Kin terms跨文化交际

UnitThreeWhat’sinaName?KinTermsKinshipTermsKinshiptermsare“categorywordsbymeansofwhichanindividualistaughttorecognizethesignificantgroupingsinthesocialstructureintowhichheisborn”.Allkinshiptermsystemshavesuchfactorsassex,age,generation,bloodandmarriageintheirsociety.ChineseKinshipTerms----HighlydescriptiveChineserelativesappellationsaremany,specificandstrict,andrelativesofdifferentbranches,ages,generations,gendersandrelationshavedifferentappellations.WesternKinshipTerms----HighlyrecapitulativeWesternfamiliesareusuallysmallfamilies,childrenwillestablishtheirownfamiliesaftergrowingup,andthesituationofseveralgenerationslivinginabigfamilyisrarelyseen.Therefore,theydonothavespecialappellationsforrelativesolderthanthegrandfatheroryoungerthanthegrandson,donothavespecificappellationsforcollateralrelatives,anddonotcaremuchaboutappellationsofmarriagerelatives.AcomparisonbetweenEnglishandChinesekinshiptermsNumbersofkinshiptermsEnglish:13basickinshipterms;addingqualifyingwords,prefixes,suffixesandphrases,“grand-,great;-in-law;first,second”Chinese:muchricherandcomplicated.morethan100kintermsCallingrelativesbynamesAccordingtoChinesecustoms,theeldercancalltheyoungerbynames,buttheyoungermustnotcalltheelderbynamesandmustcallthembyappellations,suchasgrandpa,grandma,dadandmom.CallingrelativesbynamesHowever,intheWest,theyoungercanalsocalltheelderbyappellationsordirectlybynames.Ofthesamegeneration,peoplealsoarenotusedtocallingeachotherbyappellationsbutoftencalleachotherbynamesornicknames,suchasJohn-Johnny,andRobert-Rob.Intheiropinion,callingrelativesbynamescouldshowtheyhavecloseandgoodrelations.SimulatingrelativeappellationsSimulatingrelativeappellationsmeansusingrelativeappellationsonnon-relativestoshowfriendliness.Asyouknow,inChinakintermsarenotonlyusedwithinone'sownfamilybutalsotootherpeople.achildmaycallapoliceman警察叔叔（unclepolice）achildmaycallamiddle-agedladyas阿姨(aunty)SimulatingrelativeappellationsInChinatheuseofkintermsiscloselyrelatedtoageandpoliteness.Theappropriateandextendeduseofkintermsaccordingtoageistakenasreflectinggoodmanners.WhereasEnglishspeakersdonotusekintermssoextensively.Alsotheytendtoviewageasarelativelyprivatething,especiallyamongfemales.Simulatingrelativeappellationsunclemailmandon'tcallmelikethat,justcallmeMisterSimulatingrelativeappellationsButinthecountrysideofsomeWesterncountries,peoplealsousesimulativerelativeappellations,suchasUncleTomorAuntKate,ontheiracquaintances(suchastheparents'friends)sometimes.CulturalDifferencesbehindKinTermsDifferentconceptsoffriendshipChinese:“allunderheavenareofonefamily”“athomeonereliesonone’sparentsandoutsideonfriends”AllChineselookthewholesocietyastheirfamilyandaddresspersonsinkinshiptermsUS:functionalfriendship,self-developmentthroughindividualeffortsHowdoweusethekintermscorrectlyindifferentculture?FollowinglocalcustomsChinaandtheWestaredifferentincallingrelativesanditisareflectionoftheculturaldifferencebetweenthetworegions.Duringthecommunication,weshouldadheretotheoldsaying,DoinRomeasRomedoes.Itishardtotellwhichcultureisbetterandthetwoshouldnotrepeleachother.Weletthembe,andtheywillgowellnaturally.Thanks!参考资料来源：