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Abstract:Cultural misunderstandings can grow and develop into nightmares that haunt people involved, if they are not conscious of the different cultural values ingrained in their mind. The following article dwells on the value difference in Chinese and English gratitude.
Key words:Gratitude; cultural value; individualism
Introduction:
The thesis is about the value difference in expressing gratitude between the western countries and China, in order to solve the problems caused by different cultural value in communication, especially about expressing gratitude.
K.S. Sitaram had studied the value system of different culture, and grouped them according to their degrees of importance. The degree of various importances can be grouped into four groups. The value concept of bigger difference between the western countries and China is listed below：
Explanation: W: Western culture E: Eastern culture
B: Black culture A: African culture
From the table above, we could find the great difference in expressing gratitude between Eastern culture and Western culture in Western culture, the importance of gratitude is only degree 3. The difference is mainly comforted by the following concrete respects:
1. Interest measurement and moral pursuit
In English culture, interpersonal relationships are considered as the adjustment of the pros and cons of each other's interests. That thanks can be seen as recognition of the imbalance of interests between speaker and recipient, which is intended to seek to restore the balance between the two in a way. Chinese culture does not express their gratitude as the adjustment of the gain of loss of interest or debt processing, but as ethical requirements, focuses on the exchange of affection.
The Retribution concept is rooted in Chinese thinking, Chinese believe that the one who makes mistake will be punished someday in the future; the one do a good deed will be promoted one day. "Kind behavior has the good result; evil behavior has the bad one" (善有善报,恶有恶报); "The usual evil behavior may result into bad death" (多行不义必自毙) have become the moral attitude of Chinese nationality. So Chinese hardly accept "Bull Fight", because many Chinese consider that cattle benefit humans, so it is so cruel to slaughter these fine animals and breaks the rules that "Kind behavior has the good result."
2. Propriety of English Gratitude expression
Use of English Gratitude concerns propriety, and pays more attention to the recognition by the help of the people. To English native speaker, exaggerative gratitude make people feel uncomfortable, because it was just flubdub for completing task insincerely. However, after the Chinese people have benefited from others, they will express gratitude fully; in case of saving from danger, they even seek for the chance to pay a debt of gratitude. For example: In the U.S., the children fell into the water, Philip and his son Robbie saved. The father just moved and showed his thanks.In case of the same situation, the Chinese people are generally regarded as a saving grace, not only expressed the gratitude, but also managed to repay.
Chinese generally consider, "A bit of benefaction should be responded with many multiple returns." (滴水之恩，当涌泉相报). The Western society highly values "Individualism", considering that good social behavior can't exist without individualism. The westerners always commend the rule --- Business is business. The mutual support and help mustn't beyond the extant of "One good turn deserves another"(一报还一报).
3. Individualism and collectivism
The core of English and Chinese values difference is individualism and collectivism. As the center of English culture, individualism emphasizes on personal interests and inviolable personal territory, and focus on the personal freedom of movement and self-esteem to be protected, the individual’s willing to be respected. English culture considers the help of others personal willing completely, nothing to do with the moral requirements. The most important principle of interpersonal relation in Chinese culture is respect and mutual concern, emphasizes on mutual understanding considerately and exchange of feelings sincerely, to achieve the purpose --- establish and maintain harmonious interpersonal relationships.
4. Kindness without saying thanks
Not all “thank you” in English are used to show gratitude after help, sometimes just out of courtesy. Such as at the end of shopping behavior, “Thank you” will be said to each other between the customers and shop-assistants; when the customers leave, the waiter and customers will say thanks to each other; even the teacher will say “thank you”, when they receive students’ exercise. In China, this habit has become widely accepted by people in major cities and people communicate with foreigners.
In fact, according to Han Chinese traditions and majority of Chinese people’s habit, if it is just accustomed to purely work task range and to fulfill the responsibilities, showing gratitude is not necessary. This is because Chinese gratitude language is used for getting actual benefit from others.
With increasingly close relationship with foreign countries, the impact of English gratitude to Chinese becomes increasingly evident. We should pay attention to the differences and cultural integration in cultural value. Not only attach importance to the knowledge and skills of the language teaching, but also not to ignore cultivate the students’ cross-cultural communication awareness.
