Cultural Differences Between Chinese and English Small Talks

By He Xiao

In partial fulfillment of the requirement

For the B. A. degree

Department of English

School of Languages and Cultures

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

June, 2016

Acknowledgments

There are many people I want to thank but my adviser, Ms Huang Hui is the very one. She gives me a lot of immense and practical instructions. When I start to write, I go through many drafts and revisions. Owing to her constructive advice, I can overcome many difficulties and finish this paper smoothly.

In addition, my family and friends are my powerful backing, who support and company me energetically, so I need to say thank you to them.

Contents

1. Introduction 2

1.1 Significance of the Study 2

1.2 Objectives of the Dissertation 2

1.3 Previous Studies of Small Talk in Foreign Countries 2

1.4 Previous Studies of Small Talk in China 3

2. Classification and Comparative Study of Similarities and Differences on Small Talk 4

2.1 Definition of Small Talk 4

2.2 Features of Small Talk 4

2.3 Functions of Small Talk 5

2.4 Phatic Communion of Greeting 5

2.5 Complimentary Phatic Communion 6

2.6 Inquiry Phatic Communion 7

3. Miscommunication Caused by the Differences of Chinese and Weatern Small Talk 7

4. Reasons for Differences between Western and Chinese Small Talk 8

4.1 The Differences Caused by Chinese and Western Lifestyles 9

4.2 The Different Small Talks Caused by Chinese and Western Cultural Values 9

5. Suggesstions to Avoid Pragmatic Failure 10

5.1 Seek Common Points While Reserving Difference 10

5.2 Avoiding Negative Stereotyping 11

5.3 Equality for Different Cultures 11

6. Conclusion 12

References 13

Cultural Differences between Chinese and English on Small Talks

He Xiao

Department of English

School of Languages and Cultures

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

Abstract: Language is the medium for human communication. Small talk, as an integral part of language, has an important and practical significance in the communication process. With the increase of interpersonal communications on a world scale, the research on cross-cultural communication has drawn greater attention, including small talk. This thesis aims at researching the differences between Chinese and Engliah small talks in the area of cross-cultural communication, exploring deep-going reasons of differences, and analyzing the incisive cultural connotation, in order to achieve the goal of improving communication capacity and enhancing the awareness of cross-cultural communication.

Key words: cross-cultural communication; small talk; cultural differences

摘 要: 语言是人类交流的媒介，寒暄语作为语言的一个组成部分,在人们的交往过程中有着重要且现实的意义。随着世界范围内人际交往的增加，对于跨文化交流的研究也引起了更多的关注，其中便包括了对寒暄语的研究。本文将对汉英寒暄语语用异同进行整理对比并对其背后深刻的文化内涵进行分析研究.从而达到提高跨文化交流能力以及增强跨文化交流意识的目标。

关键词：跨文化交际；寒暄语；文化差异

1. Introduction

1.1 Significance of the Study

Recently, as an increasing number of foreigners swarm into our country, people have more opportunities to communicate with many native English speakers from diverse cultural backgrounds. It has become an inevitable trend to contact with foreigners in our daily life. Language is the medium for human communication. Small talk, as a special kind of linguistic phenomenon, plays a significant role in the communication process and has become a hot topic in contemporary society. As reported by some published articles, the small talk has received much attention in the area of sociolinguistics, pragmatics and conversation analysis. Actually, It takes some time for scholars to recognize the value of small talk. What has been known is that different cultures have different preferences and taboos when making small talks. Different nations or countries have different small talk in the same situation. People from different generations have different small talk, even within the same country. Sometimes, a kind of polite and friendly way of starting a chit-chat in one culture may be improper in another country. Hence, misapprehensions and even conflicts have continually occurred in the area of cross-cultural communication. To this extent, the small talk is a little bit troublesome for people with different cultural background. Hence, a comparative study of making small talks in Chinese and in English will be useful in intercultural communication.

1.2 Objectives of the Dissertation

Small talk is like the prelude of the music. It has its own value for its existence. Considering the great value of small talk in social activities, in this thesis, I will mainly focus on analysing the differences between Chinese and Engliah small talks in the area of cross-cultural communication, exploring deep-going reasons of differences, and knowing the incisive cultural connotation, which can enhance the awareness of cross-cultural communication and improve communication capacity. To sum up, the purpose of analyzing English and Chinese small talks is to help people learn more about how to choose proper words, enhance friendship, and achieve the goal of communication.

