Abstract This paper is a critical analysis of cross-cultural politeness using the Brown and Levinson's model as a basis for defining and understanding politeness and applying it to three Asian languages: Chinese; Cantonese and Japanese.
From the Paper "What is politeness? If I propose that 'politeness' be used as pragmatically terminology, the preferable definition is to be found in appropriateness. It can be also said to be universal only in the sense that every society has some sort of norms for the appropriate behavior, although these norms are vary. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a cross-cultural context by applying a well-known Brown and Levinson's model (1978 and revised in 1987), which has been applied in various settings, from casual services, encounters to EFL classrooms. However, Brown and Levinson's model (1978) has been criticized for being too geared to Western (especially American) notions of "independence" and, hence, for its limited applicability in Asian contexts. I have attempted in the following by first giving a general and brief account for Brown and Levinson's model (1978), and then try to apply and analyze the Brown and Levinson's model (1978) in three Asian languages: Chinese; Cantonese and Japanese. "
Abstract This paper examines the Chinese immigrant population in the United States from a province and county of China, Fu Zhou (Fu Jian), a region where the people have traditionally been very different from mainstream Chinese culture. The paper explores the issues faced by these immigrants from Fu Zhou and the challenges that they face in the future. The paper also includes the personal perspective of the author, an Asian-American, in terms of his own views of the problems of immigration and the problems of negative community attribution that many immigrants from Fu Zhou undergo, since they are often looked down upon by mainstream Chinese (Cantonese) immigrants as being uncivilized and overly eager to do anything for money. Finally, the paper addresses the unequal treatment suffered by many immigrant communities in America, as well the conspicuous consumption favored by the Chinese back home in Fu Jian who 'live large' while their American family members work impossibly long hours to bring them the fruits of their labor.
From the Paper "In New York especially, the majority of Chinese immigrants who hold viable commercial and tourist space in Chinatown are Cantonese. This means that they are from the south of China, mostly from the Guangzhou province or from Hong Kong (Xiang Gang). They are an established immigrant community with labor relations boards and
viable opportunities for the community's grievances to be addressed. Many Americans think of China as being more unified than it really is in terms of groups within the mainland. There are many Chinese who speak different languages within China, and even though Mandarin is supposed to be the official (government) language, there are often language barriers between different people. Mandarin is different from Cantonese, but many Cantonese Chinese can also speak Mandarin, since the newspapers and television programs in China are often in this language."
This paper examines governmental and university studies to evaluate the characteristics of the recent Chinese migration to New Zealand as compared to the earlier Chinese migration.
Abstract This paper explains that changes in the immigration laws of New Zealand has resulted in changes in the characteristics of recent Chinese immigrants, who are now stereotypically considered to be very wealthy with ready cash, coming mainly from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore rather that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) itself as past Chinese migrants did. The author points out that the research indicated that this was not true; they do not exhibit the wealth ascribed to these new Chinese immigrants by the media; indeed they are rather young, highly qualified and usually experienced professionals coming predominantly from large urban centers. The paper relates that the new skilled arrivals studied are very different from earlier Chinese migrants not only in their educational and employment backgrounds but also in their points of origin in China; the new migrants are from predominantly urbanized and Mandarin or Wu - Shanghai/Yangtze Delta - dialect speaking areas, which do not fit the traditionally rural, predominantly Yue/Cantonese speaking linguistic profile of earlier Chinese immigrants to New Zealand.
Table of Contents
Thesis Statement
Experiences in Moving from One Culture to Another
The Culture Left and the Culture Entered
Specific Issues and Impact upon Lives
Impacts upon Work/Profession Life and Factors Influences
Resettlement Factors
From the Paper "The minimum English proficiency levels required of the General Category arrivals were generally somewhat lower than those that would be required of later post-October 1995 General Skills Applicants. However, in the course of completing their degrees most Principal Applicants would have had to study English as a support subject for two years and most likely read some material in English. While their English language skills did not match their technical skills, English levels reached during two years of compulsory university English language study within a science-oriented undergraduate degree would generally be considered adequate to meet the minimum level of English required."
