Politeness-Principle

APragmaticStudyonPolitenessPrinciple2015级外国语言学及应用语言学1.ABriefReviewofGrice’sCooperativePrinciple(CP)2.IntroductiontoPolitenessPrinciple(PP)anditsApplicationinLegalEnglishTexts3.RelationshipbetweenPP&CP4.FaceTheoryGricenoticedthatindailyconversationpeopledonotusuallysaythingsdirectlybuttendtoimplythem.Abasicunderlyingassumptionwemakewhenwespeaktooneanotheristhatwearetryingtocooperatewithoneanothertoconstructmeaningfulconversation.----Grice’s“LogicandConversation”(1975)TheCooperativePrincipleMakeyourconversationalcontributionsuchasisrequired,atthestageatwhichitoccurs,bytheacceptedpurposeordirectionofthetalkexchangeinwhichyouareengaged.使你所说的话，在其所发生的阶段，符合你所参与的交谈的公认目标或方向。Inotherwords,wespeakerstrytodelivermeaningful,productiveutterancestofurthertheconversation.Itthenfollowsthat:aslisteners,weassumethatourconversationalpartnersaredoingthesame.Therefore,listenersandspeakersmustspeakcooperativelyandmutuallyacceptoneanothertobeunderstoodinaparticularway.FourMaximsofCP1.TheMaximofQuality(质量准则):Donotsaywhatyoubelievetobefalseorforwhichyoulackadequateevidence.2.TheMaximofQuantity(数量准则):Makeyourcontributionasinformativeasisrequired,butnotmore,orless,thanisrequired.3.TheMaximofRelation(关联准则):Berelevant.4.TheMaximofManner(方式准则):Beclear,briefandorderly.AvoidobscurityandambiguityIntroductiontoLeech’sPolitenessPrinciple1.Whatispolitenessorpolite?(1)InChinese,itsequivalentis“礼貌”.(2)InOxfordAdvancedLearner’sEnglish-ChineseDictionary,POLITEisdefinedas“1.Havingorshowingthatonehasgoodmannersandconsiderationforotherpeople;2.(typical)ofasuperiorclassinsociety;refined.Inotherwords,politenesscanbeunderstoodasasocialphenomenon,ameanstoachievegoodinterpersonalrelationships,andanormimposedbysocialconventions.Soitisphenomenal,instrumentalandnormativebynature.2.MainContentofPPMinimize(otherthingsbeingequal)theexpressionofimpolitebeliefsandmaximize(otherthingsbeingequal)theexpressionofpolitebeliefs.Inotherwords,otherthingsbeingequal,minimizetheexpressionofbeliefswhichareunfavorabletothehearerandatthesametime(butlessimportant)maximizetheexpressionofbeliefswhicharefavorabletothehearer.在其他情况都相同的情境下，尽量把不礼貌的信念减到最弱，把不利于听话人或第三者的话语略去不说，或者以一种委婉、间接地方式表达出来。TheSixMaximsofPP1.MaximofTact(得体准则)(a)Minimizecosttoother;尽量让他人少受损(b)Maximizebenefittoother;尽量让他人多受益2.MaximofGenerosity(慷慨准则)(a)Minimizethebenefittoself;尽量让自己少获利(b)Maximizethecosttoself;尽量让自己多吃亏Actually,thetwomaximstalkaboutthesamepointinspecificconversationalsituation.However,theformerpaysmoreattentiontothehearerintheconversationwhilethelattermainlytalksaboutthespeakeroneself.Someexamples:(1)Havesomemorecookies.