中美商务谈判中恭维语的比较研究_英语论文

A Comparative Study of the Sino- US Compliments in Business Negotiations

摘要

恭维语是一种积极的言语行为，它明确或含蓄地表明了说话人对听话人的某些“好”事物，包括所有物、品质、才智或能力的称赞。通过运用恭维语，说话人可以问候和鼓励对方，缓解双方之间的矛盾，增进彼此的关系等等。恭维、称赞或赞美是一种言语交际行为。表面上看,恭维是对一个人的优秀品质、超凡的能力、出色的工作、庄重大方的仪表、漂亮的衣饰以及其它个人良好素质或美好事物的赞许和褒奖。实际上,它具有重要的社会功能,它是人们用以维系和促进各种人际关系的重要手段。恰当的恭维会博得对方的好感,会使交际活动顺利进行,会使人际关系和谐融洽,会有助于建立或重建人际关系。

近年来,国内外语言界已对恭维语做了大量研究。本文以中美商务谈判中的恭维语为研究对象，采用对比的方法来研究中美商务谈判中恭维语的频率、功能、出现阶段、语言形式等，旨在揭示中美两国在恭维语使用方面的异同点，强调跨文化交流在外贸经济中的重要性，以加强我国对外贸易产业从业人员的跨文化交流意识的培养，进而促进外贸产业的发展。

关键词：恭维语；中美；商务谈判；跨文化交流

Abstract

Compliment is a positive speech act, which explicitly or implicitly shows the speaker’s praise for some “good” things, including possession, quality, intelligence or ability. By using compliment, the speaker can greet and encourage each other, alleviate the contradiction between the two sides, and enhance the relationship between each other. Compliment is a kind of verbal communication. On the surface, flattery is praise for a person’s excellent quality, exceptional ability, excellent work, solemn appearance, beautiful dress and other personal qualities or good things. In fact, it has important social function for it is an important means for people to maintain and promote various interpersonal relationships. The proper compliment command will make the communication activities smooth, will make the interpersonal relationships harmonious, and will help to establish or rebuild interpersonal relationships. 

In recent years, experts have done a lot of research on compliment. This thesis compares frequency, function, emergence stage and language form of Sino-US compliments in business negotiations, aiming to reveal the similarities and differences between Chinese and American compliments in foreign trade economy, in order to strengthen the cultivation of cross-cultural communication of foreign trade practitioners, and promote the development of foreign trade industry.

Key words: compliments; Sino-US; business negotiation; cross-cultural communication

Contents

Acknowledgements    .i

Abstract & Key words in Englishii

Abstract & Key words in Chinese iii

Introduction..1

1Overview of compliment 1

   1.1 Definition of compliment   .2

   1.2 Impact of compliment 2

   1.3 Importance of compliment 4

2.Comparison between Chinese and American compliments ...5

   2.1 Similarities between Chinese and American compliments .....5

   2.2 Differences between Chinese and American compliments.6

    2.2.1 Frequency ..6

    2.2.2 Function .   .6

2.2.3 Phase  ..8

2.2.4 Language form  .10

3.Causes of the differences 12

   3.1 Social background  .12

   3.2 Historical background  12

   3.3 Economic background  .13

   3.4 Cultural background   .13

Conclusion .14

References .16