Politeness-Principle

Introduction◆DefinitionofPolitenessprinciple.◆PolitenessStudyatHomeandAbroadLeech’sapproachtopolitenessImplicationReference1.1DefinitionofPolitenessprincipleThePolitenessPrinciple(PP)isaconstraintobservedinhumancommunicativebehavior,influencingustoavoidcommunicativediscordoroffence,andmaintaincommunicativeconcord.PolitenessPrinciple(PP)---GeoffreyNeilLeech,aspecialistinEnglishlanguageandlinguistics.(In1983)Sixpolitenessmaxims:tactMaxim,generositymaxim,approbationmaxim,modestymaxim,agreementmaxim,andsympathymaximCooperativePrinciple(CP)---HerbertPaulGrice,anAmericanphilosopherandlinguist.(In1967)Conversationalmaxims:Quantity,Quality,RelationMannerrespectively---BrownandStephenLevinson,influentialsocialscientist.(in1987)Face-threateningacts(FTAs)bald-onrecord,positivepoliteness,negativepoliteness,off-record.Prof.GuYueguo,ascholarofBeijingForeignStudiesUniversity,hastracedtheoriginofthenotionofpolitenessintheChineseculture,andhasalsoformulatedadifferentsetofpolitenessmaxims,whichhethinksaremoresuitabletotheChineseenvironment.1RespectfulnessMaxim贬己尊人准则self’spositiveappreciationoradmirationofotherconcerningthelatter’sface,socialstatus,andsoon.2AppellationMaxim称呼准则useproperappellationtoaddressother.3RefinementMaxim文雅准则self’sdemonstrationofkindness,consideration,andhospitalitytoother.4ConsistencyMaxim求同准则self’sbehaviourtootherwhichmeetscertainstandards.5Virtue,SpeechandBehaviorMaxim德、言、行准则onmotivation,minimizeother’scostandmaximizeother’sbenefit;onverbalism,maximizebenefitselfreceivedandminimizecostselfpaidout.Politenessincommunicationrequirespeopletoadoptstrategiesof(a)maximizing“politebeliefs”;(b)minimizing“impolitebeliefs.”1tactmaximBenefitarrangement2Generositymaxim3approbationmaximevaluation4modestmaxim5agreementmaximAttitudetowardsothers6sympathymaxim（1）TactMaxim(得体准则)(a)Minimizethecosttoothers;(b)maximizethebenefittoothers;(2)Generositymaxim(慷慨准则)(a)Minimizethebenefittoself;(b)maximizethecosttoself;A:Oh,mybagissoheavy!B:Doyouneedanyhelp?C:Letmehelpyou.(3)Approbationmaxim（赞扬准则）(a)Minimizedispraiseofothers;(b)maximizepraiseofothers;(4)TheModestyMaxim（谦逊准则）(a)Minimizepraiseofself.(b)maximizedispraiseofself;14A：Howismysuit?B：It’sugly.C:It’sok,butIthinkthecoloristoodarkonyou.A：今天真倒霉！B：我说的吧，自找的。C:过去就算了，别再想啦。(5)TheAgreementMaxim(一致准则)(a)Minimizedisagreementbetweenselfandothers;(b)maximizeagreementbetweenselfandothers;A:Let’sgotomoviestonight.B:No.Idon’tfeellikegoing.C:Iwantedtogo,butIhavetostudyformyexam.(6)TheSympathyMaxim(同情准则)(a)Minimizeantipathybetweenselfandothers;厌恶(b)maximizesympathybetweenselfandothers.Student:I’msorry.Icouldn’tworkitout.Teacher1:Ofcourse.Youaresostupid.Teacher2:That’sOk.Thisproblemisdifficultformoststudents.Inbrief,alltheabovefindingsinpartsupporttheviewthatpolitenessinvariousmanifestationsisculture-specifictosomeextends.WehavetoexplorethespecificvaluesofChineseandWesternculturesinordertoexplaintheinterestingphenomenaintheculturespecificityofpoliteness.Inthisway,wecanavoidmisunderstandingsinourcommunication.Brown,P.&LevinsonS.Politeness:SomeUniversalsinLanguageUsage,CUP,1987Goffman,E.ThePresentationofSelfinEverydayLife,NewYork:Doubleday,1959Gu,YuehuoPolitenessPhenomenoninModernChinese,inJounalofPragmatics,1990Leech,G.PrinciplesofPragmatics,Longman,1983Liu,Yunqing“AboutLeech’sPrinciplesinPoliteness”TeachingandStudiesonForeignLanguagesJournalFeb.1987Brown,Penelope;StephenC.Levinson.Politeness:SomeUniversalsinLanguageUsage.Studiesininteractionalsociolinguistics.CambridgeUniversityPress.1978