This paper has two aims: At first, to find out whether the German responses respectively results differ from Chen’s American English ones or whether there are similarities. Secondly to interpret the results according to the two cultures and to show that there are more similarities than differences between the two cultures. In the next section the theoretical background of this term paper will be explained with a definition of politeness as well as a definition of a compliment. As already mentioned, there will be a description of Leech’s Politeness Principle and Brown and Levinson’s theory of politeness which will be linked to the comparison of the two cultures. To make a comparison possible between American English speakers and German speakers, the same methodology as Chen’s will be presented, which will be the next section. The step after the methodology will be the illustration of the findings. The comparison of the data with an interpretation according to both cultures will be included in the discussion section. At the end will be a short conclusion of the whole study.
If you are in a foreign country, you try to be polite. But what exactly is politeness? Maybe you have already noticed that not in every country respectively culture you find the same understanding of politeness, which can lead to misunderstandings between people from different cultures. Hence many linguists try to compare the understanding of politeness of different cultures and countries with the aid of some researches and some politeness theories. The most important and popular politeness theories are those of Brown and Levinson, Leech and Grice, which will help to understand and group the findings into categories. Later on, some of them will be defined.
The comparison between American English and German is quite vague, because the questionnaires were given to only 50 students from the same region in each research. This imprecision leads to more questions according to the study: Do we have regional politeness varieties in a country or even social politeness varieties? So that a new question arises, whether a small study of 50 students for each country can show politeness understanding in general for each country? These questions will not be answered in this term paper, because of the large amount of data and the lacking possibilities to collect it.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical background
- 2.1. What is politeness?
- 2.2. What is a compliment?
- 2.3. Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness
- 2.4. Leech's politeness principle
- 3. Methodology
- 4. Findings
- 4.1. The American English results
- 4.2. The German results
- 5. Discussion
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to compare responses to compliments in American English and German, examining similarities and differences in politeness strategies employed. The study uses existing research on American English responses to compliments as a basis for comparison with newly collected German data. The paper seeks to interpret the findings within the cultural contexts of both languages.
- Cross-cultural comparison of politeness strategies in compliment responses.
- Analysis of the role of cultural norms in shaping politeness behaviors.
- Application of politeness theories (Brown & Levinson, Leech) to interpret findings.
- Examination of the influence of context and relationship dynamics on politeness.
- Investigation of potential regional or social variations in politeness.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the term paper by highlighting the cross-cultural variations in understanding politeness and the potential for misunderstandings. It introduces the core research question: are there significant differences in how compliments are responded to in German and American English? The chapter establishes the paper's methodology, referencing Rong Chen's work on American English and Chinese compliment responses, while focusing solely on the American English data for comparison. The introduction clarifies the limitations of the study, acknowledging the small sample size and the resulting inability to definitively address questions concerning regional or social politeness variations. Finally, it outlines the paper's objectives: to compare German and American English responses to compliments and to interpret the results through a cultural lens.
2. Theoretical background: This chapter lays the theoretical groundwork for the study by defining key concepts: politeness and compliments. It delves into the socio-psychological aspects of politeness, emphasizing the importance of cultural norms and context in determining appropriate behavior. The chapter explains that being polite involves navigating the delicate balance between being appropriately deferential and avoiding excessive formality. It defines a compliment as a form of positive social interaction, but acknowledges its potential as a face-threatening act for the recipient. The chapter then introduces Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness, distinguishing between positive and negative politeness strategies, and outlining their different approaches to managing face-threatening acts. Finally, it incorporates Leech's politeness principle into the analysis framework, paving the way for a detailed comparison of compliment response strategies across cultures.
3. Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology employed in the study. The methodology section will describe the data collection process, highlighting that the same methodology as Chen's was used to ensure a fair comparison between American English and German responses to compliments. It emphasizes the limitations of using Chen's data, particularly concerning the comparability of the samples. It will also detail the type of data collected and the methods for analyzing those data.
