The purpose of the present paper from a sociolinguistic stance is to consider the aspects of solidarity and politeness including face-threatening acts from the point of view of their linguistic components, relevance for social interaction and their usage in male/female discourse. In addition, the apparent complexity of the sociolinguistic dimension of solidarity and politeness will be dealt with to give details to the function and consequence which arises from the use of address terms as well as politeness and solidarity patterns reflecting complex social relationships linguistically. In essence, this paper will show that certain linguistic choices a speaker makes indicate the social relationship that the speaker perceives to exist between his or her interlocutor. Aspects of social relationships, such as distance, solidarity or intimacy are given linguistic expression by address systems consisting of a T/V distinction and address terms. This way, speakers are given the chance to either be more formal or less formal with their interlocutor on certain occasions (Hickey 2007: 3). Hence, the aim of this chapter is to consider the basic concepts and terminology of a T/V distinction as well as forms of address and so pointing out the only two pronominal variants tu and vous of address in French and German which either represent social distance or intimacy between interlocutors. In addition, a general description of the semantic evolution of the two pronouns of address will be offered. In dealing with the pronouns of address in French and German from the point of view of their function in actual speech, this chapter describes on the one hand the semantic differences existing today among the pronouns of address and on the other hand contrasts these two languages in regard to their different usage of address pronouns in social relationships.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Generalisations concerning address systems
- Basic concepts and origin of T/V distinction and address terms
- Semantic differences and similarities among French and German T/V usage
- Key topics in social interaction
- Politeness
- Positive realizations of politeness
- Negative realizations of politeness
- Face
- Solidarity
- Politeness
- Politeness and solidarity patterns in male/female discourse
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the sociolinguistic aspects of solidarity and politeness, including face-threatening acts, from the perspective of their linguistic components, their relevance in social interaction, and their usage in male/female discourse. The paper aims to delve into the complex sociolinguistic dimensions of solidarity and politeness, focusing on the function and consequences of address terms, politeness, and solidarity patterns in reflecting complex social relationships linguistically. It demonstrates that specific linguistic choices made by a speaker indicate the social relationship perceived to exist between the speaker and their interlocutor.
- Linguistic markers of solidarity and politeness
- The impact of social relationships on linguistic choices
- The role of address terms in conveying social distance and intimacy
- The influence of gender on politeness and solidarity patterns
- The function of face-threatening acts in social interactions
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the purpose and scope of the paper, which aims to explore the sociolinguistic aspects of solidarity and politeness in relation to face-threatening acts and their linguistic manifestations in social interaction, particularly in male/female discourse. The paper also highlights the importance of understanding the function and consequences of address terms, politeness, and solidarity patterns in conveying complex social relationships linguistically.
- Generalisations concerning address systems: This chapter focuses on the linguistic expression of social relationships, such as distance, solidarity, or intimacy, through address systems consisting of a T/V distinction and address terms. It explores the basic concepts and terminology related to the T/V distinction and forms of address, particularly in French and German, where the pronouns "tu" and "vous" indicate social distance or intimacy between interlocutors. The chapter also examines the semantic evolution of these pronouns and contrasts their usage in different social relationships in French and German.
- Basic concepts and origin of T/V distinction and address terms: This chapter delves into the sociolinguistic significance of the term "address" as a fundamental concept in address theory. It defines address as a speaker's linguistic reference to their interlocutor, excluding linguistic means of initiating contact or establishing first contact. The chapter examines the various forms of address, including pronouns, verbs, and nouns, focusing on the second-person pronouns used to address interlocutors, such as English "you," German "du" and "Ihr," and French "tu" and "vous." It also explores the semantic evolution of the T/V distinction, tracing its origins from Latin "tu" and "vos" to its contemporary use in various languages, highlighting the historical shift from a plural form to a singular form denoting social distance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper primarily focuses on the interplay of sociolinguistics, solidarity, politeness, address systems, face-threatening acts, and gender in discourse. The paper examines the linguistic markers of social distance, intimacy, and power, particularly in the context of French and German T/V usage. It explores how these linguistic choices reflect and influence social relationships and interactions, with particular attention to the role of gender in shaping politeness and solidarity patterns.
- Quote paper
- Hildegard Schnell (Author), 2007, Sociolinguistics, solidarity and politeness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/94130
