1. Overview of the Politeness Principle
In everyday situations we have to communicate with other people to get information, to gain knowledge about a topic or to reach a variety of goals. To be successful, one has to follow some important strategies. Beside the rule of the language philosopher H.P. Grice, which is called the Cooperative Principle, there exists another concept that served when people are talking. It is called the Politeness Principle which has above all been developed by Leech. In the centre of this concept does not stand the information of a conversation, but the effect of what is said on the people.
[...]
Table of Contents
1. Overview of the Politeness Principle
2. Theories of the Politeness Principle
2.1 Delimiting the politeness concept
2.1.1 Deference and politeness
2.1.2 Politeness as an utterance level phenomenon
2.1.3 Register
2.1.4 Politeness as a pragmatic phenomenon
2.2 The maxims of the politeness principle
2.2.1 The Tact maxim
2.2.2 The Generosity Maxim
2.2.3 The Approbation Maxim
2.2.4 The Modesty Maxim
2.2.5 The Agreement Maxim
2. Practical part
2.1 Dialogue
2.2 Describing some maxims and theories on examples
3. The necessity of the Politeness Principle
Objectives and Themes
This work explores the Politeness Principle, examining its theoretical foundations and practical application in human communication. It aims to clarify the relationship between politeness strategies, social context, and the achievement of communicative goals.
- Theoretical distinction between politeness and deference.
- Analysis of Leech’s maxims (Tact, Generosity, Approbation, Modesty, Agreement).
- The influence of register and utterance level on perceived politeness.
- Practical application of politeness theories in everyday dialogue analysis.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3.2 Describing some maxims and theories on examples
When analysing a text it is just possible to look at what is said and which effect the conversation has on the hearer. The previous dialogue includes some theories and maxims of politeness which were explained in the following.
The greeting of the two women does already show the topic of deference. They call each other by their surname and express respect in this way, but there is no respect apparent relating to higher status or greater age in this case.
In line three the Tact maxim appears. The teacher tries to give the hearer (Misses Conner) the feeling of minimizing her cost. The phrase “for a minute” has the function of reducing the implied cost to the hearer. It is a “minimizer”. Misses Smith asks the sentence very indirect. This is polite, because she imposes something to Misses Conner who has the possibility to answer the question in the negative. Misses Conner not to have the feeling of being hard-pressed. The aspect of optionality of this maxim is met.
In line five some features of the Tact maxim are used again. The teacher introduces her problem to the mother of Robert. To be friendly and not too prompt, minimizers like “a bit of” and “for a second” are used once more. (Implied costs to the hearer are reduced.) The question does not have such a high degree of indirectness like the first example of this maxim, nevertheless it is polite and not too direct and it prescribes a “direction” for the following conversation of the two women. This question explains the goal of the teacher very clearly.
Summary of Chapters
1. Overview of the Politeness Principle: Introduces the concept as a strategy for successful communication, focusing on the effect of language on the hearer rather than just information transfer.
2. Theories of the Politeness Principle: Provides an academic framework for understanding politeness, including distinctions like deference, register, and Leech's core maxims.
2. Practical part: Demonstrates the application of theoretical politeness principles through the analysis of a specific interpersonal dialogue.
3. The necessity of the Politeness Principle: Concludes that the concept is a vital component of linguistics, serving as the essential foundation for human interaction and social goals.
Keywords
Politeness Principle, Leech, Tact Maxim, Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim, Pragmatics, Deference, Register, Utterance, Communication, Social Interaction, Indirectness, Linguistic Forms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the Politeness Principle, a linguistic concept developed primarily by Leech, which governs how individuals communicate to reach social goals.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the distinction between politeness and deference, the role of utterance complexity, register, and the categorization of various maxims such as Tact and Generosity.
What is the main objective of the research?
The objective is to explore how individuals use specific linguistic strategies to manage social interaction and mitigate potential interpersonal costs.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a theoretical review followed by a qualitative text analysis of a dialogue to demonstrate how linguistic maxims manifest in practical conversation.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers the definition of politeness, the explanation of five specific maxims, and a detailed practical analysis of a dialogue between a teacher and a parent.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Important keywords include Politeness Principle, Pragmatics, Tact Maxim, Deference, and Social Interaction.
How does the author define the relationship between the Tact Maxim and optionality?
The author explains that the Tact maxim relies on optionality, meaning the speaker frames requests in a way that provides the hearer with the choice to accept or decline, thereby reducing the sense of imposition.
How is the term "register" relevant to the discussed dialogue?
The author uses register to explain how the characters maintain or break social formality, particularly noting how the interruption by the mother serves as a deviation from expected formal registers.
- Quote paper
- Christina Martens (Author), 2001, The Politeness Principle, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/2901
