As the embodiment of human civilization, it is not only a kind of social phenomenon, is a language phenomenon. With the rapid development of intercultural communication research, different cultural connotation and concept of politeness in cross-cultural communication how to be polite, people pay more and more attention. Because the people of what is polite and how to be polite with a different point of view, which can often lead to communication failures and the failure, therefore, on the politeness phenomenon, especially cross-cultural communication in English and Chinese two languages embody politeness is very necessary. This article on the English and Chinese politeness phenomenon from basic theory to its manifestations to conduct a comparative study. This article attempts to review the Western verbal politeness language and cultural differences and language strategy differences in cross cultural research, to speak English and Chinese speaking people comply with each other's" Politeness Principle", to communicate with each other to provide a bit of inspiration.
1. language and cultural norms of politeness nineteen sixties, American linguist Grice puts forward the cooperative principle in verbal communication, namely: Quantity maxim, Quantity maxim, Nanner maxim, Relation Maxim and Manner maxim. He found that in the process of communication, people sometimes do not comply with the principles of communication, or even intentional violation of these principles. In view of this phenomenon, the linguist Leech imitate Grice's cooperative principle, politeness principle again on the induction and classification, which can be divided into the following guidelines:
(1) Tact Maxim: to minimize the loss of another, as far as possible to increase the interests of others;
(2) Generosity Maxim: to minimize their own interests, minimize their losses;
(3) Approbatity Maxim: minimize the others;
(4) Modesty Maxim: to