2012-Politeness-Principle-10

1PolitenessTheoryWeek102BacktoGrice’sCPA:We’llallmissRobinHarrandBob,won’twe?B:Well,we’llallmissRobinHarr.3Leech(1983)definesPOLITENESSasformsofbehaviorwhichareaimedattheestablishmentandmaintenanceofcomity,i.e.,theabilityofparticipantsinasocial-communicativeinteractiontoengageininteractionatanatmosphereofrelativeharmony.4Leech’sPolitenessPrincipleMinimize(otherthingsbeingequal)theexpressionofimpolitebeliefsandMaximize(otherthingsbeingequal)theexpressionofpolitebeliefs.5The6maximsofLeech’sPPtactmodestygenerosityapprobationvsvsagreementsympathy6Leech’sPolitenessPrincipleTactMaxim(inimpositives/directivesandcommissives)a.Minimizecosttootherb.MaximizebenefittootherGenerosityMaxim(inimpositives/directivesandcommissives)a.Minimizebenefittoselfb.Maximizecosttoself7ExamplesTakeaseat./Haveabanana.Waitasecond.Couldyousharpenthesepencils,please.(lesspolite)Couldthesepencilsbesharpened,please.(morepolite)-----------------------------------------------Icanofferyoumycarifyouneedit.YoucanoffermeyourcarbecauseIneeditIcandropyouintownifyoulike.Youcandropmeintown.MaximsoftactandgenerosityGuYueguo(1990)’srevision:TheTactMaxim(inimpositives)(i)Atthemotivationallevel(a)Minimizecosttoother(includingcontent-andmanner-regulatingsenses)(ii)Attheconversationallevel(a)MaximizebenefitreceivedTheGenerosityMaxim(incommissives)(i)Atthemotivationallevel(a)Maximizebenefittoother(includingcontent-andmanner-regulatingsenses)(ii)Attheconversationallevel(a)Minimizecosttoself89Politenessscale:Cost–benefit(havetodowithcontent-regualting)Haveanothersandwich.Enjoyyourholiday.Lookatthat.Sitdown.Handmethenewspaper.Peelthesepotatoes.benefittohcosttoh10Politenessscale:Directness/optionality(havetodowithmanner-regualting)Couldyoupossiblyanswerthephone?Wouldyoumindansweringthephone?Canyouanswerthephone?Willyouanswerthephone?Iwantyoutoanswerthephone.Answerthephone.indirectdirect11ApprobationMaxim(inexpressivesandassertives)a.Minimizedispraiseofotherb.MaximizepraiseofotherMaximofmodesty(inexpressivesandassertives)a.Minimizepraiseofselfb.MaximizedispraiseofselfSource:Leech1983:81,132.Speech-regulatingA:Icandropyouintownifyoulike.B:It’sverykindofyou,butitwillcauseyousomeinconvenience,won’tit?A:No,notatall.I’mgoinginthatdirection.B:Thankyouverymuch.1213ExamplesWhatamarvelousmealyoucooked!Whatanawfulmealyoucooked!A:ThisisoneofthebestarticlesI’veeverread.B:Yes,it’sbrilliant,isn’tit?我这个大老粗，不会说话。Maximsofapprobationandmodesty14Leech’sPolitenessPrincipleAgreementMaxima.Minimizedisagreementbetweenselfandotherb.MaximizeagreementbetweenselfandotherYes/Right/Ithinkso./Me,too./Can’tagreemore.Source:Leech1983:81,132.15Partialagreement/tokenagreementA:That’swhereyoulive,Florida?B:That’swhereIwasborn.A:Youhateyourmomanddad..B:Sometimes.A:Haveyougotfriends?B:Ihavefriends.So-calledfriends.Ihadfriends.Letmeputthatway.16Leech’sPolitenessPrincipleSympathyMaxima.Minimizeantipathybetweenselfandotherb.MaximizesympathybetweenselfandotherSource:Leech1983:81,132.17Politeness:ExamplesI’mterriblysorrytohearaboutyourcat.I’mdelightedtohearaboutyourcat.Maximofsympathy18ReminderTactMaximGenerosityMaximApprobationMaximModestyMaximSubmaxim-aSubmaxim-bIllocutionarygoalsvs.socialgoals---politenessCompetitiveacts:requesting,ordering,refusing,etc.Convivialacts（合作的）:offering,inviting,thanking,etc.Collaborativeacts:reporting,instructing,etc.Conflictiveacts:threatening,cursing,etc.19ClashandtradeoffbetweenmaximsA:Whatanicejumperyou’rewearing.B:Oh,it’saveryoldone.A:Whatanicejumperyou’rewearing.B:Yes,it’sbeautiful,isn’tit?Modestyandagreement20A:My,whatasplendidgardenyouhavehere-thelawnissoniceandbig,it’scertainlywonderful,isn’tit?B:Ohno,notatall,wedon’ttakecareofitatallanymore,soitsimplydoesn’tlookasniceaswewouldlikeitto.A:Ohno,Idon’tthinksoatall-butsinceit’ssuchabiggarden,ofcourse,itmustbequiteatremendoustasktotakecareofitallbyyourself;butevenso,youcertainlydomanagetomakeitlookniceallthetime:itcertainlyisniceandprettyanytimeoneseesit.B:No.I’mafraidnot,notatall...21Whentwomaximscomeintoconflict,wehavetoallowonemaximtotakepriorityovertheother.Intheaboveexample,theJapanesewomanputModestyMaximatapriorpositionoverAgreementMaxim,whileEnglish-speakerswouldbeinclinedtofindsomecompromisebetweenviolatingtheModestyMaximandviolatingtheAgreementMaxim.22ThegreatervalueattachedtotheModestyMaximinJapanesecultureisindicatedfurtherbythegreaterdegreeofunderstatementemployedingivingpresents.AnEnglishpersonmaycallhisgift“small”,theJapanesemaygofurther,andsay:“Thisisagiftwhichwillbeofnousetoyou,……”(ModestyMoverruleQualityM)Ahostmayevengototheextremeofdenyingtheexistenceofthefoodheisoffering:“Thereisnothing(toeat),butplease……”(ModestyMaximoverruleQualityMaxim)23ClashbetweenmaximsQuantityandagreementA:Thiswasamarvellousconcert.B:Well,thefirstpiecewasquitenice.24PragmaticParadoxParadoxarisesfromtheconflictof2maxims,herefromtheconflictoftheModestyandApprobationMaxims,justasitmayarisefromtheconflictofTactandGenerosityMaximswhenanoffer/invitationisrepeatedlydeclined.Inthiscase,