关键词: 和谐关系管理; 跨文化交际; 面子敏感性; 权利和义务; 语言选择; 电子邮件

Abstract:

Communication involves both information exchange and relationship building. Based on studies on politeness and face, Spencer-Oatey puts forward the rapport management theory, which has been widely used in research on intercultural communication, pragmatics and intercultural business communication. This paper applies genre analysis to the email discourses collected and explores, within the theoretical framework of rapport management, the impact of contextual, social and individual factors on rapport management as well as the use of rapport management strategy in intercultural communication. The research shows that effective rapport management depends on mutual sensitivity and on each interlocutor finding an appropriate balance between meeting their own needs and the needs of others. In intercultural interaction, participants not only have to develop a keen awareness of contextual factors, including interaction goals and the nature of the communicative activity, but also individual factors, including participant relations, the rights and obligations of people’s roles, and face sensitivity. More importantly, individual factors should be given due consideration, including emotion regulation and stylistic flexibility. The former relates to the competence to handle criticism or embarrassment and to get along with people who hold different views and values; the latter relates to the competence to make use of a wide range of linguistic options each language provides for managing rapport. It’s hoped that the research may enable us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence people’s dynamic judgment or rapport, which is essential to understanding the problems that occur in intercultural interaction and to approaching these problems with efficient rapport management skills.

Keywords: rapport management; intercultural communication; face sensitivity; rights and obligations; linguistic options; email