Culture Difference in Etiquette
Between China and Western Countries
Fang Yuan
Abstract: The etiquette is a rule which exchange between the person and person, is one 大学生个人总结language, and also is one kind of toll. Becau forms the etiquette the important root—the different in religious belief, enables the world’s people that belief the different religious to obrve the different etiquette. With the acceleration of the pace of reform and opening up, increasing transnational communication. Chine and western etiquette and culture difference are more evident than, as well as the impact of such 农业谚语大全differences should not be overlooked. We need to understand this etiquette’s difference. In this essay, we will take China, British and America as the reprentation of Western, to look at some culture difference in etiquette, and then analyze the reasons. Furthermore, we will discuss how to learn western culture and the integration of Chine and Western culture etiquette.
晋升述职报告Key Words: etiquette; difference; integration
ⅠIntroduction
The etiquette is a rule which between the person and the exchanges, is one language, also is one kind of tool .with China entry into the WTO and will hold the Olympic game in 2008, the relationship between China and Western in politics, economy, culture will become more and more clo. It is undoubtedly that the etiquette will play an important role in this process. To the definition of etiquette, China and Western have a different understanding. As Chine thinks that the etiquette is the common behavior standards that all the members must obey, and its purpo is to keep the normal living order of the society. In ancient China, a famous philosopher thinks that etiquette is a principal to deal with the relationship between man and supernatural beings, man and ghosts, man and men. There are also many words about etiquette in English. For example, courtesy which means courteous behavior, good manners; protocol which means system of rules governing formal occasion,泰国第一美女是谁 蒜蓉龙虾做法e .g, meetings, between governments, diplomats, etc. And the words are all from the same French word etiquette. e.g.， Of cour, more spread
and more profound cultural comment of 青蛙的简笔画the western etiquette is from the Classical Period, i.e., old Athens and Roma culture. Today, etiquette becomes the reflection and manifestation of one country’s politics, economy, and culture in people’s social contact. And it includes the principal and moral that people should obey in daily life. Etiquette formed in the process of the deposition of culture and social contact. So every nation has their own etiquette standard which created with the spirit of this their nation. Becau of this form the cultural difference between different nations. As languages is the carrier of the human culture. This difference must reflect in the language of different nations. So we need to understand the etiquette’s different.
ⅡSome Cultural Differences on Etiquette Between China and Western
Culture difference on politeness between western and Chine can be found in many aspects of daily communication, including addressing, greeting and parting, compliments, apologies, thanks, etc. In the following, we will look at some etiquette culture different between China and western.
1. Greeting and Parting
When people meet acquaintances or friends, people usually greet each other. The purpo of greeting is to establish or maintain social contact. So formulaic expressions are often ud, but such formulaic expressions often caus conflict becau of the great culture differences between Chine and native English speakers. In English, people often u the following expressions to greet each other “Good morning/ evening /afternoon. Fine day, isn’t it? How is going everything?” Have you eaten yet?” What are you going to do?” where have you been?” etc. Western treats them as real question. Parting may be divided into two steps. Before the final parting, there is usual a leave-taking. Western and Chine cultures have diver ways to deal with leave-taking. Firstly, in English society, during the closing pha of an encounter, form “I” perspective, reason for terminating the encounter is prented in the mitigative comments. Typical comments are associated with expressions of apology, such as “I” am afraid, I must be off, I have to relieve the baby-sitter, etc. Western people believe that to be willing to visit and conver with someone is to have respect for him; to terminate the visiting is not of one’s own free
will, but becau of some other arrangements, therefore they always try to make their leaving sound reluctant by finding some reasons and apologize for it to make the leaving acceptable for both parties. English speaker often signal veral times before leaving. “Well, it’s been nice to e you again. I do enjoy our talk and the lovely dinner, but I must be going soon”. “Thank you very much for asking en over. I hope we will be able to get together again before long …” Consolidation in a wider range of common acquaintance also occurs, in expressions such as “Say hello to Jack for me” or “Remember me to John.” In Chine society, during the closing pha of and encounter, usually from “you” perspective, reason for ending the encounter is t forth in mitigative expression. Such expressions include “你挺忙的，我就不打扰了.” “你一定累了，早点休息吧，我要告辞了.”etc. With the words, they may stand up from their ats. Chine leave-taking is very short and quick. Western people think it so abrupt that they have not prepared for is. While moving to the door, Chine u expressions of apology like “对不起，打扰了.” “’对不起，占用你不少时间。” It should be noted that the expressions employed by Chine guests to show concern for their hosts can only be appropriate for business visits in the English environment.
