Differences between Chinese and foreign appellations

There are obvious differences between English and Chinese kinship terms in distinguishing clan from non-clan, paternal line from matrilineal line, generational line, in-laws and blood relatives, and the use and generalization of derivatives. Among social appellations, Chinese is relatively rich in vocabulary, and honorifics and modesty are frequently used. The difference that causes this phenomenon is the difference in history, fertility concept, friendship concept and belief concept structure between the two nations. From the differences between English and Chinese appellations, this paper further reveals the cultural differences behind them, so as to better carry out cultural exchanges between English and Chinese.

Keywords: kinship terms, social terms, cultural differences

The differences between Chinese and English languages and cultures lead to the differences between the two address systems. If Chinese address forms are directly transplanted into English, it will often cause unexpected cultural confusion and even shock. Appellation belongs to the category of social language and is widely used in people's daily communication and literary works. Language is the carrier and mirror of culture, so different cultures have different names because of historical traditions and national psychology. It is very important for cross-cultural communicators to understand the differences between Chinese and English appellations and explore the social and cultural roots behind the differences.

According to the Modern Chinese Dictionary, "appellation" refers to "names that people get because of their relatives and other aspects, as well as their identity and occupation." Generally speaking, appellation can be divided into kinship appellation and social appellation.

Cultural differences between English and Chinese appellations from the perspective of kinship terms

1. kinship terms

Kinship appellation refers to the appellation that takes oneself as the center and determines the relationship between relatives and themselves. It is the appellation that relatives call each other on the basis of blood relatives and in-laws. It is a sign to determine the relationship between relatives and themselves with themselves as the axis. Because human beings are interlinked, each nation has a kinship address system to express family members. Generally speaking, Chinese address is much more complicated and detailed than English address.

Similarities and differences between Chinese and English kinship terms 1. 1

In modern Chinese, kinship terms can tell the identity at a glance, such as Dai (parents: uncles, uncles; Peer: brother, sister, cousin), paternal or maternal (aunt), direct or collateral (grandson, nephew), age (uncle, uncle, brother, brother) and blood relatives or in-laws (brother, sister-in-law). However, in English, this title is general, vague and polysemous, covering a wide range. In addition to clear seniority, other relationships can only be carefully scrutinized from the context or asked face to face. For example, sister is the same word, regardless of age; Grandma refers to grandma and grandma, regardless of paternal and maternal lines; Uncle can refer to uncle, uncle and uncle, regardless of age, paternal line or maternal line. Cousin in English is omnipotent. Including cousin, cousin, cousin, cousin, cousin, cousin and a series of Chinese titles, regardless of age, paternal line and maternal line, or even gender. To translate this word accurately, we must put it in context. Among family members, China's brothers and sisters are generally called by age, such as Big Brother, Third Brother and Fourth Sister. English-speaking countries are used to calling each other by their first names. Many people even call their parents' siblings by their first names. For westerners, qualifications are not very important.

The kinship appellation system of China people is complex and diverse, and the lineal and collateral, blood relatives and in-laws, elders and younger generations, old people and young people, men and women, close relatives and distant relatives are strictly standardized and distinguished one by one. Its semantic function is fine and its description is accurate, which is amazing. In contrast, English kinship terms are relatively poor, with broad references and vague semantics. In addition to the division of generations, blood relationship, internal and external, old and young can be ignored.

1.2 Generalization of Chinese kinship terms

The fine language division of kinship appellation system by Han nationality is closely related to the feudal clan system which emphasizes blood relationship. The fuzziness of English kinship terms system is also related to its simple nuclear family structure. In addition, the generalized use of kinship terms in modern Chinese is also very characteristic of China, which is kind and warm and can effectively shorten the distance between communicators. However, if it is applied to English, the effect will only be counterproductive, because English kinship terms are generally limited to the family. In Chinese, out of politeness, we often use "grandpa" and "grandma" to address strangers, and "uncle" and "aunt" to address friends with parents or strangers of the same generation with parents. This usage is rare abroad. If a foreign friend is called "Auntie" by children when she visits our kindergarten, she will be puzzled. If we avoid the existence of this cultural difference and form a psychological stereotype or prejudice centered on the national cultural tradition, it will cause obstacles or failures in communication.

A Comparative Study of English and Chinese Social Appellations

Social appellation refers to the appellation custom that reflects the relationship between people in social life except kinship appellation. Social appellation is divided into non-kinship appellation and contextual appellation. Non-kinship appellation is a kind of appellation that expresses interpersonal relationship except kinship appellation on the basis of "person" in social life.

2. 1 General principles of English social address forms

As far as the diversity of appellations is concerned, English is slightly inferior to Chinese. In English, almost all men are addressed by Mr+surname, while women are addressed by Ms+surname or Mrs+spouse's surname. People who are close to each other can call them by their first names, while titles+surnames or first names are often used to address members of the royal family, upper government, religious, legal and military circles. Such as President Clinton, Prince Charles, Pope John and Judge Jackson. Common titles or occupations+surnames are doctor and professor. Such as Dr. White and Dr. Smith.

