Politeness and Interaction

Politeness and interaction
BASIC CONCEPTS
Much of what we say and communicate is determined by our social relationships. linguistic interaction is necessarily a social interaction A
external factors relating to social distance/closeness are established prior to an interaction: relative status of the participants as determined by factors like age and power - speakers who see themselves as lower status tend to mark social distance between themselves and
higher status speakers by using address forms that include a title and a last name, but not the first name (Mrs. Jones, Mr. Adams, Dr. Miller)
internal factors (amount of imposition, degree of friendliness) are negotiated during an interaction
can result in the initial social distance changing and being marked as less or more during the course of the interaction (e.g., moving to first name basis) - these factors are more relevant to participants whose social relationships are actually in the
process of being worked out within the interaction
Both types of factors (external/internal) have an influence on what we say and how we are interpreted interpretation includes also evaluations such as 'rude', 'considerate' or 'thoughtful' which represent an additional aspect of communication perceived in terms of politeness
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Introduction to Pragmatics
http://ifla.uni-stuttgart.de/~jilka/index.html

POLITENESS
General idea of politeness: fixed concept of social behavior/etiquette within a culture, involves certain general principles as being tactful, generous, modest, sympathetic towards others Narrower concept of politeness within an interaction: face = the public self-image of a person (emotional and social sense of self one has expects everyone else to recognize) politeness = the means empoyed to show awareness of another person's face, showing awareness for a socially distant person's face respect, deference showing awareness for a socially close person's face friendliness, solidarity Example (student to teacher)
a. Excuse me, Mr. Buckingham, but can I talk to you for a minute? b. Hey, Bucky, got a minute?
and
different kinds of politeness are associated and marked linguistically with the assumption of relative social distance/closeness
Hauptseminar Introduction to Pragmatics

POLITENESS MAXIMS
politeness maxims (Leech 1983):
tact generosity approbation modesty agreement sympathy minimize cost/maximize benefit to the other person Could I interrupt you for half a second what was the website address? maximize cost/minimize benefit to yourself Could I copy the web address? minimize dispraise/maximize praise of the other person Mary youre always so efficient do you have copy of that web address? maximize dispraise/minimize praise of yourself Oh Im so stupid I didnt make a not of that web address. Did you? minimize disagreement/maximize agreement between self and other Yes, of course youre right, but your decision might make her very unhappy minimize antipathy/maximize sympathy between self and other I was very sorry to hear about your fathers death
Additional maxim proposed by Cruse (2000): consideration minimize discomfort or displeasure/maximize comfort or pleasure of other Visitor to patient in hospital: Youre lucky to be in here, its raining outside (Billy Connolly)
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FACE WANTS
Within everyday social interaction people generally behave as if their expectations concerning their face wants (i.e. public self-image) will be respected face threatening act: speaker says something that represents a threat to another individual's expectations regarding self-image face saving act: speaker says something to lessen a possible threat
Situation: Young neighbor is playing loud music late at night. Older couple cannot sleep. A: I'm going to tell him to stop that awful noise right now! B: Perhaps you could just ask him if he's going to stop soon because it's getting a bit late and people need to get to sleep.
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NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE FACE
negative face: positive face: need to be independent, to have freedom of action, not be imposed on by others need to be accepted/liked, to be treated as a member of the same group, to know that wants are shared by others.
A face saving act oriented to a person's negative face tends to show deference, emphasizes the importance of the other's time or concerns and may include an apology for the imposition negative politeness A face saving act concerned with the person's positive face will tend to show solidarity, emphasize that both speakers want the same thing and have a common goal positive politeness
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SELF AND OTHER: SAY NOTHING
Example situation to map out different interpretations associated with different expressions used within a speech event You arrive at an important lecture. You want to take notes but realize that you do not have a pen. There is a person sitting next to you. First choice: say something or not
rummage in your bag, search through your pockets, go back to the bag other person offers pen
Many people prefer to have their needs recognized by others without having to express them (less imposition) -- clearly a case of communicating more than what is said.
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SAY SOMETHING: OFF AND ON RECORD
off record: statements not directly addressed to another person (i.e. hints)
Uh, I forgot my pen. Where is the pen. Hmm, I wonder where I put my pen
on record:
directly address the other person to express your needs Using imperative forms is known as bald on record
Give me a pan Lend me your pen
mitigating devices (e.g. 'please', 'would you') can be used to soften the demand Caution: Not all imperatives are commands
Have some more cake Gimme that wet umbrella
In emergency situations, commands have no social/politeness component

