汉泰敬谦语系统对比研究浅探

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CHINESE AND THAI HONORIFIC AND SELF-DEPRECIATORY LANGUAGE SYSTEMS

Abstract

               ABSTRACT

          Both China and Thailand are etiquette-oriented countries with a fine tradition of courtesy. Since the joint construction of “The Belt and Road” East Asian route, the two sides have enjoyed mutual benefit and connectivity. Friendly exchanges between the two peoples have increased. Honorific and Self-depreciatory expressions have been frequently used. Being familiar with the honorific and self-depreciatory language systems of Chinese and Thai and the details of the differences between them can effectively facilitate cross-cultural communication. The pragmatic principles of the system are basically the same, and the appropriate honorifics are selected according to dynamic contexts. However, due to different political, historical and cultural backgrounds of the two sides, the social hierarchy of Thailand is clear, and there are obvious differences between Chinese and Thai honorific and self-depreciatory language systems, mainly reflected in the two aspects of macrocosm and microcosm. The macroscopic difference includes the constructive way and the classification standard, the microscopic difference locks the concrete category—Appellation honorific and self-depreciatory language, modal particles and auxiliary verbs, verbal honorific and self-depreciatory language. Different from Chinese, modal particles and auxiliary verbs are typical special categories in Thai honorific and self-depreciatory language system, in which the former, the status modal particle is mainly used to perform the function of respect and modesty, which is placed at the end of the sentence and is different between males and females.

Key words: The Belt and Road, honorific and self-depreciatory language, dynamic context, culture