1。4 Research Methodology 3

2。 Literature Review 4

2。1 Definitions of Compliment 4

2。2 Speech Act Theory 5

2。1。1 Austin’s Speech Act Theory 5

2。1。2 Searle’s Speech Act Theory 5

2。3 Studies on Compliment Abroad 6

2。4 Studies on Compliment at Home 7

3。 Contrastive Study between American Compliments (AC) and Chinese Compliments (CC) Used at Home 10

3。1 Comparison of Topic Distribution between AC and CC 10

3。1。1 The Topic Distribution of AC 10

3。1。1。1 Topics on Appearance 10

3。1。1。2 Topics on Ability and Achievement 11

3。1。1。2 Topics on Personality 12

3。1。2 The Topic Distribution of CC 12

3。1。2。1 Topics on Appearance 12

3。1。2。2 Topics on Ability and Achievement 13

3。1。2。3 Topics on Personality 13

3。1。2。3 Topics on Possession 14

3。1。3 Comparison of Topics between AC and CC 14

3。2 Comparison of Response Strategies between AC and CC 15

3。2。1 Response Strategies of AC 16

3。2。1。1 Agreement 16

3。2。1。2 Disagreement 16

3。2。1。2 Disagreement-agreement 17

3。2。2 Response Strategies of CC 17

3。2。2。1 Agreement 17

3。2。2。2 Disagreement 18

3。2。3 Comparison of Response Strategies between AC and CC 18

3。3 Comparison of Social Functions between AC and CC 19

3。3。1 Social Functions of AC 20

3。3。2 Social Functions of CC 21

3。3。3 Comparison of Social Functions between AC and CC 23

4。 Conclusion 24

4。1 The Effects of Compliment on Children 24

4。2 The Implementation of Compliment between Parents and Children 25

References 28

Appendix1 American Compliments Collected From Growing Pains 29

Appendix2 Chinese Compliments Collected From Home with Kids 38

1。 Introduction

Compliment is a type of common-used speech act in both American and Chinese daily communication。 According to Oxford Dictionary, compliment is “a polite expression of praise or admiration” (Oxford Dictionary)。 Although it is a very small part of language, it is named as the “lubricant” in human communication, which not only contributes to daily conversation with neighbors, friends, colleagues as well as superiors, but also is of great significance in family education。