Don't touch that! Get out of her!
Generally, however, bald on record expressions are associated with speech events where the speaker assumes he/she has power over the other - in everyday interaction between social equals they are avoided as face threatening acts

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POLITENESS I
A positive politeness strategy leads the requester to appeal to a common goal, even friendship
How about letting me use you pen? Hey, buddy, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me use your pen
greater risk of refusal, therefore often preceded by 'getting-to-know-you-talk' to establish common ground
Hi, How's it going? Okay if I sit here? We must be interested in the same crazy stuff. You take a lot of notes too, huh? Say, do me a big favor and let me use one of your pens
A negative politeness strategy is more commonly performed in face saving acts

Could you lend me a pen? I'm sorry to bother you, but can I ask you for a pen? I know you're busy, might I ask you if - em - if you happen to have an extra pen
features:
- modal verbs - apologies for the imposition - hesitations - questions (even asking for permission to ask a question) + more indirect approach softens refusal
Face saving acts on record are less direct, longer, less clear, with a more complex structure, showing greater effort, concern for face (politeness)

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POLITENESS II
Summary: How to get a pen from someone else
say nothing (but search in bag) say something off record ('I forgot my pen') face saving act on record
bald on record ('Give me a pen')
positive politeness ('How about letting me use your pen')
negative politeness ('Could you lend me a pen')
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STRATEGIES
use of positive politeness forms solidarity strategy (used more by groups than individuals) - includes personal information, nicknames, even abusive terms (esp. among males), shared dialect/slang expressions, inclusive terms ('we', 'let's' etc.)
Come on, let's go to the party. Everyone will be there. We'll have fun.
use of negative politeness forms deference strategy - formal politeness, more impersonal, can include expressions that refer to neither the speaker nor the hearer, emphasizing hearer's and speaker's independence, no personal claims
There's going to be a party, if you can make it. It will be fun.
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PRE-SEQUENCES I
avoiding risk for the another person (i.e. face threatening) can be achieved by providing an opportunity for the other person to halt the potentially risky act rather than simply making a request, speakers will produce a pre-request
A: Are you busy? B: Not really A: Check over this memo B: Okay A: Are you busy? B: Oh, sorry. (= pre-request) (= go ahead) (= request) (= accept) (= pre-request) (= stop)
advantage that hearer can decide to stop the pre-request or go ahead
This response allows the speaker to avoid making a request that cannot be granted However, it is also possible to treat pre-requests as as requests and respond to them.
A: Do you have a spare pen? B: Here (hands over the pen) A: Do you mind if I use you phone? B: Yeah, sure.
Not to be interpreted literally as an answer to the pre-request, but to the unstated request.
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PRE-SEQUENCES II
Other uses of pre-sequences pre-invitations:
A: What are you doing this Friday? B: Hmm, nothing so far. A: Come over for dinner. B: Ahm I'd like that. A: Are you doing anything later? B: Oh yeah. Busy, busy, busy. A: Oh, okay (= pre-invitation) (= go ahead) (= invitation) (= accept) (= pre-invitation) (= stop) (= stop)
pre-announcements (often by children):

A: Mom, guess what happened? B: (Silence) A: Mom, you know what? B: Not right now, sweetie. I'm busy. (= pre-announcement) (= pre-annoucement) (= stop)
(No 'go ahead', silence should be interpreted as 'stop)
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PRE-SEQUENCES II
Identify the given pre-sequences
1 A: Hey, I was just ringing up to ask if you were going to Jims party B: Yes I thought you might A: Heh heh B: Yey, do you need a ride? A: Yeah thanks A: Do you have hot chocolate? B: mmhmm A: Can I have hot chocolate with whipped cream? B: Sure A: Whatcha doin? B: Nothin A: Wanna drink? A: I forgot to tell you the two best things that happened to me today. B: Oh cool what were thy? A: I got a B+ on my math test and Jenny invited me to her party
pre-request
pre-request
pre-invitation
pre-announcement
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Politeness and Interaction

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