超越字面意义:外国泰语学习者的跨文化误解与文化理解的建构
摘要
对于外国学习者而言,学习泰语远不止掌握声调、文字系统和词汇。许多持续存在的学习困难,实际上源于语言表达的字面意义与其在社会交往中所发挥的功能之间的差异。
本文旨在探讨跨文化差异如何影响外国泰语学习者对泰语使用方式的理解与误解,并进一步分析这些误解如何转化为深化文化理解的重要资源。
本研究采用定性研究方法与解释性分析路径,通过分析已发表的泰语语用学与文化价值观研究、泰语参考语法文献,以及已有记录的学习者语言困难,对相关问题进行系统探讨。研究以霍尔(Hall)的高语境与低语境交际理论、Komin 的泰国文化价值取向理论、Brown 和 Levinson 的礼貌理论,以及 Thomas 的语用失误分类理论作为主要分析框架。
研究识别出四个涉及非字面意义的重要领域:(1)社会等级关系的语言表达:人称代词、亲属称谓及语气助词如何体现泰国社会中的身份差异与人际关系;(2)“เกรงใจ”(Kreng Jai,顾及他人感受)与间接表达:泰国文化中对体谅他人、避免造成困扰以及委婉交际方式的重视;(3)“ไม่เป็นไร”(Mai Pen Rai,没关系)与情绪克制:这一常见表达所体现的情绪平和、宽容态度及社会交往中的情绪管理;(4)寒暄性交流与面子维护:日常寒暄及维系人际关系的语言惯例如何与面子观念相联系。
研究发现,外国学习者对泰语的误解通常不能简单归结为狭义的语言错误。更深层的原因在于,学习者往往将母语及其文化背景中关于真诚、直接表达和平等关系的既有观念,迁移到泰语交际情境之中。然而,泰语中许多语言形式的实际意义并非由字面内容单独决定,而是受到交际双方的社会身份、人际关系及具体语境的共同影响。
本文认为,面向外国学习者的泰语教学应将语用意义作为明确的教学内容,并将跨文化交际中出现的误解案例转化为反思性学习材料。同时,文化知识的教学不应仅停留在礼仪规范或行为规则的传授层面,而应着重培养学习者理解、解释和判断不同社会文化语境中语言意义的能力。
通过这一教学转向,跨文化误解不仅可以被视为需要纠正的学习障碍,也能够成为促进文化反思、深化跨文化理解与提升交际能力的重要契机。
关键词
参考
Agar, M. (1994). Language shock: Understanding the culture of conversation. William Morrow.
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press.
Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence. Multilingual Matters.
Cooke, J. R. (1968). Pronominal reference in Thai, Burmese, and Vietnamese. University of California Press.
Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266.
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Press/Doubleday.
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Holmes, H., & Tangtongtavy, S. (1995). Working with the Thais: A guide to managing in Thailand. White Lotus.
Intachakra, S. (2004). Contrastive pragmatics and language teaching: Apologies and thanks in English and Thai. RELC Journal, 35(1), 37–62.
Intachakra, S. (2012). Politeness motivated by the 'heart' and 'binary rationality' in Thai culture. Journal of Pragmatics, 44(5), 619–635.
Iwasaki, S., & Ingkaphirom Horie, P. (2005). A reference grammar of Thai. Cambridge University Press.
Kasper, G., & Rose, K. R. (2002). Pragmatic development in a second language. Blackwell.
Komin, S. (1990). Psychology of the Thai people: Values and behavioral patterns. National Institute of Development Administration.
Kramsch, C. (1993). Context and culture in language teaching. Oxford University Press.
Liddicoat, A. J., & Scarino, A. (2013). Intercultural language teaching and learning. Wiley-Blackwell.
Mulder, N. (2000). Inside Thai society: Religion, everyday life, change. Silkworm Books.
Schmidt, R. W. (1990). The role of consciousness in second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 129–158.
Spencer-Oatey, H. (Ed.). (2008). Culturally speaking: Culture, communication and politeness theory (2nd ed.). Continuum.
Thomas, J. (1983). Cross-cultural pragmatic failure. Applied Linguistics, 4(2), 91–112.
Ukosakul, M. (2005). The significance of 'face' and politeness in social interaction as revealed through Thai 'face' idioms. In R. T. Lakoff & S. Ide (Eds.), Broadening the horizon of linguistic politeness (pp. 117–125). John Benjamins.
Wierzbicka, A. (2003). Cross-cultural pragmatics: The semantics of human interaction (2nd ed.). Mouton de Gruyter.