Cultural differences refer to differences arising from regional similarities and differences, as well as cultural similarities and differences unique to people in different regions. People from different groups, countries or regions have different psychological procedures and different ways of thinking because of their different education, different society and different jobs.

With the development of economic globalization, the links between countries in the world are getting closer and closer. With the increase of communication between China and foreign countries, more and more foreigners are interested in the culture of China and China. Chinese fever? Keep heating up. However, due to many differences in cultures and customs of different countries, there will be many jokes and obstacles in the process of cross-cultural communication. This paper compares the differences between Chinese and foreign social etiquette cultures, and puts forward some suggestions on improving cross-cultural communication ability.

Keywords Chinese and foreign social etiquette; Cross-cultural communication; Teaching foreign languages

First, cross-cultural communication overview

? Intercultural communication? It refers to the communication between people from different cultures, and its main characteristics are: different cultures have different historical traditions, customs, religious beliefs, living habits, ways of thinking, values and so on.

Second, the comparison of social etiquette culture between China and foreign countries

(1) title.

In Chinese, names can't be used indiscriminately. The appellation between relatives is determined by the generational relationship, and this special appellation culture has its profound historical origin. China has a history of more than two thousand years of feudal autocracy, and it is also a civilized farming society. Taking the family as the unit, the feudal ethical relationship with the patriarchal clan system as the core was formed. ? Jun Jun chenchen, father and son are loyal and filial? Confucianism and other moral concepts are deeply rooted, which makes the Han nationality form a strict order of respect and inferiority. Up and down, old and young have different hierarchical concepts, so it is impolite and not allowed to call them by their first names directly. Most western countries are influenced by humanism, emphasizing freedom and equality, and there is no distinction between people. Therefore, even people of all ages, people with superior-subordinate relationship, can call them by their first names. It is not surprising that people are used to it. They think that such a title can bring us closer and make us more cordial.

China also has specific addresses for strangers, such as age and gender? Grandpa, grandma, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, brother? To be friendly and polite. In western countries, most of them are just? Sir, miss or man, woman, boy, girl or child, child? Such as a generic title. Another example? Sir? This title, in China? Sir? It is used as a title of respect for great educators, scholars and literati, expressing a feeling of love and respect, regardless of gender, such as? Mr Jiang Yang? 、? Mr. Lu Xun? Wait a minute. Sir, what about in some western countries? It's just a title for ordinary men, but as a learned and prestigious scholar or professor, it should be called? Doctor, professor? .

(2) say hello.

Greetings are the most common way for people to start a conversation. First, it can naturally lead to a formal conversation. The second is politeness and friendliness. People from different cultural backgrounds greet each other in different ways. In the process of cross-cultural communication, if greetings are used improperly, it will often cause some communication obstacles or embarrassment. British and American people often say hello. Hello! It? sverynicetomeetyou！ ? And people in China often ask when they say hello? Name, native place, salary, age? Wait, when I meet you on the road, I will say: What should I do? ,? Where do you work? ,? Are you married? In fact, these words are also the embodiment of human feelings, and they don't have much meaning, but in the eyes of foreigners, they will think that you are asking about their private affairs and invading their privacy.

In posture, there are also different greetings at home and abroad. From the ancient bow to the modern handshake, China people greet each other, which more embodies the national character of China people's modesty, reserve and introversion. Westerners are not. Influenced by the specific geographical environment and the specific laws of the development of western capitalism, they are confident and extroverted, so when they meet, they often take intimate ways such as patting their shoulders, hugging, covering their faces and kissing.

(3) visiting.

Visiting is essential in interpersonal communication, but people with different cultural backgrounds also have differences in visiting. In China, visiting a friend's house is optional, and sometimes you can leave without saying hello. In some western countries, it is impolite to make an appointment in advance and determine the specific time when visiting a friend's house. One of the functions of farewell language is to maintain the social relationship between the two sides of the conversation. Different farewell words can be used to end the conversation, and there will be some differences in pragmatic strategies adopted by Chinese and westerners when ending verbal communication.

For example, when visiting a friend's house, westerners often use farewell words:? Bye, bye, good night? And so on, and China people (owners) often euphemistically say:? Why don't you sit down for a while? 、? What's the hurry? Wait till you are polite and polite, and the guests are gone? Take care and come to play often? Actually, it doesn't necessarily mean this. Sometimes they say:? Drive carefully, huh? 、? Take care of yourself? Waiting for greetings. To westerners, these words may seem abrupt or redundant.

(4) Be humble and respect him.

China has been a country of etiquette since ancient times. A gift? Since ancient times, our culture has had a profound influence on the words and deeds of China people. These influences are also reflected in polite language, addressing parents? My father and mother? Call someone else's parents? Your father, your mother? Call your wife? Wife, wife, scum Call someone else's wife? A wife, a good date and a room? , his son called? Dogs? For someone else's son? Your son? , his daughter called? Little girl, dog girl? What's the name of someone else's daughter? Your love (yuan)? Polite language for equal people. In western countries, there is no such name, only? You and me? Without these modest words. People in China often say such things? Sorry to bother you? 、? Please forgive me if I don't speak well? China people are used to saying that they have made some achievements in their work? This is due to the boss's leadership and the cooperation of colleagues? If you are so polite.

