【文章內(nèi)容簡介】 sing senior generation, the younger one cannot use their surnames because it is a behavior of treason and unfilial duty. In this way, the son’s children call grandparents 爺爺 (paternal grandfather) and 奶奶 (paternal grandmother). The daughter’s children call grandparents 外公(maternal grandfather) and 外婆 (maternal grandmother), who in North China are also called 姥爺 and 姥姥 respectively. As is known to all the Chinese, It is rude and offensive to address seniors their names directly. Unlike the Chinese custom, elderyounger relation and seniority order in the clan does not play an important part in English address system. The difference in age is not shown very clearly in western culture. For instance, uncles and aunts can refer to both elder and younger ones. In western society, terms of endearment, surnames, and family names are monly adopted. They believe that their usage of kinship address 第 6 頁 共 24 頁 forms is enough and direct. It is a mon sight to address elder generation’s name directly, for example, in Family Album (.), Marilyn (daughterinlaw) calls Robert (her fatherinlaw) and Jenney (her motherinlaw) directly. In the view of westerners, it indicates that they are on intimate terms and in harmony. There is a dialogue: Jenney: Where are you going, Robert? Robert: Remember, the England football game? Jenney: Did you fet something? Robert: Just let me see this play, Jenney. Marilyn: Go ahead, Robert. We should all take a little break before dessert (Wu 127). of Kinship Terms Generalization of kinship terms refers to addressing nonkin or stranger by kinship terms. In many situations, children are taught to use kinship terms to address to the close friends of their parents. In china, terms such as “uncle, aunt, grandpa, grandmother, sisters and brothers” are used as honorific titles for senior people or strangers. Therefore, kinship termimology is often employed. On the one hand, the difference between close and distant is taken seriously in Chinese traditional culture. The order from close to distant is: directly related relatives to collateral relatives. So the subject of daily munication always chooses close address forms in kinship terms according to the characteristics (age, sex etc.) of the object. That is to say, the subject may use kinship terms to express their intimation to the object. In addition, choosing address forms is attached important in “Respect Rule”. Generalization only exists in address from younger to elder, instead of from elder to younger. For instance, the man a little older than father and mother is addressed as 伯伯 , and the man younger 叔叔 . Females are generally called 阿姨 by younger people of the next generation. In Beijing and some other regions, they are 第 7 頁 共 24 頁 also called 大媽 . Old people of grandfather’s and grandmother’s age can also be addressed as 爺爺 and 奶奶 . This generalization phenomenon indicates that interpersonal relation has the function of promoting group cohesion and deepening people’s emotion. Englishspeaking countries, on the other hand, think highly of the value: “individualism”. In daily munication, seniority order, age and interpersonal relation are omitted. For example, if you greet an old lady or an old man on your way to work, they will take it for granted rather than to regard that you are a polite person. 第 8 頁 共 24 頁 Chapter 3 Difference in Social Address Term Social address term (nonkinship term address) is another stream of address system. It is often applied to use in intercultural munication and overseas trade with the people from other nations. Sometimes it can also be called career titles. Both Chinese and English cultures contain social terms of address and titles. Firstly, their social function is the same. Terms of address and titles, being an important part of social etiquette, can maintain, reinforce, and establish all kinds of human relationships. By using social terms, the status, position, role and closeness of municative participants are standing out. Secondly, the controlling factors on both social term systems are similar such as age, gender, social positions and social class and the like. Lastly, appropriate using of social terms can leave people a good impression and promote the success of trade and business. Universal in Englishspeaking Countries In Englishspeaking countries, social address forms are experiencing a process of revolution. Whatever one’s social status or occupation or age is, most people intend to use First Name (FN) about addressing the boss, elder person and parents. As long as the address form to Doctor has kept Title Name (TLN). The exact nature of this change is as what Brown and Gilman pointed out: “power in daily munication is replaced by equality and intimacy” (Zhang 134135). Sir + Madam: This pair is seldom followed by surnames. They are often used separately in calling strangers or used in business letters. And often we can find them in referring to super sides in shops, schools, army, and police stations from lower sides. And if “Sir” is followed by surnames or whole names, the meaning is different, which shows the person has a title, such as, Sir John White. 第 9 頁 共 24 頁 Recently, “Madam” can be used with surnames or the title of a technical. For example, Madam Smith, Madam President, Madam Chairman, and Madam Ambassador. We Chinese are quite familiar with this pair. Only one thing we should pay special attention to. That is, Lady + surname could be used to refer to the wife and the daughter of a highstatus person. In English culture, Mr. is often used to refer to mon people. For those respected scholars, they’d like to be called Prof. or Dr. However, in Chinese culture, we prefer to u