Abstract: Complaint behavior is a major research topic in pragmatics. Complaint is a common linguistic phenomenon and cultural phenomenon in different cultures as well. Language and culture are inseparably intertwined. Different cultural backgrounds exert subtle influence on communication. This paper studied the definition, classification, complaints strategies and the relationship between politeness and culture. From a cross-cultural perspective, this paper makes a contrastive analysis of Chinese and American complaint, so at to explore the cultural values hidden behind the complaint differences. Cultural value plays significant roles in realization of complaint speech act. The proper use of complaints and the appropriate response is an important aspect of communicative competence.

.Key words: complaint; contrastive analysis; politeness and culture; cultural pattern  

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Brief theories of Complaints..2

2.1 The speech Act of Complaining

   2.1.1 The Definition of Complaints 

   2.1.2 Classification of Complaints

2.2 Politeness Theories in Chinese and American Culture

   2.2.1 Leech’s Politeness Principle

   2.2.2 Gu’s Theory in Chinese culture

2.3 Language and Culture

3. Complaint strategies in American and Chinese cases..11

3.1 Below the level of reproach

3.2. Expression of Annoyance or Disapproval

3.3 Explicit Complaint

3.4 Accusation and Warning

3.5 Immediate Threat

4. Analysis of complaints in Chinese and American English from cultural perspective13

 4.1 Chinese and American cultural pattern

   4.1.1 Collectivism Vs Individualism  

   4.1.2 High-context Vs Low-context

 4.2 Similarities and differences of complaints in American English and Chinese

   4.2.1 Similarities

   4.2. 2 Differences

5. Conclusion...15

Bibliography16

Acknowledgements.17