An Analysis Of Plot-Summaries For Romantic Movies: An Intercultural Contrastive Study

The present thesis starts out by the hypothesis that different cultures need culturally-specific generic patterns and corresponding linguistic forms to realize the same kind of communicative purpose. Inspired by the hypothesis, this thesis investigates three kinds of plot-summaries closely which are taken from Chinese culture, British culture and American culture respectively. The aim is to answer the questions: 1) Are there so called"culturally-specific"patterns structurally and linguistically in the three kinds of texts? 2)If so, what are these features like and what cultural elements cause these features? Based on the analyzing model and tentative theoretical framework which are built on the genre analysis theory of the ESP school, this thesis carries out an intercultural genre analysis by contrasting 30 Chinese, 30 British and 30 American plot-summaries for romantic movies to find out the answers to the questions. In fact, the results show that the three kinds of texts share a lot structurally and linguistically: 1) The three kinds of texts enjoy the same genre mode.2) The means of ending the narration of the love story played in the three texts are uniformed. 3) The fact that descriptive and favorable adjectives are used limitedly. 4) All the three kinds of samples contain abundant complex sentences. On the other hand, the research also finds that the texts are culturally sensitive, that means, there somewhat exists so-called"culturally-specific patterns"in the corresponding culture as well:1) communicative strategies in each kind of text 2) the preference for move arrangement and 3) the peculiar moves and strategies used to realize some moves are"culturally-specific", which shows the preference that is granted to which move must be used and how the move is realized in a certain culture should be considered.This study will lead us to a better understanding and application of this kind of genre, especially in different cultural settings and it is of significance to help the movie build up an effective communicative channel with the audience, thereby, helping the movie win initiative in the movie market.