Abstract:

This study aims to investigate the influence of the similarities and differences between Chinese and English Social Addressing. The main comparison lies in formation, meaning and functions of social addressing. Language is a part of culture and appellation is a part of language. To some extent, social addressing terms play an important role in language. The similarities of the two addressing systems will do a favor in cross-cultural communication. However the differences may be embarrassing in some circumstances. Nowadays it is of great importance to know how to use the address terms appropriately in different situations. Some suggestions are given at the ending of this study.

Key words: social address term; difference; communication

摘要：

本文主要研究了中英社交称谓语的异同。从构成，意义及功能方面分析了其差异。如今，社会飞速发展，各国之间的交流越来越频繁，熟练掌握异国的称谓方式与习惯对促进双方友好关系至关重要。在不同的文化中，同样的称谓方式可能有不同的用法原则和含义。为了避免造成尴尬与不必要的误会，正确理解和掌握中英社交称谓语才能利于交流，在跨文化交际中达到预期效果。

关键词：社交称谓语; 交际; 文化差异

1. Introduction
Language and culture depend on each other. As a unique part in language, address terms rely on language and penetrates national culture. During the endless history, different races have formed their unique customs and habits, faith, mode of thinking, and social mentality. Chinese and western cultures are in great different ways, so Chinese address terms and English address terms have 天黑日 unique features separately. Address term is the item people use to greet people to begin a conversation appropriately. It is a language phenomenon, social phenomena, and a cultural phenomenon. The most widely accepted way of classifying address terms is by Dunkling (1990)  in this field : relatives and social address . As conventional social communication symbol, social address is the result of history and culture.