EverydayEnglishandtheEnglishPeople.doc

Graduation ThesisEveryday English and the English PeopleName: Peng XiaojuanMajor: English TeachingTutor: Li GangSchool of Foreign Studies.Xuzhou Normal University.June.2001.Everyday English and the English PeopleLanguage is one of the important forms of culture. The great American linguist Edward Sapir Pointed out that language couldnt exist without culture and it couldnt separate from all kinds of behaviors and beliefs inherited by society, for the entirety of these behaviors and beliefs decided the nature of our life. He also said that culture might be understood as what society did and thought while language was the concrete form of though. Therefore, the relation between culture and language may be thought as that of content and form. Generally speaking, the content eletermine the form while the form reflects the content. In details, it may be shown through the fact that specified nations culture often adds some sign to its language.Any language can reflect characters of some culture. Take drawing room, fireplace, mantelpiece, and central heating in English, for example. The most Chinese, all of these things are very strange but it reflects the furniture and architectural design of the general English people. Just like “Kang” in Chinese, most English people who are not familiar with Chinese culture couldnt imagine what it is. This shows that, different nations cultural characters may be shown in their language. In this paper, Id like to probe into the characters English of peoples psychology of self-respect, respect of each other together with their rites, taboo and the frame of their family.I.“Great Britain” and the English peoples self-respectIf we pay a little attention to this, we may easily find that the English people have the strong sense of self-respect and self-pound. Apart from others, as far as its name concerned, theres a “great” before the word “Britain”, this is different form other countries names. Some cities of Britain are named in this way, too. London is often called as “Great London”, Manchester is called with great, then it is named “Great Manchester” and the local people think Birmingham as “the big heart of England”. In Britain, we may hear native people sing high praise of their home, city and county everywhere. Britain has many panties. In this “free” country, people may express their own political views. Some people are unsatisfied with the royal extravagant life, thinking that the system in Britain is a useless relief of a hyzone age and a tremendous waste of public money. However, these people generally wont say that Britain is not good and foreign students can commend in Britain political system by they cant say that the country is bad. Otherwise, the English people will get angry with this. The English people love their nation and love their language. But they often are not interested in foreign languages. They think that English is the best, the most promising language to be used worldly in the languages spoken in the world. Since that most foreigners can speak English, its unnecessary for them to learn a second language. Although this is the reflection of self-important idea, it undoubtedly shows self-respect of its own language.II.Polite language and the cultural psychology of respecting each other equallyPolite language reflects a national cultural quality and manners. People who have been to Britain may have the same feeling that the Britain is very polite. In Britain, we can not only see people there are very gentle but also can hear words like “thank you”, “please”, “excuse me”, etc.There are many polite words in different forms in Britain. Different words are used to different people in different occasions. In all, these reflect the English peoples psychologies characters like the following:1.Respect others, be friendly each other and dont show offAs a kind of rites, politeness is based on the foundation of respecting each other and being considerate to others. In the long terms group life, the English people form a complete polite language.To show respect of each other, they often use phrase like “Hi”, “Hello”, “Good morning (afternoon, evening)”, etc with a smile. In Britain “Thank you” is one of the most often used words. No matter when, if others help the English people, they usually say “Thank you”. Take going shopping for example, when you have bought goods of the shop, the shop employee will say “Thank you”, even if you have bought nothing, they also will say “Thank you for coming”. In Chinese, we often say “Thank you” to strangers or unfamiliar ones; we dont say this to our close friends. The more familiar, the less word is used. At home, families dont use this word at all. If the families use these words, well feel surprised. This is our culture. But in Britain, there is no difference. When son dose something for his father or when husband dose something for his wife, they will say, “Thank you”.Respecting others can also be shown in Britain daily conversation and tellers. When they have a talk or write a letter, they often avoid using the “z”, for they think that it they use “z” more often, the others will feel that they are making prominent. For example, when they meet friends in the street, they will say “Glad to see you again.” When they write to their friends, they will write, “Hope to hear from you.” When they mention their names and others names, they often put others name before their own. For example, they often say “John and I”. “My wife and I.” But when committing mistakes, they often speak themselves firstly. This behavior exemplifies their respect of others.Respecting others is also shown in the fact that when they meet, they introduce themselves first, not ask for others. When two Englishmen meet alone, they tell their own names first. For example, A introduces himself, “Alan, Alan Ellenton,” B also introduces himself “Peter, Peter Doach,” then they will shake hands and have a talk. They do this out of politeness. They introduce themselves actively; hoping other will introduce him in the same way. The base of the polite behavior is still self-respect including respect others “privacy”. This is greatly different form our habit. Although English are not fond of communication and keep their feeling inside, they are friendly.In Britain, people help each other. When you are in trouble and turn to them for help, they will do that for you gladly. In Britain, the young students often hitchhike. When you do this, you can give the car owner a present, but you often may just say “Thank you”, the owner will be satisfied with helping others and receive others thanks. We find that Britain hide their wariness and kindness the “silent” and “strange”.2.Speak kindly; dont put their idea upon others.Britain people respect each other and everyone is equal. They can be seen only from the form of language but also from the manner and voice of the