Politeness and !nteraction Politeness and !

nteraction
Nguyen Thu Huyen - BK3 Nguyen Thu Huyen - BK3
"tline
ntroduction to poIiteness
1. Factors relating to social distance and
closeness
2. Face and Politeness
oncepts reIating to Face
1. Face wants
2. Negative and Positive face
!oIiteness strategies
1 Self and other: say nothing
2. Say something: on and off record
3. Positive and negative politeness
4. Strategies
5. Pre- sequences
' oncIusion
ntroduction to poIiteness
W "Much of what we
say and a great deal of
what we communicate,
is determined by our
sociaI reIationship.
(George Yule,
Pragmatics, Oxford
University Press, 1996,
pg 59)
2 main functions of
language
The transactional
function
The interactional
function
Express the idea of
the speakers
Convey personal attitude,
establish social relations
ntroduction to poIiteness
W n order to ensure interactional function of language
(maintain social relations), we have to choose the
most appropriate way to express our idea.
linguistic interaction is
necessarily a social
interaction
Factors reIating to sociaI
distance and cIoseness
ExternaI factors nternaI factors
The reIative status of the
participants, based on sociaI
vaIues such as age and power.
mount of imposition or
degree of friendIiness, which
are often negotiated during an
interaction.
n wide range of interaction
(mostly with strangers).
Typically more relevant to
social relationships are actually
in the process of being worked
out within the interaction.
Eg: lower status higher
status speakers Title + last
name, (Mrs. Jones, Mr. dams,
Dr. Miller)
Eg: moving from a title-plus-last
name to first name basis
W Note:
- n 'ietnamese, pronoun system used in
communication is very complicated, which
emphasizes ages and status : Cu, ng, b, bc, c,
ch, anh, chj, em v.v.
Differences in ages require differences
pronouns (involving the most friendly case). Never
allow to use a sole first name when calling an elder
people. (Khng bao gi chi dng tn ring d
gi ngui In tui)
V du:
- y cu ! Tht khng ng hm nay .%Hng li
qu b dn choi vi em. (V Trong Phung)
- C cn km tui me chu nn c goi c l c
thi.
W n EngIish, because there are just 2 pronoun
used for the 1
st
and 2
nd
person
politeness does not depend much on using
appropriate pronouns.
W n order to express the closeness and solidarity,
English can even call elder people just first name.
Eg:
- ndrew: Margaret, this is my gammy, nnie. (an
90-year-old woman)
- Margaret: Hi nnie, nice to meet you.
- ndrew: nnie is the best tailor in southeast
laska
- Margaret: Wow.
(The proposal movie, transcript)
Factors reIating to sociaI
distance and cIoseness
W Both types of factors (externaI/internaI) have an
infIuence on what we say and how we are
interpreted
W n many cases, the interpretation goes beyond
what we might have intended to convey
evaIuations such as "rude", considerate' or
thoughtful'.

More is communicated
than is said
Have to consider
politeness in
interaction.
Face and poIiteness
" t is possible to treat politeness as a fixed concept, as in
the idea of "polite social behavior, or etiquette, within a
culture.
(George Yule, Pragmatics, Oxford University Press,
1996, pg 60)
=>
Some of these principles might include being tactful,
generous, modest, sympathetic toward others
Different
cultures
Difference general
principle for politeness
Face and poIiteness
W Definition:

"Face means the public
self-image of a person. t
refers to that emotional
and social sense of self
that everyone has and
expects everyone else
recognize.
(George Yule,
Pragmatics, Oxford
University Press, 1996,
pg 60)
"!oIiteness, in an
interaction, can be
defined as the means
employed to show
awareness of other
person's face.
(George Yule,
Pragmatics, Oxford
University Press, 1996,
pg 60)
W Politeness can be accomplished in situations of
social distance or closeness.
W n different cases, speakers choose different
relative social distance between them.
Showing awareness for
another person's face
when the other seems
socially close respect
or deference.
Showing equivalent
awareness when the other
is socially close
camaraderie or soIidarity.
Eg: Excuse me, Mrs.
Smith, but can talk to
you for a minute?
Eg: Hey Lizzy, got a
minute?
oncepts reIating to face
Face wants
- Definition: "Face wants are a person's
expectations that their public self-image
will be respected.
