论中国英语学习者在跨文化交流中的失误研究

1、装订线 本科生毕业论文（设计） 题目： A Research on Cross-culture Communication Failures by English Learners in China 论中国英语学习者在跨文化交流中的失误研究 系 部 外语系 学科门类 英语 专 业 学 号 姓 名 指导教师 2013年5 月2日2合肥师范学院2013届本科生毕业论文（设计）AcknowledgementsThis piece of essay is the result of support and contributions of many people. First and foremost

2、, I cannot go without mentioning the constructive suggestions and technical support from my guider, Mao Yingying. Secondly, my appreciation is given to Zhou Ying and Zou Xiaorong, my English teachers, who have given me all necessary assistance during my studies. Last but not least, I would like to t

3、hank my family, friends and roommates for their unyielding support for encouraging me to overcome the difficulties and complete the paper.AbstractSince Chinas reform and opening up, the past years have witnessed the dramatic and breathtaking changes in China. The opportunities of communication betwe

4、en different countries are ever-increasing. However, the high-frequency of cross-culture communication also gives rise to more failures in interactions of people in different culture backgrounds. These failures, which include large part of pragmatic failure advanced by J.Thomas in early 1980s, are m

5、ajor obstacles of understanding of intercultural communication. In this paper, the author try to explore typical cases of interaction failures of Chinese learners of English in intercultural communication, the substantial reasons of them as well as the according solutions to address the problems. Th

6、rough overall analysis of different cases in intercultural communication situations, various reasons could be revealed, which is helpful to resolve the difficulties and realize successful understanding among people in different culture.Key words: intercultural communication; failures; various reason

7、s摘 要自改革开放以来的几十年里，中国大地上正发生着翻天覆地的变革。中国对世界的开放程度越来越高，对外交流的机会也在逐渐增加。但同时，高频率的对外交流也导致了不同文化背景的人们跨文化交流失误的上升。在20世纪80年代，语言学家托马斯(J.Thomas)就首先提出了语用失误(Pragmatic Failure)的概念，这也是我们在跨文化交流中遇到的主要沟通障碍。然而，跨文化交际失误远不止语用失误的范畴，还包括语音、词汇、语法以及非言语交际等方面。因此本篇论文意在探析中国英语学习者在跨文化交际中的各类失误，主要包含以下几个方面：跨文化交际失误的几个方面，跨文化交际失误产生的主要原因，中国英语学习者

8、在学习英语这门语言的时候对英语文化的掌握。通过上述方面的分析，望此论文能帮助中国英语学习者解决所遇到的跨文化交际的问题与失误，并促进跨文化交流的顺利进行。关键词：跨文化交际；跨文化交际失误；产生原因ContentsAcknowledgementsIAbstractII摘 要IIIContentsIVChapter 1 Introduction11.1Significance of the Research11.2Organization of the Paper2Chapter 2 Literature Review3Chapter 3 Performance of Chinese Learn

9、ers of English in Cross-culture Communication Failures53.1 Cross-culture verbal communication failures53.1.1 Performance of failures in pronunciation53.1.2 Performance of failures in vocabulary63.1.3 Performance of failures in grammar63.1.4 Performance of failures in pragmatics63.2 Cross-culture non

10、-verbal communication failures83.2.1 Performance of failures in body language83.2.2 Performance of failures in paralanguage9Chapter 4 Reasons and Solutions for Cross-culture Communication Failures by English Learners in China104.1 About the questionnaire104.2 Reasons for intercultural communication

11、failures114.3 Factors caused by English learners in China124.4 Possible Solutions for Cross-cultural communication failures13Bibliography16Appendix A1跨文化交际能力问卷调查1Chapter 1 IntroductionThe need for intercultural communication can be dated back to time immemorial when wandering ancient tribes encounte

12、red others different from themselves and exchanged their belongings with each other. In nowadays, intercultural encounters are far more numerous and important than in any previous time. New technology of transportation and communication, globalization of economy and changes in immigration patterns h

13、as accelerated intercultural contact and communications.1.1Significance of the ResearchChinas great changes are happening in the earth after decades reform and opening up. As Chinas frequency of opening to the world becomes more and more high, foreign exchange opportunities are also gradually increa

14、sing. But at the same time, the high frequency of foreign exchanges has also given rise to intercultural communication failures among people from different cultural backgrounds. Due to differences in many aspects between Chinese and western language and culture, many Chinese learners of English in c

15、ommunicating with English speakers make communication mistakes. For these failures in verbal and nonverbal communication, the reason is mainly because of language differences, cultural differences and communication failures caused by the learners themselves. In the process of human communication, di

16、fferent people may receive different information from the same information because of the influence of external factors, and the understanding of the different people for different information also differ in thousands ways. In the same cultural background, the communication failures can occur someti

17、mes, so its inevitable that people in different culture backgrounds make more errors in communication.It is hoped that this research for Chinese learners of English in communication can provide some help to avoid communication failures, so as to achieve better and more effective communicative purpos

