SERMAN PRAYOGI (082084040) Chapter 71 Politeness and Interaction

Factors of Politeness and Instruction

External

Internal

Social Distance

Amount of imposition Or Degree of Friendliness

Yule, Georg, 1996. Pragmatics. (page 59-70) Oxford: Oxford University Press

Politeness

Politeness Definition: The means employed to show awareness of another persons

General Principles of Politeness:

- Being Tactful - Being Generous - Being Modest - Being Sympathetic towards others

face.

Face means the

public self-image of a person.

Face Wants

Face Wants
If a speaker says something that represents a threat to another individuals expectations regarding self-image, it is described as a

In everyday social interaction, people

face threatening act.

Being given the possibility that some action might be interpreted as a threat to anothers face, the speaker can say something to lessen the possible threat. This is called

generally behave as if
their expectations concerning their public self-

image.

a face saving act.

Negative and Positive Face

A persons

A persons

positive face is
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.

negative face is
the need to be independent, to have freedom of action, and not to be imposed on by others.

The word negative doesnt mean bad, its just the opposite pole from positive. Positive face = Positive Politeness Negative Face = Negative Politeness

Self and Other: Say Nothing

One way to see the relevance of the relationship

between these politeness concepts and language use is to take a single speech event and map out the different interpretations associated with different possible expressions used within that event.

Say something: Off and ON record

Off Record: You

can simply produce a statement but its not directly addressed to the other. Example:

On Record: You
can directly address to other as a means of expressing your needs. Example: Give me a pen

Uh, I forgot my pen

Positive and Negative Politeness

Positive Politeness Strategy >>

Leads the requester to appeal to a common goal, and even friendship, such as: - How about letting me use your pen This strategy has a high risk of refusal by the hearer.

Negative Politeness Strategy >>

Performs a save saving act such as: - Could you lend me a pen? The most typical form used is a question containing a modal verb. This strategy is used in most Englishspeaking contexts

Strategies

Strategies

The tendency to use positive politeness forms, emphasizing closeness between speaker and hearer, can be seen as a Solidarity Strategy. Example: Come on, lets go on to the party. Everyone will be there. Well have fun.

The tendency to use negative politeness forms, emphasizes the hearers right to freedom, can be seen as a Deference strategy. Example: Theres going to be a party, if you can make it. It will be fun.

Pre-sequences

That face is typically at risk when the self needs to accomplish something involving other. The greatest risk appears to be when the other is put in a difficult position.

One way of avoiding risk is to provide an opportunity for the other to halt the potentially risky act. Its called a Pre-

sequence-involving pre-request, preinvention, and pre-announcement.

Her: Are you busy? Him: Not Really.

(= pre-request) (= go ahead)

Her: Check over this memo. (= request)

Him: Okay

(= accept)