Sometimes, many foreigners misunderstand the modesty of China people and think that? Too hypocritical and insincere? . In fact, this is because they don't understand China people's thinking habits and politeness principles, which leads to cultural conflicts. China people think? Modesty is a person's greatest virtue? Modesty and implicit cultural habits are manifested in speech and behavior. They always try to belittle themselves and raise others, often consider others' reactions, and pay attention to taking care of each other's emotions and self-esteem so that the other party will not feel unhappy when comparing two people. What does this have to do with what the West advocates? Egoism? Advocating self-expression and affirming self-worth are quite different from direct expression. Then, in the process of teaching Chinese as a foreign language, introducing these cultural differences into teaching will be of great help to improve students' intercultural communication ability.

(5) Praise and apology.

Compliment is a positive speech act, which can enhance the relationship between people. Compliments are used much less frequently in China than in the United States, and there are some restrictions on the object and content. In American culture, it is a very common phenomenon to praise the appearance and property of others, and anyone can praise others. For example, if a woman wears a new skirt, her male colleague can say? Wow, you look great? In China, when a man praises a woman like this, it is likely to be regarded as frivolous and rude with ulterior motives. How to respond to compliments, the differences between Chinese and western cultures are also obvious. How do people in China usually respond to compliments? Deny? Or? Laugh at yourself, such as: use? Where is it? Where is it? To answer, to show the modesty and courtesy of the praised person. Westerners are used to it? Accept? Are you used to it? Thank you? Express approval and gratitude to flatterers. Due to the influence of different cultures, customs and habits, the frequency and object of apology are different between China and foreign countries. Americans use apologies more frequently than people in China. In some crowded occasions such as buses and shopping malls, China people rarely apologize for bumping into others, while Americans will apologize whether they intentionally or unintentionally offend others.

For Americans, apologizing may have become a habit in life. Even if it is a small matter, what will they say? sorry In America, parents will apologize for the inconvenience caused to their children. In China, parents seldom apologize to their children? Excuse me. Yes China's social structure is based on typical paternalism, with ethics as the core, which determines that the essence of China's social relations is hierarchical or differential order pattern, and this hierarchical relationship affects people's speech behaviors, such as apology, compliment and greeting. In western culture, the social structure tends to be equal. No matter the superiors and subordinates, old and young, as long as they offend others, they must apologize.

(6) Taboos in social etiquette.

What is this? Taboo? Xu Shen, a scholar in the Eastern Han Dynasty, explained this in his book Shuo Wen Jie Zi? Taboos, good or bad taboos; Avoid, hate? . Taboos under different cultural backgrounds and historical traditions are also different.

1. Number taboo. General taboos in the west? 13? And then what? Friday? , Japanese taboo? Four plus nine? . These figures give people a negative psychological impression, so they are taboo.

2. Animal taboos. In China, people used to regard owls as? Bad bird? But in the eyes of westerners, it is the embodiment of wisdom, courage and fortitude. In Chinese,? Dogs? There are many derogatory meanings, often referring to bad people, such as? Friends? 、? Dogs don't spit ivory? Wait a minute. Westerners regard dogs as family and friends. In English? Dogs? Not only does it not contain derogatory meaning, but it has cordial meaning, such as? Luckydog？ . ? Dragon? For China people, it has a profound meaning. It is a totem and a symbol of power, nobility and success. There are many legends about dragons in China, and people in China often call themselves? Descendants of dragons? . And in some western countries? Dragon? Often regarded as a fierce animal, it is an ominous sign.

3. Vocabulary taboo. (1) is dead. Chinese and western cultures are taboo? Die? Therefore, this word will use some substitutes. In Chinese, substitution words vary according to class, status and identity. For example, what are the names of the deaths of ancient emperors, governors, doctors, scholars and Shu Ren? Collapse, death, death, failure, death? And modern? Death, death, ascension, old age, passing away? Wait a minute. West Renye Fang won't just say? He died? Can you use it? Passaway? Waiting for replacement. (2) old. ? Old? It is a typical vocabulary in cross-cultural communication. People in China often prefix the surnames of acquaintances and friends? Old? Words, such as? Lao Zhao and Lao Bai? To show goodwill, to people with status and prestige? Qian Lao and Wang Lao? As a sign of respect. In China? Old? It symbolizes a kind of authority, seniority and dignity, so it is related to? Old? Show more respect for it. What else is there? Knowledgeable and skilled? Equal praise, such as? Old gentleman? 、? Old qualifications? . Don't like it in many western countries? Old? Yes, in western culture? Old? It means incompetent and useless. You can't call an old man? Old man, old woman? .

Thirdly, the cultural differences of social etiquette between China and foreign countries inspire the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language.

(A) update the teaching concept and attach importance to cultural teaching. As teachers of Chinese as a foreign language, we should realize that teaching language is also teaching culture, and we should combine language teaching with culture teaching. Teachers should also master some knowledge of Chinese and foreign cultural backgrounds, so that students can understand the similarities and differences between the target language and the mother tongue culture, and guide students to eliminate mother tongue interference when using the target language.

(B) establish the concept of cultural relativity and awareness of cross-cultural communication. Guide students to establish the concept of cultural relativity, and realize that China culture and mother tongue culture are essentially equal, and there is no distinction between right and wrong.

(C) adopt a variety of cultural teaching methods to enhance students' awareness of cultural differences. In order to get rid of the disadvantages of traditional teaching methods that are not conducive to students' independent thinking, flexible teaching methods such as role-playing, questioning method and group discussion should be adopted, and modern teaching methods such as multimedia should be used.

refer to

[1] Jia Yuxin. Cross-cultural communication [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1997

[2] He Yi, Su Feng. Comparison between Chinese and Western cultures [M]. Beijing: Metallurgical Industry Press, 2007, 9.

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