参考文献
1. K.S. Sitaram and Michael Prosser, Civic discourse: multiculturalism, cultural diversity, and global communication, Ablex Publishing Co. London, 1998
2. Aijmer，K.Conversational Routines in English [M].Longman，London.1996.
3. 毕继万, 1997. 汉英感谢语的文化特征, 北京语言文化大学学院编，《语言与文化论丛》, 北京: 华语教学出版社。
Key words:Gratitude; cultural value; individualism
Introduction:
The thesis is about the value difference in expressing gratitude between the western countries and China, in order to solve the problems caused by different cultural value in communication, especially about expressing gratitude.
K.S. Sitaram had studied the value system of different culture, and grouped them according to their degrees of importance. The degree of various importances can be grouped into four groups. The value concept of bigger difference between the western countries and China is listed below：
Explanation: W: Western culture E: Eastern culture
B: Black culture A: African culture
From the table above, we could find the great difference in expressing gratitude between Eastern culture and Western culture in Western culture, the importance of gratitude is only degree 3. The difference is mainly comforted by the following concrete respects:
1. Interest measurement and moral pursuit
In English culture, interpersonal relationships are considered as the adjustment of the pros and cons of each other's interests. That thanks can be seen as recognition of the imbalance of interests between speaker and recipient, which is intended to seek to restore the balance between the two in a way. Chinese culture does not express their gratitude as the adjustment of the gain of loss of interest or debt processing, but as ethical requirements, focuses on the exchange of affection.
The Retribution concept is rooted in Chinese thinking, Chinese believe that the one who makes mistake will be punished someday in the future; the one do a good deed will be promoted one day. "Kind behavior has the good result; evil behavior has the bad one" (善有善报,恶有恶报); "The usual evil behavior may result into bad death" (多行不义必自毙) have become the moral attitude of Chinese nationality. So Chinese hardly accept "Bull Fight", because many Chinese consider that cattle benefit humans, so it is so cruel to slaughter these fine animals and breaks the rules that "Kind behavior has the good result."
2. Propriety of English Gratitude expression
Use of English Gratitude concerns propriety, and pays more attention to the recognition by the help of the people. To English native speaker, exaggerative gratitude make people feel uncomfortable, because it was just flubdub for completing task insincerely. However, after the Chinese people have benefited from others, they will express gratitude fully; in case of saving from danger, they even seek for the chance to pay a debt of gratitude. For example: In the U.S., the children fell into the water, Philip and his son Robbie saved. The father just moved and showed his thanks.In case of the same situation, the Chinese people are generally regarded as a saving grace, not only expressed the gratitude, but also managed to repay.
Chinese generally consider, "A bit of benefaction should be responded with many multiple returns." (滴水之恩，当涌泉相报). The Western society highly values "Individualism", considering that good social behavior can't exist without individualism. The westerners always commend the rule --- Business is business. The mutual support and help mustn't beyond the extant of "One good turn deserves another"(一报还一报).
3. Individualism and collectivism
The core of English and Chinese values difference is individualism and collectivism. As the center of English culture, individualism emphasizes on personal interests and inviolable personal territory, and focus on the personal freedom of movement and self-esteem to be protected, the individual’s willing to be respected. English culture considers the help of others personal willing completely, nothing to do with the moral requirements. The most important principle of interpersonal relation in Chinese culture is respect and mutual concern, emphasizes on mutual understanding considerately and exchange of feelings sincerely, to achieve the purpose --- establish and maintain harmonious interpersonal relationships.
4. Kindness without saying thanks
Not all “thank you” in English are used to show gratitude after help, sometimes just out of courtesy. Such as at the end of shopping behavior, “Thank you” will be said to each other between the customers and shop-assistants; when the customers leave, the waiter and customers will say thanks to each other; even the teacher will say “thank you”, when they receive students’ exercise. In China, this habit has become widely accepted by people in major cities and people communicate with foreigners.
In fact, according to Han Chinese traditions and majority of Chinese people’s habit, if it is just accustomed to purely work task range and to fulfill the responsibilities, showing gratitude is not necessary. This is because Chinese gratitude language is used for getting actual benefit from others.
With increasingly close relationship with foreign countries, the impact of English gratitude to Chinese becomes increasingly evident. We should pay attention to the differences and cultural integration in cultural value. Not only attach importance to the knowledge and skills of the language teaching, but also not to ignore cultivate the students’ cross-cultural communication awareness.
参考文献
1. K.S. Sitaram and Michael Prosser, Civic discourse: multiculturalism, cultural diversity, and global communication, Ablex Publishing Co. London, 1998
2. Aijmer，K.Conversational Routines in English [M].Longman，London.1996.
3. 毕继万, 1997. 汉英感谢语的文化特征, 北京语言文化大学学院编，《语言与文化论丛》, 北京: 华语教学出版社。