As efficient communication plays a crucial, far-ranging role in our everyday life, it is highly interesting to examine how we transport the information we want to communicate. Yet, in contrast to what efficient might implicate, the actual language use is rather characterized by “indirectness and the flouting of Gricean maxims” (Blum-Kulka 1998: 50), than by clear and direct expressions. One of the main reasons for this process lies within the concept of politeness: Since, roughly speaking, the more indirect a request is being articulated, the more polite it will be considered.
Thus, this paper aims to contemplate the aspect of politeness in interactions, as it greatly influences the choice of speech. Therefore, I will make use of Brown and Levinson’s notion of politeness and present their concept in theory before I will continue by questioning the practicability and universality of this model.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Cooperative and Politeness Principle
- 2.1. Grice's Cooperative Principle
- 2.2. Leech's Politeness Principle
- 3. Face
- 3.1. Goffmann's Concept of Face
- 3.2. Further Development through Levinson and Brown
- 3.2.1. Positive and Negative Face
- 3.3. Face Threatening Acts
- 4. Politeness Strategies
- 4.1. Doing FTAs
- 4.2. Choice of a Strategy
- 5. Politeness Theory in Practice
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the concept of politeness in communication, focusing on Brown and Levinson's politeness theory. It will examine how politeness influences speech choices and critically assess the theory's practicality and universality. The paper will build upon foundational work by Grice and Leech, introducing their Cooperative and Politeness Principles before delving into Brown and Levinson's model.
- The influence of politeness on speech choices.
- A theoretical review of Brown and Levinson's politeness theory.
- Comparison of Grice's Cooperative Principle and Leech's Politeness Principle.
- The concept of "face" in communication and its relation to politeness strategies.
- A critical evaluation of the universality and practical application of Brown and Levinson's model.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by highlighting the prevalence of indirectness in communication and its connection to politeness. It introduces the central focus on Brown and Levinson's politeness theory and outlines the paper's structure, foreshadowing a theoretical exploration followed by a critical analysis of the theory's practical application and universality. The chapter emphasizes the importance of politeness as a significant factor shaping communication choices and briefly mentions the contributions of other researchers like Grice and Leech that will be further developed in the subsequent chapters.
2. The Cooperative and Politeness Principle: This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding Brown and Levinson's theory by examining the Cooperative Principle proposed by Grice and the Politeness Principle suggested by Leech. Grice's principle, emphasizing effective communication through sincerity, relevance, and clarity, is analyzed along with its four maxims (quantity, quality, relation, and manner). The chapter then discusses Leech's Politeness Principle, highlighting its role in resolving conflicts between the Cooperative Principle and the demands of politeness, and outlining Leech's six maxims (tact, generosity, approbation, modesty, agreement, and sympathy). The chapter establishes the importance of considering both principles in analyzing communicative acts and sets the context for understanding how politeness can sometimes involve the flouting of Grice's maxims.
3. Face: This chapter explores the crucial concept of "face" as developed by Goffman and further refined by Brown and Levinson. It traces the historical development of the concept, explaining Goffman's initial ideas and highlighting the distinction between positive and negative face introduced by Brown and Levinson. The chapter thoroughly analyzes the significance of "face" in communication, illustrating how acts can threaten an individual's face and why managing these face-threatening acts (FTAs) is essential for maintaining polite interactions. The chapter forms a key bridge between the theoretical principles of Grice and Leech and the practical application of politeness strategies discussed in the following chapter.
4. Politeness Strategies: This chapter delves into the various strategies individuals employ to manage FTAs and achieve politeness in their interactions. It meticulously explores different ways of performing FTAs, ranging from bald on-record strategies (direct and efficient) to off-record strategies (indirect and ambiguous). The chapter thoroughly analyzes how the choice of strategy is influenced by factors such as social distance, power relations, and the seriousness of the FTA. This section integrates the previous chapters' theoretical discussions, providing a practical framework for understanding how politeness is achieved in real-life communication scenarios.
5. Politeness Theory in Practice: This chapter critically evaluates the universality and practical applicability of Brown and Levinson's politeness theory. It explores potential limitations of the model, considering the cross-cultural variations in politeness norms and the complexities of real-world interactions that may not always align perfectly with the theory's predictions. This section provides a balanced perspective, acknowledging the theory's strengths while also highlighting its shortcomings and areas requiring further investigation. The chapter prepares the reader for the concluding evaluation of the theory’s relevance and significance.
Keywords
Politeness theory, Brown and Levinson, Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle, Grice, Leech, face, face-threatening acts (FTAs), politeness strategies, communication, indirectness, universality, pragmatics.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Overview of Politeness Theory
What is the main focus of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive overview of politeness theory, primarily focusing on Brown and Levinson's model. It explores the concept of politeness in communication, examining how it influences speech choices and critically assessing the theory's practicality and universality.
What are the key theories discussed?
The text delves into several key theories: Grice's Cooperative Principle, Leech's Politeness Principle, and Brown and Levinson's politeness theory. It compares and contrasts these theories, highlighting their contributions to understanding politeness in communication.
What is Grice's Cooperative Principle?
Grice's Cooperative Principle emphasizes effective communication through sincerity, relevance, and clarity. It outlines four maxims: quantity, quality, relation, and manner, which guide successful conversational interactions. The text analyzes how these maxims can be flouted or violated to achieve specific communicative goals.
What is Leech's Politeness Principle?
Leech's Politeness Principle focuses on resolving conflicts between the Cooperative Principle and the demands of politeness. It introduces six maxims: tact, generosity, approbation, modesty, agreement, and sympathy, which guide polite interactions by considering the speaker's and hearer's needs and desires. The text shows how this principle complements Grice's work.
What is the concept of "face" in politeness theory?
The text extensively discusses Goffman's and Brown and Levinson's concept of "face," which refers to an individual's public self-image. It differentiates between positive face (the desire for approval and appreciation) and negative face (the desire for autonomy and freedom from imposition). The text explains how face-threatening acts (FTAs) challenge this self-image and require strategic management.
What are face-threatening acts (FTAs)?
FTAs are acts that threaten an individual's positive or negative face. Examples include requests, criticisms, and apologies. The text explains how speakers employ various strategies to mitigate these threats and maintain politeness in communication.
What are politeness strategies?
The text categorizes various politeness strategies used to manage FTAs, ranging from direct and efficient "bald on-record" strategies to indirect and ambiguous "off-record" strategies. The choice of strategy depends on factors like social distance, power dynamics, and the severity of the FTA.
How does the text evaluate Brown and Levinson's politeness theory?
The text offers a critical evaluation of Brown and Levinson's theory, examining its universality and practical applicability. It considers potential limitations, acknowledging cross-cultural variations in politeness norms and the complexities of real-world interactions.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The text includes detailed summaries of each chapter, covering an introduction to politeness theory, the Cooperative and Politeness Principles, the concept of "face," politeness strategies, and a critical evaluation of the theory's application. These summaries provide a concise overview of the text's main arguments and findings.
What are the keywords associated with this text?
The keywords associated with this text include: Politeness theory, Brown and Levinson, Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle, Grice, Leech, face, face-threatening acts (FTAs), politeness strategies, communication, indirectness, universality, and pragmatics.
- Quote paper
- Nadja Grebe (Author), 2009, Politeness. A Theoretical Review of Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138441
