Re-complimenting Japanese and Chinese speakers’ Conversations at Initial Meetings and between Friends

Abstract

This study analyzed the occurrence and methods of re-complimenting in Japanese and Chinese speakers’ conversations at initial meetings and between friends. It was found that in conversations between friends, both Japanese and Chinese speakers use flexible strategies to re-compliment as recipient reactions; however, Chinese speakers used re-complimenting more often than Japanese speakers to persuade interlocutors to accept their compliments. Furthermore, concerning re-complimenting at initial meetings, Japanese speakers demonstrated mutual consideration, whereas Chinese speakers sought to proactively build relationships through re-complimenting.