Introduction
Language never exists separately from the society this is why it can be considered only in terms of culture it belongs to. Each language can be characterized not only by words typical for it, but by certain set of gestures used as means of emphasis in verbal communication. When discussing, for instance, Mandarin Chinese, it can be stated that Chinese people definitely use more words than gestures, and, studying this language, one should pay more attention namely to verbal aspects of communication. It is necessary to consider several situations one may face when communicating to a Chinese in order to show connection between Chinese personality and language of these people.
Discussion
What should be mentioned above all is that Mandarin Chinese names reflect their personalities like nothing else. The names are chosen very thoroughly and often describe features characteristic for a person. Chinese people also give names to the foreigners who, as a rule, should necessarily have a Chinese name. English, French, Italian, or any other name cannot be transliterated into Mandarin Chinese for it will be senseless and won’t reflect the person’s inner world or condition of his/her soul.
Secondly, Mandarin Chinese contains a number of phrases and word expressions necessary for everyday communication which, depending on the frequency of utilizing them, can help define the personality of the speaker. These include, first of all, “Ni Hao” which is, as a rule, used for greeting and when shaking hands. A person who uses this phrase often is considered polite and communicative. It can correspond to English “hello”, or informal “hi”, though literally it can be translated as “You Good”. The word “Xie Xie” corresponds to English “thank you” and is an expression of gratitude. However, it cannot be used as a respond to a compliment (one should use “Na Li Na Li” for this; using it frequently is the sign of modesty and sometimes even shyness and delicacy). As a response to “Xie Xie” (“thank you”) Chinese people use “Bu Ke Qi” which stands for English “You’re welcome”. No matter how strange it may sound, but each of such phrases should be repeated twice for it is the way Chinese people speak. They do it with a purpose of emphasizing words; at this the second (repeated) part is pronounced more quietly and smoothly. The repetition of these words can also be regarded as the sign of extreme politeness or gratitude which are inherent to Chinese people.
And, lastly, Chinese personalities can be characterized by their asking personal questions even if they see their interlocutor for the first time. They may ask people how old they are or how much their salary is, mostly not because they are interested but because their communication is reflective and is all about comparing themselves with other people. Though these questions may seem offensive, it is not Chinese people’s intention; it is all about the desire to know the interlocutor better for behaving properly. When other people ask the Chinese the same questions, they answer them sincerely.
Conclusion
Taking into consideration everything mentioned above, it can be stated that Mandarin Chinese is to some extent different from other languages. Communicating with a Chinese person who speaks Mandarin, one should be sure to have a Chinese name, to repeat all greeting phrases as well as those of gratitude twice and to be ready to reply personal questions in the most sincere way. This is what reflects Chinese personality and singles them out from other people.