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Maintenance Of Face In Intercultural Communication

Posted on:2007-08-26Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Y WuFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360182986532Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Politeness is a widespread social phenomenon;it is a social contract, which has its binding effect on every member of society. As a universal element in human interactions, politeness plays a crucial role in helping to maintain social equilibrium and friendly relations, and it is a means to avoid conflicts in human interactions. Since cultures vary from one another, the ways and strategies that people from different cultures adopt in getting along with each other also differ. This paper entitled "Maintenance of Face in Intercultural Communication" discusses "maintenance of face in intercultural communication" with reference to linguistic theories, especially theories of pragmatics involving the Cooperative Principle, the Politeness Principle, Brown and Levinson's Face-Saving Theory. In this paper the writer discusses the differences between Chinese and American value system, and shows its impact on intercultural communication. Comparison between compliments in Chinese and those in American English is made in this paper.The writer first makes a survey of documents available, briefing the present studies on politeness, including Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle, Face Saving Theory as well as the shortcomings and limitations of these theories. Then the writer implements the full analysis of the characteristics of intercultural communication, showing that politeness is an important strategy for smooth and successful intercultural communication. Politeness is not only language specific, but also culture specific. Due to cultural differences, languages differ greatly from one another in expressing and understanding politeness. Intercultural communication may break down if people from one culture impose their principles and criteria of politeness on the people from another culture. The study of politeness can improve interlocutors' cultural awareness and decrease pragmatic failure so as to help global villagers to have successful intercultural communication.As a global inhabitant, we should have strong cultural awareness and develop our communication skills, which may be very crucial in the intercultural communication. We should adopt appropriate strategies to realize the goal of smooth and beneficial intercultural communication.There are five chapters in this dissertation.
Keywords/Search Tags:Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle, Face-Saving Theory, Positive Face, Negative Face, Value system, Cultural Empathy
PDF Full Text Request
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