A Study of Excellent Foreign Language Teacher’s Classroom Questioning from the Perspective of Politeness as Social Practice

QIU Jia

Abstract:How to perform effective classroom questioning has always been a hot topic in teaching. The existing literature tends to focus on information transmission during classroom questioning, while the construction of teacher-student interpersonal relation lacks due attention. Within the theoretical framework of politeness as social practice and based on authentic classroom discourse, this paper adopts a discursive-interactional approach to explore the politeness practices of an excellent college English teacher during classroom questioning and its influence on teacher-student interpersonal relation.The paper also refines and specifies the moral order for teacher-student interaction in the Chinese foreign language classroom institutional context from the perspective of identity construction. It suggests that teachers’ specific social actions and meanings during classroom questioning can occasion politeness evaluation, which is closely related to local sequential contexts with typical verbal and non-verbal representations. The present study may provide guidance for more in-depth and dynamic investigation of politeness and relation in teacher-student interaction in the future.

Key words: politeness; discursive-interactional approach; excellent teacher; classroom questioning; pragmatic identity

Half-said but Fully-meant: Politeness Function of Aposiopesis

JIANG Qing-sheng

Abstract:Aposiopesis is an interesting trope commonly used in interpersonal communication. Its functions of emotion or attitude indication, effect enhancement and economization have been well studied, while the politeness function has been ignored.This paper aims to address this rhetorical function by analyzing the aposiopesis examples from the classic Chinese novelThe Story of the Stonewithin the framework of Face Theory. It is found that the dominant motivation of aposiopesis used in the novel is politeness, which is other-positive-face-oriented, and its major users are females with lower power. Aposiopesis is an effective face-maintaining strategy by covertly conveying the speaker’s meaning when the user dynamically exploits variables as power, distance and imposition, etc. in their attempt to achieve politeness by means of the half-said but fully-meant face-saving strategy.

Key words:rhetoric; aposiopesis; politeness; face;The Story of the Stone

Identity Construction of Impoliteness in Military Context

HONG Mu-dan

Abstract:Linguistic impoliteness is often used in interpersonal interaction in institutional settings. This paper explores the impoliteness strategies in military context,and analyses the pragmatic identities constructed by institutional impoliteness. The use of impoliteness in military context constructs the default identity and variant identity for the speakers, and the latter has the pragmatic function of promoting interpersonal communication.

Key words:impoliteness; military context; identity construction

A Study of Confidence in the Chinese Language in Lin Yutang’s English Writings and Translations

FENG Zhi-qiang & CUI Jing-min

Abstract:The Chinese elements in Lin Yutang’s English writings and translations revealed in lexical, sentential and discourse levels manifest Lin’s confidence in the Chinese language, which is not only an appropriate and inevitable choice for Lin to make, but also determined by the Chineseness and indivisibility of language and culture.This paper aims to prove that the embodiment of the characteristics of the Chinese language in translating Chinese works to foreign languages serves the fundamental interests of transcultural communication and going global of Chinese culture. Lin’s painstaking efforts in foreignizing his works shows his confidence in the Chinese culture and language, which is a unique translingual practice worthy of scrutiny even in contemporary time.

Key words:confidence in Language; Chinese elements; expressions of Chinese characteristics；confidence in translation

The Responsibility of Publishers and Editors in Chinese Culture Transmission Based on the Publication of Lin Yutang’s English Works

LI Ping

Abstract:Lin Yutang is often seen as a successful example of spreading Chinese culture abroad, but he suffers failure in some cases. This paper, based on Lin Yutang’s English works, analyses the reasons of his success and failure by comparing Lin’s works published in the mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and abroad respectively. It indicates that both editors and publishers play a key role in deciding the popularity of the author/translator’s works. So editors and publishers are duty bound in transmitting Chinese culture to the world.

Key words:Chinese culture; Lin Yutang; editor; publisher

Different Cultural Cognition and Multi-interpretation Under National Consciousness: The Translation and Introduction of Lin Yutang’s Works in Japan between the 1930s and 1940s

XING Yi-dan & CHEN Yu-lan

Abstract:The translation and introduction of Lin Yutang’s works in Japan between the 1930s and 1940s has three stages of initial tranquility, prosperity and disappearance. His works are highly praised, strongly criticized, or warmly appreciated and accepted. The interpretation from the confucian principle of intuitive knowledge is most close to Lin’s original ideas and confirms the value of the traditional culture of Japan, while the exposition of the pragmatic theory is based on the cognition of others and themselves.The oriental consciousness theory attempts to lead the world, while the danger theory filters and interprets his works for the sake of the interests of their own nation. The desire to study his works after the war lead to the great attention on hisAdvice. The spreading of Lin Yutang’s works in Japan implies the national ideology of its manipulators.

Key words:Lin Yutang; Japan; translation and introduction; ideology

The Dimensions of Freedom: On the Deep Ecological Philosophy in Franzen’s Freedom

MA Hong-qi

Abstract:Through the analysis of the population explosion, the avaricious free-market capitalist economy and the consumerism sponsored by the highly-developed science and technology in Franzen’sFreedom, this paper finds that the theme of criticizing the unlimited freedom and the abuse of freedom from the deep ecological standpoint is forcefully and unmistakably exemplified. In the course of his criticizing, Franzen also offers the reader a chance to see clearly the basic philosophy of deep ecology, as well as its value of eco-centrism.Freedomleads the reader to reconsider the traditional philosophy of humanism, publicizes the value of eco-centrism, and emphasizes the significance of a clear-cut dimension of freedom.

Key words:Franzen; deep ecology; eco-centrism; freedom

A Survey of British Nature Writing: From Pastoral Tradition to New Nature Writing

CUI Li-fang

Abstract:British nature writing derives from pastoralism concerning rural tradition.Pastoral literature was prevalent during Renaissance. But the realistic perspective challenged this tradition in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enlightened by modern science,some writers write essays about nature and phenology based upon their observation of and reflection on rural experiences. This style has declined since WWI, and some writers and critics assail and ironize it as a nostalgic escapism. However, nature writing has never been absent in British modern and contemporary literature. Non-fiction books about the relationship between nature and man have revived and prospered in the recent years. Labeled as the new nature writing, these books innovate on the theme and style while inheriting the traditional nature writing.

Key words: British nature writing; pastoral tradition; nature and environment; ecological aestheticism

Techniques and Violence: Don DoLillo’s Anti-scientific Postmodern Social Eco-ethics

CHEN Hui-lian

Abstract:Don DeLillo’s postmodern social eco-ethics questions the role of science and technology, opposes the inappropriate development of science and technology, and protests the plunder and destruction of natural environment in the name of science and development. Science and technology is manipulated by the mechanism of social operation to causes directly or indirectly harm and violence on individual, society as well as nature, which is the real source of ecological crisis of the human community. Don DeLillo opposes the unrestrained exploits of natural resources and asserts that human beings should live within the limits of nature. High-tech constitutes the violent social cultural environment and hinders the healthy development of personal spiritual world.Manipulated and misused, science and technology have degenerated into means and tools for plundering power and profits and consequently prompted the outbreak of nuclear war and crisis. He calls for the rational use of technology, opposes war between countries, and advocates peaceful coexistence of all countries and cultures.

Key words:anti-science; postmodern social eco-ethics; violence; abuse of the science;ecological crisis