【正文】 Culture and Language The Cultural Differences between English and Chinese 鄭州大學(xué)升達經(jīng)貿(mào)管理學(xué)院 商用英語專業(yè) 指導(dǎo)教師 1 Abstract Language is closely related to culture. Language expresses and embodies cultural reality. If we are in different countries, we must know their cultures. Thus, we can use the language freely. In our English study, it is unavoidable to meet some differences of culture and language between Chinese and English, which demand that we should not only master the two languages but also be acquainted with the two cultures and cultural differences as well. Cultural differences between Chinese and English can be found in many aspects of daily munication, including addressing, greeting and parting, pliments, apologies, thanks and so on. This paper discusses the cultural differences between Chinese and English. Keyword ： cultural and language differences, munication, custom culture, Chinese and Englishspeakers 2 Introduction As is well known, language is a mirror, in front of which culture is reflected. Meanwhile, culture is also a kind of language. Many people always think that poor ability of English is the cause of misunderstanding in munication. However, in the daily munication with our foreign friends, lots of people who are good at English, are still confused during their munication. Culture and language are important reasons. Because language is related to knowledge, and knowledge in turn is related to culture. Culture and language plement each other. The realize of culture is a prerequisite to learn language well. Language is the carrier of culture. The difference of culture must reflect in the language of different nations. Cultural differences between Chinese and English can be found in many aspects of daily munication languages, including addressing, greeting and parting, pliments, apologies, thanks and other aspects. So this paper will talk about some of the differences. Furthermore, it will talk about how to learn western culture. 1. Cultural Differences in Communication Greeting and parting Greeting is an important part in daily life. When people meet friends or acquaintances, they often greet each other. The purpose of greeting is to establish or keep the social contact. But because of the cultural differences between Chinese and English, the manner of greeting and parting are different, it often causes misunderstanding. In China, people greet their friends might say: “Where are you going to do?” or “Have you eaten yet?” while American usually say “Hi” or “Hello” instead. If an English speaker does not understand this difference, he will sure misunderstand his Chinese friend who really wants to know where he goes or invite him to eat something. As a foreigner, he maybe treats them as a real question. 3 In English society, Englishspeaking people believe that to visit someone is to have respect for him, to finish the visiting is not of one39。s own free will, but because of some other arrangements, therefore they always say some expressions with apology, such as I am afraid I must be off, I have to … and so on. And, Englishspeakers often signal several times before leaving. Well, it39。s been nice to see you again. I do enjoy our talk and the lovely dinner, but I must be going soon. Thank you very much for asking me over. I hope we39。ll be able to get together again before long… But in Chinese society, people strongly emphasize that to consider things from the party angle. So Chinese leavetaking is very short and quick, such as you are busy, so I will be off and don’t interfere with you. With these words, they may stand up from their seats and prepare to leave. But Englishspeaking people think it so abrupt that they have not prepare for it. . Address Both English and Chinese people have two kinds of personal namesa family name and a given name. But the order and the use of these names in the two languages are somewhat different. So for the beginner of English, English address is not so easy to learn. Because of the culture differences, Chinese often put the family name in the first place。 while American is used to put it at the end. In formal situation, English speakers are used to call men as “Mister”, married women as “Misses” and unmarried women as “Miss”. If the person has an . or PhD, they will often be called as Doctor(abbreviated as Dr.). In informal situation, English speakers’ address is more casual than China’s. For example, in the university of USA, professor used to ask their students to address his name instead of using “Dr” to keep the keen relationships. But in China, addressing the elder’ name directly is regarded to be impolite. Sometimes, English speakers introduce each other by first name without title