(George Yule, Pragmatics, Oxford
University Press, 1996, pg 130)
Face threatening act Face saving act
When a speaker says
something that represents
a threat to another
individual's expectations
regarding self-image.
When a speaker says
something to lessen the
possible threat to
another's face.
Eg: (to a noisy neighbor)
'm going to tell him to
stop that awful noise
right now!
(George Yule, Pragmatics,
Oxford University Press, 1996,
pg 130)
Perhaps you could just
ask him if he is going to
stop soon because it's
getting a bit late and
people need to get to
sleep.
Negative and positive face:
Negative face !ositive face
Definition The need to be
independent, to have
freedom of action, and not
to be imposed on by others.
The need to be accepted, even
liked, by others, to be treated as a
member of the same group, and to
know that his or her wants are
shared by others.
need to be concerned
ppropriate
fave saving
acts
- Tend to show deference,
- Emphasize the importance
of the other's time or
concern
- Even include an apoIogy
for the imposition and
interruption.
Negative poIiteness
- Tend to show soIidarity
- Emphasize that both speakers
want the same thing, and that they
have a common goal.
!ositive poIiteness.
Eg 'm sorry to bother you but
can talk to you for a
minute?
How about talking to me for a
minute?
!oIiteness strategies
SeIf and other: say nothing
A scenario:
ou arrive at an important lecture. ou want to take
notes but realize that you do not have a pen. There
is a person sitting next to you. (ou think that the
person may provide the solution)

ou SeIf
The person
next to you
other
W our first choice is whether to say
something or not
W f not:
- Rummage in your bag, search through
your pockets, go back to the bag. (without
uttering a word)
Vague intention that your problem will be
recognize.
W "Say nothing work or not work
W f it does
Because the other offers, not because
the self asks.
W Many people prefer to have their needs
recognized by others without having to
express them (less imposition)
a case of communicating more than what is
said.
Say something: off and on record
a Off record:
- f you decide to say something, we don't
actually have to as for anything.
Simply produce a statement
Eg: - Uh, forgot my pen.
- Hmm, wonder where put my pen.
(George Yule, Pragmatics, Oxford
University Press, 1996, pg 63)
W Not directly addressed to another person.
Eg: : t's quite hot here, huh?
B: eah, 'll open the door.
W ff-record is referred as a hint.
Eg: While searching for a pen you say:"
Dear pen, where are you? our
neighbor may hear it and lend you his/her
pen.
b On record
W ou can directIy address the other means of
expressing your needs. n record
W The most direct approach, using imperative
forms baId on record
Eg:
- pen the door.
- Shut up your mouth.
W Bald on record forms may be follow by mitigating
devices soften the demand.
Eg:
- Give me the knife, please.
- Would you please give me a lift?
W Bald on record with imperative forms are
often used by cIose famiIiars without being
interpreted as commands.
Eg: Have some more tea.
W Emergency situations:
Eg:
- Stay away from him!
- Don't say a word!
- Don't touch that!
W Generally, bald on record expression are
associated with speech events where the
speaker assumes he/she has power over
other.
W n everyday interaction between social
equals, such bald on record behavior would
potentially represent a threat to the other's
face and would generaIIy be avoided.
3 !ositive and negative poIiteness
!ositive poIiteness Negative poIiteness
Seen in groups of friends/
social situation when people
know each other fairly well.
ften seen in interactions between
strangers or lower status speakers and
higher status speakers.
Leads the requester to appeal
to a common goal, even
friendship.
n most English-speaking contexts, a
face saving act is more commonly
performed via a negative politeness
stratergy.
Do represent a greater risk for
the refusal
s typically expressed via questions
present an opportunity for the other to
answer without the refusal effect.
Eg:
- Hey buddy, 'd appreciate it if
you'd let me use your pen.
Eg: 'm sorry to bother you, but can a
ask you for a pen?
Strategies
W ccording to Brown and Levinson 1987
How to make
a request
Say something Say nothing
n record ff record
Face saving act
Bald on record
Positive politeness
Negative politeness
Strategies
Solidarity strategy Deference strategy
SoIidarity strategy Deference strategy
- Use positive politeness forms.
- Emphasize closeness
between speakers and hearers.
