Contrastive Cultural & Pragmatic Study Of Address Forms In English And Chinese

Address forms, though not a new topic in academic research, are still worth studying for their importance in the practical use. On the basis of the former researches– mainly static analysis, the paper develops an analysis of the address forms from the perspective of the unique cultural flavors and pragmatics. Combing both static and dynamic analyses, the paper employs the method of the contrast when doing the research.The purpose of the pragmatic researches is to gain a thorough understanding of the English and Chinese address forms. Only through a comprehensive analysis from the various perspectives can we explore the nature of the address forms and set up the rules of the proper use. Each nation in the world possesses its own system of address forms. The address forms, however, in each language contain the strong cultural flavors and pragmatic characteristics. Their cultural connotations and pragmatic functions are profoundly embodied in the cultural characteristics, illocutionary functions, human relations and rules of the politeness. Because of the conspicuous characteristics of the English and Chinese address forms, the method of comparative analysis is employed in the process of the research. The paper attempts to make a systematic discussion on the pragmatic functions of the address forms from three aspects: the cultural connotation, the illocutionary function and the interpersonal function. The comparison of different categories, cultural connotations and pragmatic functions of the English and Chinese address forms can help us to have a deep understanding of the pragmatic difference of the address forms from their cultural origins. There are five chapters in the paper: Chapter one: The paper presents the definitions, classifications and characteristics of the address forms. The paper also makes a historical survey of the address forms both inside and outside China and discusses the relevant theoretical problems on the address forms from the perspective of pragmatics.Chapter two: The paper focuses on a comprehensive analysis on the cultural connotation of the address forms from the different angles of the cultures: (1) cultural orientation, (2) patriarchal clan system and traditional ethic (3) axiology outlook. The paper also gives an in-depth analysis of culture differences on the address forms in English and Chinese from the perspective of philosophical sources of different cultures and discusses several concepts: the concept of' equality vs. Confucius'ranking theory; individualism vs. collectivism;power vs. solidarity.Chapter three: The paper provides the pragmatic functions of the address forms in the...