrecipientsaremainlywomen.Womenoftenreceivethecomplimentsfrommen,“Youlooknicetoday!”,“Youlooksexy!”Womenwillbepleasedtosay“Thankyou”onhearingsuchcompliments.InChina,mendonotoftencomplimentwomen’sappearancedirectly,otherwisetheywillberegardedtobefrivolousorhaveulteriormotives.Influencedbydeep-rootedorthodoxculture,menoftenusesuchadjectivestocomplimentwomenasvirtuous,gentle,beautiful,intelligent,highlyculturedandsteepedinpropriety;educatedandreasonableandsoon.Menneedwomen’scompliments,butheonlyneedstoknowhispositionintheeyesofwomen,whichisenough.Hedoesnotneedthenaggingwords,doesnotneedtherepeatedcompliments.However,womenneedtobecomplimentedrepeatedlyfrommen.So,inasocialsituation,itisimportanttogiveawomanpropercomplimentwhichcanmakethecommunicationeasier.However,inthelife,therearefewmenwhocangivepropercomplimentsnaturallytowomen.ThismaybeakindofuniqueChineseconnotation.Menshouldlearntocomplimentwomen,appropriatecomplimentwhichcanmakecommunicationmoreharmoniousandcaneliminatethecontradictioninthecommunicationandcanmakethemfeelbetterandblissfullyhappy.Itneedsanappropriatescaleformentocomplimentwomen’sappearance.Itshouldbepractical.Menshouldnotsaybeautifultoallwomen.Incompliments,itneedsmentoquicklyfindeachwoman’sbiggestadvantageinthefirstplace.Forexample,somewomenarenotpretty,butwithgoodtemperament;somewomenareveryshort,buttheskinisverydelicate.Inshort,everywomanmusthavetheadvantageshereallydeservestobecomplimented.Peoplesaythatwomenarelivingwithears;complimentisthesunshineinthelifeofwoman.Infact,manisthesame,theyliketoheartheaffirmationandcomplimentfromothers,whichwillgivethemasenseofvalueandmakethemfullofconfidence.Becauseoftraditionalmalerolesinthesociety,tosupporttheirhome,itmakesamancareabouthisimageintheeyesofothers,hisprideandhiswork.Careeriscloselyrelatedtothework;anyworkevaluationwilllethimsensitive.Chapter4CulturalDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmericaonComplimentResponsesAsthepositivespeechact,bothAmericanandChinesecomplimentsarewidelyappliedintheinterpersonalcommunication.Correspondingly,therearemanydifferencesbetweenAmericancomplimentsandChinesecompliments.4.1ComplimentObjectDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmerica4.1.1TheObjectofComplimentResponseinAmericaComplimentinEnglishiswidelyusedinthecountry,especiallyAmericansprefertousepraisedthewaytogreetothersorsayhello.Generallyspeaking,EnglishComplimentobjectsincludeeveryone,juniorsorseniors,familyorfriends,superiorsorsubordinates,distantrelativesorneighbors,andevenstrangers.Inside,ontheroad,intheofficepraisedthemanneringreeting.Inaddition,peopleoftenEnglish-speakingcountriestotheotherpraisedtheirimmediatefamilymembersorrelatives,includingtheirownhusbandorwife,parentandchild.Forexample,parentspraisetheirchildrensmart,outstanding,willuseevenwhatmusicalinstrument,whatwonawards,whilehiswifealsooftenpraisedhowherhusbandworkhard,howtobereused,andhowbeingafriendoftrustandsoon.It'sallverywellforthemsincethehearerisnaturalthing.4.1.2TheObjectofComplimentResponseinChinaCoverawiderangeofcountriesthanintheUnitedStatepraisedtheobject,theobjectoftheChinesepeoplepraisedrelativelymuchsmaller.First,theChinesepeoplemeetforthefirstfewstrangerspraised,especiallymenpraisedthefirstmeetingwomen,togivepeopletheimpressionoffrivolousormalicious.Thefirsttimewemeteachotherinanotherunfamiliarsituationcarriedoutunderconditionspraisemaycausemisunderstanding.Moreover,theChinesepeoplewillnotpraisehisfamilyinfrontofoutsidermembers,andotherfamilymembersaregenerallybasedontheobjectofpraise.Forexample:"Yoursonisreallysmart"or"yourdadisreallygreat"or"Yourwifeisreallyvirtuous,"etc.InthetraditionalChineseconcept,thefamilyisthemostimportant.Closetohim,toomuchpraisebutseemedpoliteandunfamiliar.Usuallytheparentsofthechild'sperformanceofpraise,theeldersarelessorthesamegenerationwithCompliments.Intimatemaritalrelationship,usuallydonotneedtouselanguagetoexpresshisaffectionbetweenhusbandandwifeandthereforethebehaviorofmutualpraiseisrare.Inaddition,theChinesepeopleinthepraiseofothers,unlikeEnglish-speakingcountriesconductedasfrequentlyanddirectly,butbehavemoreeuphemistic,unemotional.4.2ExpressionsDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmericaInmostofthetime,wegetcomplimentsandgivecompliments.Interestingly,differentcountrieshavedifferentkindsofwaystopraiseother.Americansasexpressingopenlyanddirectlytheirappreciationandacceptanceofthecompliment.Theyexpressgoodwill,solidarityandencouragement.Moreover,Americansarealsogoodatgreetingpeople,expressingthanksandgettingoverembarrassmentthroughcompliments.TheChineseoftencomplimenttheothers,itismeantomakingothersfeelgoodforthetraditionalpursuitofharmonious,toshowingone’sappreciationonsomething,totryingtomakeuseofcertainpeople.Chinesecomplimentsdon’temphasizeonnegotiatingsolidaritywhileAmericanreallydo.Ontheotherhand,Chineseculturallyusethe‘deny’responseto‘pushaway’praiseasawaytocommunicatemodestly.Actually,‘deny’inchinaresponsetootherasoneofthemostobviousculturenormswhicharedifferentwithAmericans.Onthecontrary,Americansarepositivetocomplimentsandmakethemdeservethecompliments.4.3ValueDifferencesBetweenChinaandAmericaInChinesesociety,peoplegenerallyacceptthetraditionalviewpointthatcollectiverestrictiononindividualshouldbestressedandinterpersonalharmonyshouldbemaintainedinthesocialcommunication.InChina,suchideasthatapersonshouldserveothersfirstandthinkofothersareconsideredtobeunselfishandacceptable.Expressedinthespeechact—compliments,wefindthatChinesepeopleusecomplimentsmainlywiththepurposeofmaintainingtheharmoniousinterpersonalrelationshipwithothers.Theyholdthepointthatindividualsdonotstandoutsoastocausetheunpleasantnessfromothers.Thevalueandexpectationofindividualareweakened.ItisthusclearthatChinesepeopleareaccustomedtocomplimentothersbutnotaccustomedtoacceptcomplimentsaboutthemselvesfromothers.Otherwise,theywillbeconsideredtobearrogantandshowing-off.Atthesametime,ChinaisanagriculturalsocietywithConfucianethicsasthegoverningruleofmostinterpersonalrelationships.ChinesepeopleinfluencedgreatlyanddeeplybytheConfucianethicsbelieveinmodesty,self-abasement,other-respectandcollectivism.Intermsofpsychologicalexperience,Chinesepeoplealsoliketohearcomplimentingwords.Butorally,especiallywhentherearealotofpeopleorthepublic,mostpeopletendtorefusecomplimentsfromothers.ThisresponsepatternisstronglyinfluencedbytraditionalChinesevalues.Chinesepeopleregardmodestyasavirtue.Fromthepasttillnowadays,Chinesepeoplegenerallybelieveunityisthekeyforceofone’ssuccessbothinfamiliesandinthesociety.SoeveryChinesepersonstressestheharmoniousrelationshipwithanyoneelse.Theydonotwanttocauseuncomfortablefeelingstoothersandtheydonotwanttobethepeoplewhoarenotlikedbyothers.Butwiththedevelopmentofsociety,Chinesepeople’straditionalconceptsarealsograduallychanging.Manypeople,especiallyyoungpeople,therearemoresituationsinwhichtheyacceptcompliments.Manypeoplethinkthattoomuchhumilityisakindofhypocrisy.Mostyoungpeopledonotimmediatelyrejectthecomplimentsfromothers,whiletheywilltakedifferentapproachestoacceptthem.Someexpressagreement;someexpressappreciation;othersgiveasmile;theothersgiveacounter-question.WhilemostAmericanpeopleareindividual-oriented,theytendtoacceptcomplimentsfromothersnaturally.Therearetwoimportantpointsforthemtomeet:thepositivefaceandthinkingpositivelyaboutoneself.Sofacingacomplimentfromothers,theAmericanpeopledonotexpecttorefuseorrejectbecauseiftheydoso,thevalueofindividualismwillbeviolated.Intermsofthewesternvalueofindividualism,itisfoundthatitisdeeplyrootedintheAmericansocialhistory.Inthelongandfiercefightsagainstsevereandterriblenaturalenvironment,theAmericanpeopledependedonthemselvestostrugglefortheirbetterlife.ThiscanbeseeninthefamousEnglishsayings,like“Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves”byBenjaminFranklin.ThesayingtellsusthattheAmericanpeopledependonthemselvesnotstrangersoranybodyelse.Andalsoindividualismhasitsownreligioussource—Christianitywhichbelievesthatmenareequallyborn.Sointhesocialactivities,notonlydailycommunication,butalsointhepersonalinterest,theyemphasizetheindividualfeeling,andvalues.4.4DifferenceinSocialFunctionsBetweenChinaandAmericaAsameansofpositiveevaluation,complimentactsmanysocialfunctions,playingairreplaceableroleindailycommunication.ThefunctionofChinesefunctionismainlytokeeporpromotetheunityandpeacefulrelationbetweenthespeakerandaddressee.ChinesecomplimentsaretocreateorpromoteinterpersonalharmonyintheChinesespeechcommunityjustlikesociallubricants.ThemainfunctionsofChinesecomplimentsistoexpressappreciationwhichisthemostbasicfunction;tobeusedbetweenacquaintanceandoldfriendsasaritualgreeting;tostartaconversationbetweenstrangerswhichisbeneficialtothedevelopmentoftheconversation;tobeuseasacknowledgementandcongratulationswhicharehelpfultoestablishrapportbetweenthespeakerandaddressesandsoundsmoresincereandacceptable;tobeusedasencouragementwhichisoftenemployedbyteachersinteachingactivitiessoastocheerstudentsupphysiologicallyandpsychologically,thusachievingsatisfactoryteachingeffect;toeasecriticismtoneinwhichwestresstheadvantagesbeforewepointouttheshortcomingsormistakesofcolleagues,classmatesorstudents,becausepolitecriticismsavesthecritic’sfaceandachievesthepurposeofcriticism;toflatterwhichisacommonly-usedcommunicativestrategypeoplewillsaytheirrequestsaftertheyflatterotherswithcomplime