- nclude personal information,
use of nicknames, sometimes
even abusive terms, and
shared dialect or slang
expressions.
- Will be marked via inclusive
terms such as "we and "let's.
- Use negative politeness form
"formal politeness
- Emphasize the hearer's right
to freedom.
- t's impersonal, as if nothing is
shared, and an include
expression that refer to neither
speaker nor hearers.
- Emphasize the speaker's and
the hearer's independence
marked via an absence of
personal claims
Eg:
Come on, let's go to the
lecture. t's very useful and
informative.
Eg:
There's going to be a lecture, if
you can present.
!re-sequences
W The basic assumption, from the perspective
of politeness, is that face is typically at risk
when the self need to accomplish
something involving other.
The greatest risk appears to be when
the other is put in a difficult position.
ne way to avoid risk is providing an
opportunity for the other to haIt the
potential risky act.
a !re-request
W Rather than simply make a request, speakers will often first
produce a pre-request.
W The advantage of the pre-request element is that it can be
answer either with a "go-ahead response or with a stop
response.
Eg 1:
Teacher: You are better now? (pre-request)
ate: es, thank you. (go-ahead)
Teacher: Well, try and do your homework before tomorrow.
(request)
(Trn Vn Phc, Nguyn Th Kim Cc, A study on pre-
sequenses in request in Vietnamese and English - Tp ch
khoa hc cng ngh, di hc D Nng S 5(28).2008 )
Eg 2:
Him: Are you busy? (pre-request)
Her: Oh, sorry. (stop)
=> allow the speaker to avoid making a request that cannot
be granted at the time.
W Eg:
Rob: Tim, did you type this letter 47did Akiko?
Tim: did. s there something wrong?
Rob: Take a look. This should be $400,000. ou
typed $40.000.
W Trong ting Vit, tin dn nhp cho yu cu
thung l cu hi vi cc tiu t cui cu nhu:
khng, , phi khng, duoc khng, chua, v.v.
Eg:
- Ti mun hi mt cu .hoi t m, %.3
.?
- Cng duoc thi.
- Chj d yu ai v nhng ai yu chj hi trong
Trung Son?
(Trn Vn Phc, Nguyn Th Kim Cc, A study on
pre-sequenses in request in Vietnamese and
English - Tp ch khoa hc cng ngh, di hc D
Nng S 5(28).2008 )
W Most of pre-request are question (nterrogative),
but in reality, speakers can also use other
structures: Declaratives, mperatives,
Exclamatives.
(Trn Vn Phc, Nguyn Th Kim Cc, A study on pre-sequenses
in request in Vietnamese and English - Tp ch khoa hc cng ngh,
di hc D Nng S 5(28).2008 )
W Eg:
Jack: I was wondering if you could do me a favor.
(Declarative)
ndy: That depends.
Jack: Well, have to go to a wedding this weekend.
Would it be ok if borrow your navy blue suit?
(Trn Vn Phc, Nguyn Th Kim Cc, A study on pre-sequenses
in request in Vietnamese and English - Tp ch khoa hc cng ngh,
di hc D Nng S 5(28).2008 )
W general pattern of pre-requests actually
being treated as requests and being
response to with the action being
performed.
Eg:
Him: Do you have a spare pen?
Her: Here.
b !re-invitation
W Pre-sequences are also commonly used in making
invitations.
Receivers tend to recognize their function.
W Eg:
Him: re you free on Saturday night? (pre-invitation)
Her: Hmm, have not any plan yet. (Go head)
Him: Would you like to go out with me for a concert?
There'll be European music festival. (invitation)
Her: h, 'd love to. (acceptance)
c !re-announcements
W Eg:
: Did you hear the bad
new?
B: No. What?
: Dan died.
B: h.
(pragmatics and discourse
conversation structure,
magdalena wolska,
magda@coli.uni-sb.de, slides
based on material from I.Kruijff-
Korbayov, May 18, 2007, page
34)
' oncIusion
W ur interactions everyday not only
convey proper information but also play
an important role in establishing and
maintaining relationships. n order to
maintain a good relationship with a
person, we should "obey at least the
basic politeness strategies.
W Politeness strategies should be applied
flexibly because of distance and
closeness between two speakers in a
certain context.