18、e and the best effect of communication. In addition, this article is counted to offer some practical suggestions for people who learn English as a second language and a tool for communication. Language knowledge and culture knowledge are of equal importance while learning English. Consequently, its

19、beneficial for prompting spread of English knowledge and western culture.1.2Organization of the PaperThis thesis consists of 5 chapters. Chapter 1 is the introduction of the thesis. In this chapter, some background knowledge is introduced. It is mainly about the diversity of cross-cultural communica

20、tion failures, responding reasons and possible solutions. Chapter 2 sets out to review the literature in intercultural communication field, including foreign and domestic theoretical works. In Chapter 3, the author explores major performance of the communication failures. There are two parts that co

21、mprise verbal communication failures and non-verbal communication failures. In the verbal part, it consists of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and pragmatics. Meanwhile, body language and paralanguage are included in the non-verbal part. In Chapter 4, the author does an analysis in substantial re

22、asons for the above communication failures of English learners in China in chapter 3 for the purpose of resolving these failures. Chapter 5 contains practical suggestions and advices summarized by the author to avoid communication failures.Chapter 2 Literature ReviewIntercultural communication has b

23、een a kind of common phenomenon since immemorial times, but its history is short as an independent and new subject which formed in the United States in the 1950s. The symbol is the publication of Edward Halls Silent Language in 1959. In the 1980 s, linguist, J.Thomas, took the initiatives to put for

24、ward the concept of Pragmatic Failures that is also our main communication disorders encountered in the cross-cultural communication. From then on, intercultural communication failure has become an important part of the study of cross-cultural communication. To make the concept of intercultural comm

25、unication more easily be understood, Linell Davis puts forward five metaphors about intercultural communication: iceberg, software, water a fish swims in, the story we tell ourselves about ourselves, grammar of our behavior. Spair and Worf related that language functions not only as a tool of transm

26、itting messages but also a factor which influences our awareness for objective reality. Namely, people who speak different language have different ways of observing the world.Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, bu

27、t are very much at the mercy of the particular language, which has become the medium of expression for their society. The real world is to a large extent unconsciously built up on the language habits of the group. No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the sa

28、me social reality. (Spair, 1931:28)that the linguistic system (in other words, the grammar) of each language is not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas but rather is itself the shaper of ideas, the program and guide for the individuals mental activity, for his analysis of impression, f

29、or his synthesis of his mental stock in trade.(Whorf, 1952:36)“Pragmatic failure” is first contributed by British famed pragmatist, Jenny Thomas. In her article “Cross-cultural Pragmatic Failure”, she defined it “the inability to understand what is meant by what is said” (Jenny Thomas, 1983:1).Many

30、domestic scholars are committed to investigate students cross-cultural communication competence in our country and the culture differences between English and Chinese, or study on attribution of cross-cultural communication failures. With the rapid development of cross-cultural communication in our

31、country, new academic theories and views in the world can be punished on academic journals in our country so as to facilitate its presentation and spread. In addition to papers, there are also many monographs such as Guan Shijies Cross-cultural Communication (Peking university press), Introduction t

32、o Intercultural Communication of Hu Wenzhong and Cross-cultural Communication of Jia Yuxin. Jia in his book Introduction to Iintercultural Communication Study said that on current study of intercultural communication failures, the general discussion is far more than research based on large amounts o

33、f data. As international communication becomes more and closer, cross-cultural communication as a discipline in China is in rapid progress, many cross-cultural communication failures have been noticed. An article, Communication Error Types and the Reasons in the journal of PLA institute of foreign l

34、anguages expounds that the factors leading to communication failures are various, and distinguishes between nonverbal and verbal factors. (Ding Xin, 1998:34) Zhang Ming at its masters graduation thesis On Verbal Communication Errors, respectively, from nonverbal factors, linguistic factors and pragm

35、atic factors and cultural factors four aspects discusses the communication failures. (2006:56)Chapter 3 Performance of Chinese Learners of English in Cross-culture Communication Failures 3.1 Cross-culture verbal communication failuresVerbal communication is a process of information control system, i

36、nformation transfer, and message send as well as acceptance when people in communication. However, verbal communication failure refers to misunderstandings of people in the process of communication. As the communication is achieved by both sides of communicators, but in the process of information tr

37、ansfer, some extent changes and misinterpretations often happen on account of various restricted conditions. Thus speakers communicative intention is not fully implemented. We usually call this phenomenon as verbal communication failure.3.1.1 Performance of failures in pronunciationChinese and Engli

38、sh belong to two different language families. The disparity brings a great difficulty to Chinese learners of English. In the process of learning English, they are often affected by Chinese habit, particularly in terms of voice. Due to lack of knowledge of English phonetics, many English learners in

39、China tend to replace Chinese phonemes which are similar to English phonemes while speaking. In mandarin, there is no difference about length of the sound. It is easy for Chinese learners of English to choose the pronunciation close to Chinese according to their speaking habits. Impacted by dialects

