An Analysis Of The Expression Of "Modesty" In Yang Lan One On One From The Perspective Of Intercultural Communication

As a polite expression in communication,Modesty plays an important role in intercultural communication.It helps to build and maintain a harmonious relationship between people and promote interpersonal communication.However,people from different cultural backgrounds express the modesty in different ways.The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences in English and Chinese expressions of modesty from intercultural perspective and inquiry the deep cultural reasons behind the differences.In this way,will it increase the consciousness and the ability of intercultural communication,achieving a successful intercultural communication.Therefore,this study has certain theoretical and practical significance in intercultural communication.This study mainly applies a comparative analysis method.The materials analyzed come from an interview program Yang Lan One on One.The author selects interviews from 2014 to 2017 that can reflect modesty and makes a comparative analysis and discussion.Then summarize the different expressions of modesty in Chinese and English and reveal the cultural reasons with cultural dimensions theory.Yang Lan One on One is a high-end television interview program.The interviewed guests are representatives from various fields at home and abroad,among which there are also foreign dignitaries.The source of corpus is authentic and reliable.The research questions that the author is trying to solve mainly include:i.What are the differences in expressing modesty between English and Chinese in intercultural communication?ii.In Yang Lan One on One,Chinese and foreign guests show different ways of modesty when talking about their own life experiences,social values,and personal achievements,what are the cultural causes behind these differences?iii.How to express modesty in intercultural communication effectively?Research findings:i.The different expressions of modesty in English and Chinese mainly include:self-denigrate and respect others and respect others without self-denigration;refuse achievements and accept achievements;against quality maxim and follow quality maxim;use respectful and modest terms and use equal terms.ii.The main reasons of differences are:Chinese traditional thought "Confucianism" and western countries' thought"Christianity";collectivism and individualism;high power distance and low power distance.iii.How to show the modesty in intercultural communication successfully:First,affirming after self-denigrating;Second,accept compliments moderately;Third,integrate self-depreciation and self-modesty.