A Study Of Chinese College Students’ Politeness Awareness Deviation In Sino-American Intercultural Communication

Chinese college students, as a new and open-minded generation in the context ofrapid development of information technology, can get in touch with American culturemore rapidly and vividly than before. Their politeness awareness is influenced byAmerican culture as well as mind-rooted Chinese values in interculturalcommunication. The thesis aims to study politeness awareness deviation by Chinesecollege students during Sino-American communications. The author employsquantitive and qualitative method. The study involves three questionnaires and130subjects to find answers to the following questions:1. On what aspects can the politeness awareness deviations be found when Chinesecollege students communicate with American English speakers?2. What are factors that cause Chinese college students’ politeness awarenessdeviation in communicating with American English speakers?3. Does the perception of American culture influence Chinese college students’politeness formulae toward American English speakers?Through SPSS13.0, the results of the data collected through questionnaires by threegroups, totally130subjects are analyzed and presented:Firstly, there are more deviations by Chinese college students in Sino-Americancommunication when hearers are superior on the relative power to speakers and whensocial distance is large between speakers and hearers; but on some simple and stylizedcommunication occasions, such as greeting and parting, Chinese college students canadopt appropriate politeness formulae.Secondly, in-group oriented value and hierarchy are two remarkable factors thatcause politeness awareness deviations by Chinese college students in Sino-Americancommunication.Thirdly, perceptions toward American culture helping Chinese college studentsform views and impressions about the Americans slightly influence their politenessformulae in Sino-American communications.