摘 要：称赞语是人们对人或物表示赞美、赏识、钦佩等感情的话语。不同的文化背景对称赞语及其应答方式有很大的影响，导致英汉称赞语的差异。语用视角下的研究强调称赞语的合作原则和礼貌原则，避免因文化差异而导致的语用失误，达到得体交际的效果。因此，本文旨在通过合作原则和礼貌原则对英汉称赞语及其回应策略进行对比分析，从而进一步探索出导致这种不同的关键因素。同时，认识这些差异将有助于人们提高在交际场合中恰当地给予和接受称赞语的能力。这对人们使用称赞语以及称赞语回应策略具有一定的启发意义。

关键词：称赞语；应答语；合作原则；礼貌原则

Abstract：Compliments are the words that people express praise, appreciation, admiration and other emotions to other people or things. Different cultures have a great influence on the way of compliment responses and lead to differences in the Chinese and English compliments. Researches under the perspective of pragmatics focus on cooperative principle and politeness principle and avoid pragmatic failure caused by cultural differences and then achieve decent communicative effect. Therefore, this study aims to analyze responses and their strategies of the Chinese and English compliments by adopting cooperative principle and politeness principle and further explores the key factors of differences. At the same time, people’s awareness of these differences will help them develop the ability to give and receive proper compliments. In addition, this study provides instructive significance for the usage of compliments and response strategies.

Key words: compliments; responses; cooperative principle; politeness principle

Contents

摘 要 i

Abstract ii

I. Introduction 1

II. The Theoretical Framework of the Study 2

2.1 Cooperative Principle 2

2.2 Politeness Principle 4

III. A Comparative Analysis of English and Chinese Compliments 6

3.1 The Definition and Characteristics of Compliments 6

3.2 The Differences of English and Chinese Compliments 9

3.3.1 Differences in Using Way 9

3.3.2 Differences in Using Language 10

3.3 The Similarities of English and Chinese Compliments 11

3.3.1 Similarities in Politeness 11

3.3.2 Similarities in Modest Attitude 12

IV. A Pragmatic Analysis of English and Chinese Compliments and the Response Strategies 13

4.1 A Pragmatic Analysis of English and Chinese Compliments 13

4.1.1 A Pragmatic Analysis of English Compliments 13

4.1.2 A Pragmatic Analysis of Chinese Compliments 14

4.2 A Pragmatic Analysis of English and Chinese Compliment Response Strategies 14

4.2.1 The General Strategies of English and Chinese 14

4.2.2 The Specific Strategies of Chinese 16

4.3 The Factors Influencing the Compliments and Responses 17

4.3.1 Occasions 17

4.3.2 Customs 17

4.3.3 Gender 18

V. Conclusion 18

Bibliography 20

Acknowledgements 21

A Comparative Study of Compliment-response Strategies Between English and Chinese from the Perspective of Pragmatics

I. Introduction

Praise is frequently used in daily life as a kind of polite speech act. While compliment is the praise and positive comments on quality, ability and appearance from one to another. It also can be used to give congratulations, soften the tone of criticism and avoid embarrassment. It is a universal phenomenon in language and is a social lubricant, which belongs to a supportive behavior. It can not only shorten the distance between the communicator, but also can promote friendship, deepen friendship and to maintain good human relations.

Compliment is a kind of interpersonal communication behavior and to maintain and promote interpersonal level which is an important means. At the same time, it is also a main language strategies towards politeness. The appropriate compliment not only can leave a good impression to each other, make smoothly into the communicative activities line, also establish harmony interpersonal relationship, and it  has a profound significance. Analyzing compliment and its response aims to find out the main tendency for native English speakers and native Chinese speakers when responding to compliments, which is beneficial for people to make good use of them. Therefore, this study analyzes the English and Chinese compliments by adopting the cooperative principle and politeness principle and the differences between them then explores the cultural factors which influence these differences as well as compliment strategies.