speaker. English people speak kindly in their daily life. Even if they want others to do something, they also try to use kind voice. Please look at the following examples.1)Would you like to type the letter for me?2)Will you please fill he form?3)Could you shut the door, dear?An employer to his new-employed typist speaks the first one. Although typing letter is the employees job, the employer lets out his order in the form of asking for his letter permission. This sentence is much tactful than “Type the letter for me.” The second one is much tactful than “fill the form” and so is the third one.People use less imperative sentences in English than in Chinese. We often use “借个光”， “让个路”, etc. In the same case, the English seldom say, “Let me pass.” We often say “大家安静, 不要讲话。” While the English dont say “Keep quiet. Dont make noise.” Often they say it like this “Would you (Could you) please keep quiet?” They often use the word “please” in the imperative sentence. The place of “please” is very free. We may put it in the beginning or at the end of the sentence.4)Please come to the class in time.5)Pass the salt, please.6)Do, please, be frank with me.There is another kind of sentence to express direct request or invitation, e.g.7)Have some more turkey, dear.8)Do come whenever you like.The gentle of the voice may be seen in the words they use to answer other question. For example, if someone asks “Have you seen my dog?” usually they dont answer “No, I havent.” but “ I dont think I have.” Or “Im afraid not.” Besides, when refusing others request or invitation, they often dont refuse directly, but use the excuses not to make others feel awkward. We often hear the saying like these, “Im awfully sorry, but you see” “Id like to say yes, but” “Id really like to help you, but” etc.The English people often use euphemism, too. For example, they often say a woman is not ugly but plain and they also change homosexual into queer or gay and change strike into industrial action.We may see euphemism in our daily life. Gentleman is often written on the door of males toilet and ladies on the door of females toilet. The euphemism is used to make the listeners accepts easily.3.Be modest and naturalIn accordance with their polite language, the English people are very modest and natural and they dont like boasting themselves. For example, an Englishman plays tennis well, but if we ask him whether or not he is a good player, generally he will not answer “yes”. For if he says so people will think that he is pride. He may answers “Im not bad” or “I think Im quite good.” But probably he will say, “Well, Im fond of tennis.”The manner in which the English people show their modest is different from ours. If you praise an Englishman, he will accept your praise happily with “Thank you” to show his modesty. For example, if an Englishman says you speak English quite well. You should answer with “Thank you.” Furthermore, if he praise that you clothes are beautiful, you should also say “Thank you”. We Chinese are not as frank as them, we dont often say “谢谢” to others praise. We often say “哪里，还差得远呢。” “不行，不行，哪里比得上你。” etc. The English peoples natural and our Chinese over modesty show different culture characters of different nations.4.Be self-respect and dont bother othersThe English people value their own values very much. They respect others and treat others equally. In the same way, they hope that others will respect them and be fair with them. Often they dont bother others. If they have to bother others or ask others for help, they often show their request with an indirect apology, such as “I dont really like asking you, but” or “I know the trouble Im causing you, but would you mind if” In the same way, if someone offers her or his help actively, the English people often refuse politely “Oh, please dont trouble you”. In fact, most of English offer to help others out of politeness but they dont hope that other will accept their help. This is a kind of form it is not by political.We often feel that the English people are not fond of communication and silence. Maybe this is a fact. But their character is closely connected with their self-respect, avoiding troubling others, polite behavior. The English people often have their own manner of life and they dont like others to plan and arrangement. Similarly, thinking for others, they try their best not to disrupt other normal life order. Therefore, in Britain, there nearly are prearrangements when the English people visit their friends, the students visit the teacher and the patients visit the doctor. If others dont permit them to do that, they wont do it. 5.Respect women and the old, praise more than criticize others“Lady first” is the known polite code by which man treat woman. The gentlemen give their seats to ladies, open the door for them and carry the luggage for ladies. This is a social code in Britain. Respecting ladies is regarded as a virtue.Compliments are also very popular in the English communication. For example, if the English meet an acquaintance that is a male, they often say, “You look smart today”. But if an acquaintance is a female, theyll say, “You look pretty today”. There is also much praise for the children, such as “a clear boy”, “a good girl”. If the children make some progress, the adults often praise them with “Well done”. The English people are very polite to the foreigners, too. We often hear that they praise foreign students with “You speak English frequently.” Even if youre English is not excellent.In Britain, people can hear compliments and thanks everywhere. They often speak words that others like but seldom criticize others. This is one form of their politeness.III. Taboo and the self-reliance of the English people To treat others equally and respect others has another meaning, that is, to try not to interfere on others personal affairs. The English people dont like the following cases:1)Asking, “How old are you?” In our country, it is natural to ask others age. However, it is not polite, especially asking ladys age2)Asking, “Whats your salary?” The English people think that how much they earn is their own business and is none of others business. The similar questions are like this “Whats your name?” “Where do you come from?” etc. In China, we often say “你上哪去?” The new learners often translate it into “Where are you going?” and use it to greet the English. Which results in being misunderstood, the English will think, “Why do you ask that?” “Its none of your business.” All the questions that concern with the individual and familys affair should be asked at ease.3)Giving somebodys advice with imperative sentences. In China, we often use imperative sentences to show our kindness, but if you do the same to the English, he will fell that you treat him as a child. We Chinese value the concern between friends while the English emphasize on their own independent character. The words like “Put on more, or youll cat