Two linguistically diverse worlds – English and Chinese – with two distinctly different views on social hierarchy.
How does small talk differ across these cultures?
This study, published in Acta Linguistica Academica, An International Journal of Linguistics, dissected the layers of communication within these distinct linguistic and cultural contexts.
All through small talk.
Why Small Talk?
Often dismissed as trivial banter, small talk can reveal insights into the socio-cultural fabric of a society.
Yet, analyzing small talk in English or Chinese in isolation risks oversimplifying it.
Instead, this group of researchers adopted a contrastive pragmatic approach to discern the subtle differences and shared conventions that shape small talk in these languages.
Why English & Chinese?
English, as a global lingua franca, boasts a multitude of variations and customs, making it challenging to discuss small talk without overlooking its complexities.
A contrastive analysis, therefore, offered a nuanced understanding of small talk’s conventionalized traits in English.
While East Asian languages, like Chinese, may be subject to relative non-linguistic terms like ‘low-/high-involvement cultures’ or ‘collectivity/individuality’, the researchers try to avoid that and, instead, use a bottom-up, language-centered approach.
By juxtaposing data from these linguistically distant cultures, the cultural ecosystems and the dynamic between language, culture, and communication were brought into greater contrast.
What are the Findings?
In English discourse, researchers found a tendency for speakers to default to speech acts like Greet, How-are-you, and Welcome as a precursor to small talk, particularly in ordinary situations.
However, as scenarios become increasingly extraordinary, English speakers deviate from routine, often initiating small talk with Requests for information, indicative of a shift in conversational norms.
Contrastingly, Remark was the predominant speech act of Chinese Small Talk, even in extraordinary contexts, underscoring its perceived linguistic necessity.
A Remark, as defined by the study, is:
“A typically Phatic speech act through which the speaker shows himself favorably disposed towards his addressee.”
Remark’s prevalence highlights the verbosity of Chinese Small Talk compared to the concise nature observed in English discourse.
Requests for Information
Further analysis uncovers intriguing differences in the use of Requests for information.
While prevalent in English discourse, they are predominantly confined to non-personal settings, indicative of a reluctance to delve into personal matters.
In contrast, Chinese speakers utilize Requests for information, often formulated as quasi-Remarks, regardless of setting, reflecting a distinct cultural approach to information exchange.
Moreover, the study’s investigation challenges simplistic intercultural arguments, revealing the influence of social distance and power dynamics on small talk in both English and Chinese contexts.
Notably, the presence of Remarks in English discourse is contingent upon power dynamics, highlighting the contextual sensitivity inherent in linguistic interactions.
As the study delves into increasingly extraordinary scenarios, a clear divergence emerges between English and Chinese small talk practices.
While Chinese speakers maintain routine regardless of context, English speakers demonstrate adaptability, deviating from conventions in extraordinary situations.
These differences in small talk reveal the dynamics of each culture as related to delving into personal disclosures, as well as the degree to which social and power distance impact small talk.
Success Across Cultures 