Comparison Between English And Chinese Politeness Principles And Translation Of Politeness Expressions

Politeness is a universal phenomenon, which can be observed in all languages and cultures. It helps establish, maintain or consolidate harmonious interpersonal relationships and facilitate social interactions. Politeness as an observable phenomenon is actually a reflection of specific cultural values in the language. Thus, while admitting the universality of politeness, we must realize the cultural characteristics of politeness. That is, due to the influence of cultural value orientations, the actual manifestations of politeness and the standards for its judgment differ substantially from culture to culture. We have to notice the differences so as to increase the accuracy of the translation of politeness expression. This thesis is based on a literature review of politeness theories both in English and Chinese, attempts to examine the similarities and differences of politeness principles, tries to explore the deep reasons of the differences, and aims to find the appropriate methods in dealing with the translation of politeness expressions.