40、 around Chinas vast land, there are eight major dialect areas among which the gap is huge. The most distinctive feature embodies in the pronunciation.There is no pronunciation of ai and , thus learners tend to use ei and z instead. In some areas of Hunan, Sichuan and Yunan, h and f are confused. Peo

41、ple in there say chihuan when they means having dinner and guahong for wind, fukou for household register. When they are reading English, they would mix fight as fait and height as hait. Due to the interference of native dialect, many learners naturally choose alternative ways of pronunciation in le

42、arning English.李莹莹，2012，来华美国留学生跨文化交际的失误及原因分析D。黑龙江大学硕士学位论文。3.1.2 Performance of failures in vocabularyBesides differences in linguistic form and language characteristics, the Chinese and English are in totally disparate culture. Naturally, many words culture implication also is. For instance, word ow

43、l means unlucky in Chinese culture while it is regarded wisdom for Americans. Since there exist great disparity in culture significance, lots of communicators easily employ inappropriate words in daily intercultural communication by accident and thereby result in failures. Words with similar denotat

44、ions may have connotations that vary widely.3.1.3 Performance of failures in grammarGrammar is the structure of language. If there is no grammatical structure and oral and written expression will appear disorderly, and even cant form complete language. Jeremy Harmer once said: the function is achiev

45、ed by applying language which is on the basis of grammar. Students who dont understand grammar can only speak some pieces of English. 李莹莹，2012，来华美国留学生跨文化交际的失误及原因分析D。黑龙江大学硕士学位论文。. Compared with Chinese grammar, the most distinctive characteristic in English is many changes of morphology. Chinese lear

46、ners always pay little attention to changing the language morphology in English studies because of their first language speaking habits. That also results in intercultural communication failures.Maybe someone hold the view that in daily intercultural communication some keywords are enough to express

47、 themselves. But on official occasions and writing English, correct and appropriate use of grammar is a necessity. Among all English grammar, one of special cases is English tense. Taking an example, if one says “I have gone to Shanghai.” the meaning is that the speaker is now in Shanghai. However,

48、once the sentence is changed into “I went to Shanghai” the speaker just narrates this thing of going to Shanghai.3.1.4 Performance of failures in pragmaticsThe publication of Edward Halls Silent Language in 1959 is the symbol of intercultural communication as a subject. In the 1980 s, linguists (J.T

49、homas) took the initiatives to put forward the concept of Pragmatic Failures that is also our main communication disorders encountered in the cross-cultural communication. Thomas considers that in verbal communication, mistakes in pronunciation, vocabulary and structure belong to external failures.

50、However, if one deals with words violating due pragmatic principles in English, he/she will be thought to be dishonest. And its more likely to cause emotional unpleasant between communicators in different culture (Hu Wenzhong, 1994).In China, we generally greet guests who come from afar by saying “y

51、i lu xin ke le”. If the guest hold English as mother tongue, then the greeting should be “Did you enjoy your trip?” or “How was your trip?” instead of “I am afraid you must have had a tiring trip.”左峰，2005， 跨文化交际中的语用失误现象研究J。郑州轻工业学院学报（5）:55-57。Westerns take their age, marriage, income as well as relig

52、ious as their privacy. Many learners of English tend to talk with them in accordance with Chinese culture habits and chat in a questioned tone: “Whats your name?”, “How old are you?” and “Are you married?” These questions reflect care and friendliness. Whereas, for westerns, they would feel confused

53、 or getting hurt because of privacy infringement.Culture tattoos which directly decide the language is a very unique cultural phenomenon. They also differ in different races and culture. In intercultural communication, if enough attention is not paid to disparity among various culture tattoos, some

54、contradiction and misunderstandings would arise. When Nixon, president of the United States, had a state visit in Shanghai in 1972 with his officials, our authorities arranged some of the officials resting on the 13th floor of hotel. That made them unpleasant. It turned out that the number 13 bear t

55、he meaning of “unlucky” in American culture.Learners in China regard the similar English structures as the totally same expressions. They seldom think about the pragmatic functions of these expressions. Here is an example. When a Chinese student asks his foreign teacher to tutor his essay, such an e

56、xpression is employed, “Perhaps you read through my paper”. Obviously, the student uses the sentence pattern “Perhaps you could ” as an inquiry. However, this is an order not inquiry in English world. Under this circumstance, “Could you possibly” can be employed as an expression. These two expressio

57、ns have similarities. They contain the word, “could”, and “possibly” and “perhaps” can both refer to the things that may happen. Actually, the pragmatic functions of these two expressions are different.3.2 Cross-culture non-verbal communication failuresIn our communication process, just verbal commu

58、nication cannot achieve communication effect on many occasions, so generally nonverbal communication is needed to achieve perfect effect. Nonverbal communication varies as different situations. Massachusetts watts once said: The majority of communication research expert regards that, in face-to-face communication, speech act accounts for only about 35% of the information of social content, and the rest are all passed through the no