4. Findings: This chapter presents the findings of the study, focusing on a comparison of the results obtained for American English (from Chen's research) and German. It directly addresses whether significant similarities or differences were discovered, and it lays the groundwork for a deeper discussion and interpretation of the observed cultural differences or similarities in the following chapter. The chapter focuses on the different strategies identified for American English (10 strategies) and German (9 strategies) compliment responses and provides a statistical overview of the findings. It serves as a descriptive overview, presenting the empirical data without in-depth analysis or interpretation.
5. Discussion: This chapter provides a detailed analysis and interpretation of the findings presented in Chapter 4. This chapter will offer a thorough explanation of the identified patterns and propose potential cultural explanations for the differences and similarities in how American English and German speakers respond to compliments. This chapter is where the researcher will draw connections between their findings and the theoretical background established earlier in the paper, providing a comprehensive analysis and conclusions about how cultural norms and politeness theories can explain the observed differences. The discussion will include a detailed analysis of the similarities and differences observed in the compliment response strategies across the two languages and cultures.
Keywords
Politeness, compliments, cross-cultural communication, American English, German, politeness strategies, Brown and Levinson, Leech's politeness principle, face-threatening acts, cultural norms, comparative linguistics.
FAQ: Cross-Cultural Comparison of Compliment Responses in American English and German
What is the main topic of this term paper?
This term paper compares how people respond to compliments in American English and German, examining the politeness strategies used and exploring cultural influences on these strategies. It aims to identify similarities and differences in these responses.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The study's main objectives are to compare politeness strategies in compliment responses across American English and German, analyze the role of cultural norms, apply politeness theories (Brown & Levinson, Leech) to interpret findings, examine the influence of context and relationship dynamics, and investigate potential regional or social variations (though the latter is limited by the study's scope).
What theoretical frameworks are used in the analysis?
The paper uses Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness (positive and negative politeness strategies) and Leech's politeness principle to analyze and interpret the observed compliment response strategies. The concepts of "face-threatening acts" and the importance of cultural norms in shaping politeness behaviors are central to the analysis.
What is the methodology of the study?
The study uses a comparative approach. Data on American English compliment responses is drawn from existing research by Rong Chen. New data on German compliment responses is collected using a methodology that mirrors Chen's, allowing for a more direct comparison. The limitations of using Chen's data, specifically the potential incomparability of the samples, are acknowledged.
What are the key findings of the study?
The findings chapter presents a comparison of American English and German compliment responses. It identifies specific strategies used in each language (10 for American English, 9 for German) and offers a statistical overview of these strategies. The chapter presents the raw data without in-depth interpretation.
How are the findings interpreted and discussed?
The discussion chapter analyzes the findings in detail, explaining the observed patterns in compliment responses and relating them to cultural contexts and the theoretical frameworks presented earlier. It explores how cultural norms and politeness theories explain the similarities and differences found between American English and German speakers' responses to compliments.
What are the limitations of the study?
The study acknowledges limitations stemming from the relatively small sample size of the data used, which restricts the ability to draw definitive conclusions about regional or social variations in politeness. The comparability of the American English data used (Chen's work) to the newly collected German data is also addressed as a limitation.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Politeness, compliments, cross-cultural communication, American English, German, politeness strategies, Brown and Levinson, Leech's politeness principle, face-threatening acts, cultural norms, comparative linguistics.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes: Introduction, Theoretical Background (including sections on politeness, compliments, Brown & Levinson's theory, and Leech's politeness principle), Methodology, Findings (American English and German results), and Discussion.
Where can I find more information about the specific compliment response strategies identified in the study?
The specific compliment response strategies identified are detailed in the Findings chapter. The Discussion chapter provides a thorough analysis and interpretation of these strategies and their cultural significance.
- Quote paper
- Bachelor of Arts Kristina Grasmik (Author), 2013, Responding to compliments in German and American English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/369267
