On The Interaction Of Addressing Terms And Social Distance

Addressing Term is a significant indicator of social relationship between interlocutors, thus it has received much attention in the literature of sociolinguistics. The previous researches on addressing terms are restricted to the description of addressing term systems in different languages, or to the social norms reflected in the use of addressing terms. These viewpoints are unilateral in that they consider social norms are independent variables and addressing term is a dependent variable. Therefore, it is essential to investigate this issue from another perspective.Traditionally, the choice of addressing terms is thought to be determined by the social relationship among interlocutors. However, the present study argues that social distance and addressing terms are mutually influenced by each other. Addressing terms and social distance stand in a dialectical complementation, and this is parallel to the relationship between language and society. Different from the traditional sociolinguistics which is largely description-oriented and lacking in explanation, the present study investigates the interactive relationship of addressing terms and the social variables from Speech Accommodation Theory, focusing on the socio-psychological motivation behind the use of addressing terms in an all-sided way. Social distance affects interlocutors'choice of addressing terms; nevertheless, this influence is not unidirectional. With the deeper-going of the communication, both parties engaged in the conversation adjust their addressing terms in order to impact their social distance consciously.The present research has both theoretical and pedagogical implications. Theoretically, it helps to broaden the perspectives on addressing terms. The various factors determining people's choice of addressing terms are integrated into a socio-psychological construct------social distance. More importantly, the relationship between social distance and addressing terms is clarified. Pedagogically, it has significance to the grasp of the effective communication strategies and to the harmonization of interpersonal relationship in society.