Speech acts, as Dr Deng has discussed with us, is essentially the use of language to perform a particular act. Some examples of everyday speech acts include compliments, criticism, apologies, invitatons or promises. Culture and tradition greatly determine how a speech act is performed. As a result, a particular speech act varies across different language communities. Under a highly cosmopolitan setting in Singapore, it is important to understand, accept and perhaps, appreciate speech acts of different language groups.
We further analysed the cross cultural variation of compliment responses among American English speakers and Chinese speakers. When an average American speaker receives a compliment, he accepts, returns, deflects or rejects it. Statistics show that a big majority of American English speakers gladly accepts the compliment and usually returns a compliment. (i.e. Thank you, you look great too.) On the other hand, while the average Chinese speaker occasionally accepts the compliment, a big majority of them would reject it or thank and denigrate (i.e. Thank you, but I don't think I look that great) The statistics Dr Deng share with us clearly reflect on the differences in social values of the 2 language groups. While the American English speaker was brought up to regard himself positively, the Chinese speaker was inculcated with virtues of humility and modesty. Personally, it is amazing to see how 2 language groups can react so differently to an everyday speech act.
For the Singaporean society, our cultures are a hybrid mix of both Chinese and Western cultures and therefore our compliment responses are a combination of returning as well as thanking and denigrating. If there is one that comes close to highlighting the Singaporean culture, it would perhaps be joking it off. (i.e. Thanks man, I got this jacket from sale one la) That is of course, if the Singaporean ever makes an effort to compliment.
We further analysed the cross cultural variation of compliment responses among American English speakers and Chinese speakers. When an average American speaker receives a compliment, he accepts, returns, deflects or rejects it. Statistics show that a big majority of American English speakers gladly accepts the compliment and usually returns a compliment. (i.e. Thank you, you look great too.) On the other hand, while the average Chinese speaker occasionally accepts the compliment, a big majority of them would reject it or thank and denigrate (i.e. Thank you, but I don't think I look that great) The statistics Dr Deng share with us clearly reflect on the differences in social values of the 2 language groups. While the American English speaker was brought up to regard himself positively, the Chinese speaker was inculcated with virtues of humility and modesty. Personally, it is amazing to see how 2 language groups can react so differently to an everyday speech act.
For the Singaporean society, our cultures are a hybrid mix of both Chinese and Western cultures and therefore our compliment responses are a combination of returning as well as thanking and denigrating. If there is one that comes close to highlighting the Singaporean culture, it would perhaps be joking it off. (i.e. Thanks man, I got this jacket from sale one la) That is of course, if the Singaporean ever makes an effort to compliment.