2. Addressing
Both western and Chine people have two kinds of personal names---surname and a given name. But the order and the u of the names in the two languages are some what different. In Chine, the surname comes first and then the given name. And people like add “小” before their family name. Such as “小王”、 “小郑”、 “小李”、 “小徐” and so on… While westerns names are written and spoken with the given name first and family name last. So John Smith’ family name is Smith, not is John. In a formal tting, address men as “Mister” (abbreviated as “Mr.”), married women as “Miss” (abbreviated as “Mrs.), and unmarried women as “Miss”(abbreviated as “Ms.”). The days many women prefer to be address using the abbreviation “Ms.” or “M.”, pronounced /miz/. If the person has an Ph.D., they will often be address as “Doctor” (abbreviated as “Dr.”). Faculty is addresd as “Professor” (abbreviated as “Prof.”). In an informal situation, westerns will introduce each other by first name, without title, and occasionally by just the last name. 写鱼的作文If you are introduce to somebody be first name, you can address him or her by first name the next time you meet. The only exception would be for someone who holds an important position, such as the university president or provost. Un
less they tell you otherwi, faculty should be addresd using their title and last name (e.g., “Professor Smith”). When in doubt, u the formal manner of address, since it is better to err on the side of formality. It is also appropriate to ask how they prefer to be addresd. Children should always address adults in the formal fashion, using their title and last name. Another difference is about the form of addressing. Form the viewpoint of sociolinguistics, forms if addressing can rve as an indication of the relationship of power and solidarity in the society. In calling their superiors or elders, the Chine are accustomed to the nonreciprocal or asymmetrical addressing, in other words. “They u “title + surname” to address their superior or elders rather than call them surnames, while the superior or elders call the addresrs their names.” The Chine tend to abide by the polite principle of depreciating onelf and respecting others to show appropriate respects towards the persons being addresd, otherwi, the addresr may be considered as ill mannered, ill educated or rude. But in English countries, people have a tendency to follow the reciprocal or symmetrical addressing. Although they are different in age and status, they can call the other directly, namely, their names, even first names exc
ept when they call the doctors, not arousing offence between them, but demonstrating the n of intimacy and the conception of “Everyone is created equal”. Chine people feel unnatural addressing a western by his given name, feeling that it indicates too clo a relationship, and westerners, on the other hand, may feel that if a Chine insists on using his surname, it indicates an unwillingness to be friendly and maintains a gap between them. So u of forms like “Miss Mary” or “Mr. Smith” may be Chine forms of compromi. With Miss Mary, the u of given name indicates friendliness, but the addition of the title indicates the respect they feel they ought to show. And with Smith, the lack of a title indicates friendliness, but the u of surname prevents if sounding too intimate. However, both addressing us by the Chine sound very strange and uncomfortable to the western.
3. Compliments and Respon
To compliment is to prai the addre’s virtues, ability, behavior, appearance, clothing, personality and belongs. Appropriate compliments can rve as effective supple
mentary means in inter-personal communication. Western and Chine culture are at polar opposites about compliment. A western hosted, if she is complimented for her cooking skill, is likely to say, “Oh, I am so glad that you liked it. I cook it especially for you. “Not so is a Chine hostess, who will instead apologize for giving you “Nothing”. They will day “随便作几个菜，不好吃。If translate this into English “I just made some dishes casually and they are not very tasty. Perhaps the foreigner will think why you invited me to your family and have the untested food. You are not respecting me. The English-speaking people are more active to prai others and to be prai than Chine people. For example, the Americans are “straight forwardness”, the Chine take pride in “modesty”. That modesty has left many a Chine hungry at an Americans table, for Chine politeness calls for three refusals before one accepts an offer and the Americans hosts take ”no ” to mean “no ”, whether it is the first, cond or third time. Still bigger differences exist in people’s attitude towards compliments, i.e., in the respon to compliments. Chine are tending to efface themlves in words or refu it, although they do feel comfortable about the compliments. So many westerners simply feel puzzled
or even upt when their Chine friends refud their compliments. The Chine people are not intending to be modest with the sacrifice of friendship in so doing, but it is rather due to the traditional Chine philosophy, that of modesty. The Chine people regard modesty as a most valuable virtue, so they ldom agree to the compliment on their own.打地鼠游戏
