In 1987 Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson’s book Politeness. Some Universals in Language Usage was published. They analyzed the pragmatically term politeness and the concept of face. But it was not only them who worked on that topic. Other persons who dealt with pragmatics too started to write books about politeness, mostly in reference to Brown’s and Levinson’s theory. Most of the books that were published are theoretical. Some of them include examples to underline the expositions and to make them more understandable. But the question is if pragmatical politeness is a phenomenon that is also noticeable in everyday language or if it really is a more theoretical term and therefore can hardly be practiced. To answer this question it is important to first give a definition of the pragmatical term politeness and to analyze it by using those theoretical books. Only then is it possible to prove if politeness is either used in everyday language or not. After that it is necessary to analyze a medium that is representative of daily situations. In this case one episode of the serial Friends will be worked on to see if it includes examples of the different parts of pragmatical politeness. When the analysis of both parts, the theoretical and the practical, is completed the question if pragmatical politeness is a more theoretical term or if it is noticeable in everyday language too will be answered.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Definition of the pragmatically term politeness
- 2.1 Introduction politeness
- 2.1.1 External factors
- 2.1.2 Internal factors
- 2.2 Politeness and face
- 2.2.1 Negative face
- 2.2.2 Positive face
- 2.3 Say nothing
- 2.4 Say something
- 2.4.1 Off record
- 2.4.2 On record
- 2.4.2.1 Positive politeness and solidarity strategy
- 2.4.2.2 Negative politeness and deference strategy
- 2.5 Pre-Sequences
- 2.6 Conclusion
- 2.1 Introduction politeness
- 3. Analysis of the serial Friends (Season 2, episode 21)
- 3.1 Friends The one with the Bullies
- 3.2 External factors
- 3.2.1 Socially closeness
- 3.2.2 Socially distance
- 3.3 Internal factors
- 3.4 Say nothing
- 3.5 Say something
- 3.5.1 Off record
- 3.5.2 Bald on record
- 3.5.3 Positive politeness
- 3.5.4 Negative politeness
- 3.6 Pre-sequences
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to investigate the pragmatics of politeness, specifically exploring whether the theoretical concept of politeness aligns with its practical application in everyday language. It uses Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness and face as a framework, comparing theoretical definitions with examples from a chosen medium.
- The definition and theoretical framework of pragmatical politeness.
- The concepts of positive and negative face and their influence on politeness strategies.
- The role of social distance and closeness in shaping politeness behaviors.
- The analysis of politeness strategies in everyday conversation.
- Comparison between theoretical models and practical application of politeness in a real-world context.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the central research question: Does the theoretical concept of pragmatical politeness reflect real-world communication? It establishes the basis of the study by referencing existing literature on politeness, highlighting the predominantly theoretical nature of much of the existing scholarship. The chapter emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice by analyzing a real-world example to determine the extent to which politeness theory is applicable in everyday communication. This sets the stage for the subsequent chapters which delve into the theoretical framework and empirical analysis.
2. Definition of the pragmatical term politeness: This chapter provides a detailed definition of pragmatical politeness, differentiating it from social etiquette. It introduces the key concepts of external factors (social distance and closeness, age, power) and internal factors (amount of imposition and degree of friendliness) that influence politeness strategies. The chapter then lays the groundwork for understanding politeness through the lens of face theory (Brown & Levinson, 1987), explaining the notions of positive and negative face, face-threatening acts (FTAs), and face-saving acts (FSAs). The distinctions between negative politeness (deference) and positive politeness (solidarity) are meticulously explained, providing a robust foundation for the later analysis of the chosen case study.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Pragmatic Analysis of Politeness in Everyday Conversation
What is the main topic of this text?
This text is a comprehensive preview of an academic work that investigates the pragmatics of politeness. It examines whether the theoretical concept of politeness aligns with its practical application in everyday conversation. The analysis utilizes Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness and face as a framework.
What are the key themes explored in this text?
The key themes include: the definition and theoretical framework of pragmatic politeness; the concepts of positive and negative face and their influence on politeness strategies; the role of social distance and closeness in shaping politeness behaviors; the analysis of politeness strategies in everyday conversation; and a comparison between theoretical models and practical application of politeness in a real-world context (using the TV series "Friends" as a case study).
What theoretical framework is used in this analysis?
The analysis primarily employs Brown and Levinson's (1987) theory of politeness and face. This framework focuses on the concepts of positive and negative face, face-threatening acts (FTAs), and face-saving acts (FSAs), and how these concepts influence the choice of politeness strategies in communication.
What is the structure of the text?
The text is structured into four main chapters: An introduction outlining the research question and methodology; a detailed definition of pragmatic politeness, including external and internal factors influencing politeness strategies; an analysis of politeness strategies in a specific episode of the TV series "Friends" (Season 2, Episode 21); and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings and implications of the study.
What is the purpose of analyzing the TV series "Friends"?
The analysis of the "Friends" episode serves as an empirical investigation to bridge the gap between the theoretical concepts of politeness and their practical application in everyday communication. It allows for a comparison between the theoretical framework and real-world examples of politeness strategies.
What specific politeness strategies are examined?
The analysis examines various politeness strategies, including "say nothing," "off-record" strategies, "on-record" strategies (positive politeness and solidarity, negative politeness and deference), and pre-sequences. The analysis explores how these strategies are employed in different conversational contexts considering social distance, closeness, and the level of imposition.
What are the key concepts related to “face” in this analysis?
Key concepts related to "face" include positive face (the desire to be liked and approved of) and negative face (the desire to be unimpeded and autonomous). The analysis explores how politeness strategies are employed to either maintain or threaten these aspects of face.
What are the internal and external factors influencing politeness strategies?
Internal factors include the degree of imposition (how much someone is asking of another) and the degree of friendliness. External factors include social distance and closeness, power dynamics, and age differences between participants. The interplay of these factors influences the choice of politeness strategies used in a particular communication.
What is the overall conclusion of the text (as previewed)?
The preview doesn't offer a final conclusion but sets the stage for an investigation into the practical application of politeness theory, examining the extent to which theoretical models reflect real-world communication practices. The analysis of the "Friends" episode aims to provide insights into this question.
- Quote paper
- Jessica Narloch (Author), 2005, Language in use: The pragmatical term politeness in reference to the serial "Friends", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/70467