2.2 China social appellation

Social appellations in Chinese can basically be used as appellations as long as they have titles. Such as monitor Shi, assistant Zhang, section chief Wu and accountant Chen. All positions: minister, governor, director, director, principal, dean, factory director, manager, etc. Ranks: general, lieutenant general, lieutenant colonel, second lieutenant, etc. Title: Engineer, Senior Engineer, Professor, Lecturer, Editor, etc. Degree: Doctor; Occupation: doctor, nurse, teacher, accountant, lawyer, coach, etc. You can add your last name to address others.

2.3 honorific and modest words

The cultural tradition of the Chinese nation requires people to use respectful words and modest words to others in communication, and try to belittle themselves and raise others as much as possible to show modesty, respect and courtesy. Therefore, there are a lot of honorifics and modesty in Chinese. If you call yourself "the next person, my wife, brother, subordinate, old man, etc." You call yourself "my father, my family, my brother, my east, my wife, my children, my son, etc". The honorifics to others include "your father, your wife, your honor, your government, your mother, your brother, your son, your daughter, your grandson, etc." And "... this kind of honorific and modest language reflects the unique interpersonal attitude of China people. There are almost no corresponding titles in English. If we want to translate this Chinese into English, we usually use a more direct or euphemistic expression. For example:

You, your dad, you

Me, me

Your father, your brother, your father, your brother.

Family discipline, family kindness, my father, my mother

Jenny, aunt and sister-in-law your wife, madam

Your son, your son, your daughter

Your nephew, your dear nephew, my aunt

Compared with self-deprecating words and honorifics in Chinese, such titles in English are far less common than those in Chinese. There is no modesty in English, but there are some honorifics and honorifics. For example, you can directly use the honorific "Your Majesty" to address the king or queen, "Your Majesty" to address the prince, "Your Excellency" to address the judge and "Your Excellency" to address the cardinal.

On the Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Appellations

3. 1 Historical reasons

Language is the carrier of culture. The reason why Chinese kinship terms are so complicated is because of the ethical tradition of China culture.

The Chinese nation had "the rites made by the Duke of Zhou" for centuries in the year of 10, and "the rites should be punished", emphasizing "both rites and laws". "Rite" is an effective political system for the ruling class to maintain its ruling relationship, and its function is even worse than that of law. Later, when ethics and Confucianism merged into the state religion, it became the guiding ideology of feudal society in past dynasties. "Husbands should be intimate, suspicious, distinguish between similarities and differences, and distinguish between right and wrong." Politeness can "have a limit, there is a game around." "Rite" is the standard of right and wrong, even the standard of conviction and sentencing. Its function is very important and must be very detailed and clear. The core of ethics is "correcting the name", which gives people a name. Different positions have different positions. Monarch, father and son, husband and wife, up and down, ranking, the former is the key to the latter, the former has the privilege of giving orders, and the latter only has the obligation to obey the former. Feudal ethics is deeply rooted in people's hearts, and the etiquette is strict and complicated, so it is bound to have a detailed and complicated title.

English comes from western culture. Its etiquette culture was formed more than 2000 years later than that of China. After the Renaissance, books on etiquette appeared in the West. Different from China, the West emphasizes the rule of law, and there is no complicated ethical tradition and concept of birthright. Westerners advocate equality, self-esteem and freedom, and those polite rules are just a kind of civilized decoration and embellishment of the upper class.

3.2 Differences in reproductive concept and family life style

In China people's kinship terms, "there are internal and external differences, and there is an order of honor and inferiority". This also reflects the traditional patriarchal culture of the Han nationality, which determines its identity in the family or clan according to paternal blood and surrounding parents. Under the economic and social background of long-term self-sufficiency, most people live in the same clan, and clans and family organizations have the functions of economic, educational, political and military self-defense. The kinship within the clan is strictly differentiated according to the hierarchy, and the kinship terms in Chinese imply the unequal relations within the clan.

Contrary to the extended family lifestyle in China, Westerners prefer the small family lifestyle, and their children will be independent when they grow up. The changeable production and lifestyle make them more mobile and have less strong family values. Relatively speaking, appellation also reflects the equality between paternal relatives and maternal relatives. Westerners emphasize equality of personality, and people of all ages can call each other by their first names to show closeness. Therefore, kinship terms in English are far less frequent than those in Chinese.

3.3 Different social pursuits and value orientations

Although there are honorifics in English, there are few modest words, because westerners advocate self-confidence and are polite to people but don't use them. The role of "equal relationship" has been expanding, and the role of "high-low relationship" has gradually narrowed. China people like to address relatives and non-relatives by kinship terms, while westerners like to address them by names. The former is mostly feudal and patriarchal, which embodies the characteristics and charm of Confucian traditional culture. The latter has many humanistic elements, and its essence lies in respect for people and their independence and freedom.

In the English-speaking culture originated from ancient Greece and Rome, people have long attached importance to commerce economically, coupled with frequent immigration and colonization. People have already got rid of the patriarchal clan system based on blood relationship and replaced it with the social contract system based on property relationship. The social organization structure is no longer centered on hierarchical identity, instead, everyone is equal. 1776 The Declaration of Independence issued by the American government formally guaranteed the freedom and equal rights of every member of society. Franklin pointed out: "God helps those who help themselves." In terms of values, people advocate individualism and emphasize equality, self-confidence and self-reliance. So in English, there are many words to praise each other and few words to belittle yourself.