Speech Act Study: Differences Of Promise Making Between The Chinese And The American

This thesis is to study the speech act on the differences between the American and the Chinese especially in promise making. It reports a pilot study, which examines culture differences in a social function of language. In different education and culture background, the survey was carried out and made in the famous American universities: Yale University and State University of New York and the famous Chinese university: Tsinghua University. With the assistance of computer, the data are analyzed in quantitative approach. The results of the study are demonstrated and discussed on the basis of the data processed through independent sample t-test and Microsoft Excel with figures. From the dimensions of culture difference and concepts, two groups are contrasting in certain details of each specific situation. It is suggested that different cultures may have the same type of speech-act such as promise, which, however, represents different cultural concepts. 'Promise' is one of important aspect of speech act. Before making this paper, many linguists have bright ideas, especially directive theory of speech act presented by Austin and Searle. In the thesis these theories will be examined for their universality and scientificity. Connecting with these theories, the rules on promise between Chinese and American from this thesis are summarized. All these results evidence that in communication Chinese and American have different ways in promise making.