(Tact)(2)Haveagoodrestathome,ifyoudonotfeelwell.(Tact)(3)IsthereanythingIcandoforyou?(Generosity)(4)CanIhelpyou?(Generosity)“得体”和“慷慨”准则常用于指令或承诺功能。而涉外法律英语函电常常涉及律师、律师事务所与客户或当事人的权利和义务，在一方要求另一方承诺做某事或其中一方承诺做某事时，一般就要使用这两条准则。例如：Itisourintentiontoenterintoawrittenagreementwhereinout-sidecounselwillreceiveaportionoftheattorney’sfeesduetothisfirmintheeventthatweprevailonthecase.（我们愿意与所外律师达成书面协议，如果我们胜诉，他们将从我们应得的律师费中提取一部分收入。）3.MaximofApprobation(赞扬准则)(a)Minimizedispraiseofothers;尽量少贬损他人(b)Maximizepraiseofothers.尽量多赞美他人Itiseasyforustounderstandthatsayingsomethinggoodaboutothersismuchmorepolitethansayingsomethingbad.Ifyouareinasituationthatyouhavetosaysomethingbadaboutothers,sayingitindirectlyseemstobemorepolite.Inotherwords,youshouldimplyyourdispraiseratherthanspeakitoutbadly.Forexample:A:DoyoulikethebreadIbroughtforyou?B:(1)Notreally!(2)Yes,Ido.Iloveitverymuch.Obviously,the(2)ismuchmorepolitethanthe(1).4.MaximofModesty(谦逊准则)(a)Minimizepraiseofself;尽量少赞赏自己(b)Maximizedispraiseofself.尽量多贬损自己Exampletoillustratethismaxim:A:Youareagiftedsinger!B:(1)OfcourseIam!(2)Thankyouforyourpraise,butIthinkIstillhavetomakegreatefforts.Obviously,(2)ismuchmorepolitethan(1)赞扬准则和谦逊准则要求人们在对话中尽力夸大对他人的赞扬，缩小对他人的贬损；同时要夸大对自己的贬损，缩小对自己的赞扬。在涉外法律英语函电中，当一方感谢另一方做了某事或谦虚地为对方做了某事情，就能很好地体现这两条准则。例如：Thankyouforyourassistanceinbringingthismattertoanamicableresolution.(对于你方为妥善解决此事所提供的帮助表示感谢。)“赞扬”和“谦逊”准则还体现在称呼语、结束语以及信尾的一些常用客套话中，如：DearSirorMadam,Sincerelyyours,Yourstruly等。又如：Toremedyouromission,andasatestamenttoourappreciationofyourbusiness,wearegoingtomarkyourfirstthreemonthsoflegalservicefreeofcharge.(为了弥补我们的疏漏，并表示我们对您惠顾的感激，我们将免费为您提供前三个月的法律服务。)在上面这个例子中，写信人一方面对客户的惠顾表示感谢，另一方面又以向对方提供免费服务来弥补工作中的失误。一方面感谢了对方，一方面又要为对方做些事情，很好地体现了“赞扬”和“谦逊”准则。5.MaximofAgreement(赞同准则)(a)Minimizedisagreementbetweenselfandothers;尽量减少双方的分歧(b)Maximizeagreementbetweenselfandothers;尽量增加双方的共识Forexample:Tom:Thisisagreatrestaurant,isn’tit?Mary:(a)Notreally!Idonotlikethefoodhere.(b)I’llsay.Obviously,(a)islesspolitethan(b)在涉外法律业务中，双方在利益和意见上难免会有不同或冲突，这就要求双方在一致原则下，尽量寻求利益的共同点，才能有利于纠纷或诉讼的解决。只有双方具备高度的合作精神，才能谋求共同利益的实现。例如：Uponreceiptofthesignedagreementandtheretainerfee,wewillbeginyourrepresentationandwillcontactABCinregardtoyourproductsliabilityclaimsagainstthem.(一旦收到你方签署的协议和聘请费，我们将开始代理你方，并且会就你方对ABC公司提起的产品诉讼一案跟他们联系。)6.MaximofSympathy(同情准则)(a)Minimizeantipathybetweenselfandothers;尽量减少双方的反感(b)Maximizesympathybetweenselfandothers；尽量增加双