1.3 Previous Studies of Small Talk in Foreign Countries

At first, there was almost no attention to the studies of small talk. It was regarded as the extra part in conversation. Some scholars pointed out that this kind of “gossip” should be cancel out. However, several people held different opinions. They argued that the system of small talk lacks comprehensive research. In 2000, Justine Coupland published a book called Small Talk. He believed that small talk is an important component of human communication. It was suitable for all occasions in human communication. This book filled this blank from the aspect of society, culture as well as theory. In 2003, Coupland then published another article on small talk in the journal “Research on Language and Social Interaction” (No.36). This article showed that how to achieve positive interation alternately in small talk. From this article, we could also have some knowledge of the achievements about small talk. It marks on the beginning of studying small talk systematically. Coupland and Homles (ibid:65) probe into some problems about small talk and demonstrates that the small talk is the key to opening the door of conversation.

1.4 Previous Studies of Small Talk in China

Since 1980s, some domestic scholars such as Li (2004), Cheng (2006), Wang (2006), Zhang (2006), Zhou (2007) and so on have published several papers about the origin, function and the distribution of small talk. They still discussed cultural obstructions and the distinctions between Chinese and English small talk based on the background of Chinese traditional culture. In the meanwhile, Xu (1991) said that we can translate “phatic communion” as “Jia Chang Hua” in Chinese. Some scholars argued that whether the conversations can be regarded as small talk or not depends on its function. These opinions can help us to understand and know more about small talk deeply. Furthermore, it also indicates the richness and complexity of its context. Although the emphases of those discussions are different, most researchers agree that small talk is one of the common methods to open a conversation. Every speech community has small talk, which has the features of shortening social distance and maintaining interpersonal relationship between the communicators. “Small talk is a kind of language to show greeting. It is also a significant channel for people to eatablish social contacts through entertainment activities.” (Cheng, Wang, 2006) “Small talk is a kind of language to share feelings and create a friendly atmosphere. It is also a widely used social way to convey concern and love.” (Guo, 2007).

2. Classification and Comparative Study of Similarities and Differences on Small Talk

2.1 Definition of Small Talk

Small talk is the nonreferential use of language to share feelings or establish a mood of sociability rather than to communicate information or ideas. The ritualized formulas of small talk (such as "Uh-huh" and "Have a nice day") are commonly intended to draw the attention of the listener or prolong communication. Small talk is also known as phatic speech, phatic communion, phatic language, social tokens, and chit-chat.

The concept of phatic communion was first proposed by British anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski in his essay “The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages” in 1923. This is both the earliest and the prototypical formulation of small talk as a communicative mode.

2.2 Features of Small Talk

In general, Chinese and English small talks have the following characteristics. First, simplicity. Actually, we live in a modern society, which is also an information society and busy society. With the accelerating pace of life, the small talk is usually short and composed of several words or sentences. The form of small talk and the information passed by the small talk are succinct. When you are bumping into the acquaintances in the street, both of you may notice each other no more than 20 seconds. Because of the short response time, we often need to give a friendly reaction quickly. What’s more, this kind of amity needs to be accepted by others and make each other understand. You are best not to nag. It’s good to stop continuing the small talk where you should stop. If you become talktive uncharacteristically, others will think that you have other intentions. Therefore, people always choose the simplest words and sentences as small talk. Another feature of small talk is perfunctoriness. The small talk doesn’t need a definite answer, sometimes even a correct answer. Whichever language you use, the emotional message passed by small talk is same. The semantic information and rational meaning of small talk approximate to zero. The function of small talk is mainly phatic function. It is the speaker’s attitude that received most attention in the area of small talk. People communicate and exchange emotions by small talk. They don’t care about the truth or falsehood even the practicality of small talk. Third, the small talk has the characteristic of bidirectionality. From the perspective of social linguistics, everyone yearns for the respect of others. At the same time, they want to show their respect to others. In this sense, small talk is not a kind of unidirectional linguistic behavior, but a kind of bidirectional communication pattern. Small talk is also a communication process that requires mutual involvement. If there’s no response in a small talk, it will impact the following conversation or hurt feelings between people.

2.3 Functions of Small Talk

Small talk is very common in everyday intercourse. And why do people make small talks? The first, and most obvious, is to break an awkward silence. Another reason, however, is simply to fill time. “Small talk serves to establish ties of personal union between people brought together by the mere need of companionship." (Coupland, Coupland et al, 1992: 208). So, it is also an effective way to build relationships quickly. Furthermore, If we share a space with others, there may be a need to engage in small talk. It is also an excellent way of defusing awkward situations and influencing people. As humans, we have significant emotional investment in what others think of us, through the impressions others gain of us in our contacts with them (Goffman, 1972, p. 319). The importance of small talk to social life seems incontestable.

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