2.The definition and the principles of politeness
2.1 The definition of politeness
What is politeness?It seems to be a simple question, but in fact, it is not as simple as we imagine.In our daily life, people often make judgement about which behavior is polite and which is impolite.For instance, to obey the traffic regulations is considered polite; to interrupt others when they are talking is considered impolite; to offer your seat to the elder on public transportation is polite; to be late on appointments is impolite; to greet your teachers in the morning is regarded polite and to use others’ private things without permission is regarded impolite.So politeness can first of all be thought as a phenomenon, an observable social phenomenon.
Whereas, …show more content…
Anthropologists Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson identified two kinds of politeness, deriving from Erving Goffman's concept of face.They are negative politeness and positive politeness.
2.2 Geoffrey Leech’s Politeness Principle
As 1.1.2 mentioned, Grice's Cooperative Principle to help explain the relationship between the literal meaning and the pragmatic meaning of words, but did not explain why it is necessary, why the speakers will violate the conversational maxims.Therefore, Grice's Cooperative Principle needs to be added.Leech (1983) proposed the Politeness Principle, which supplements Grice’s Cooperative Principle.
Under two general requirements—maximize (other things being equal) the expression of polite beliefs and minimize (other things being equal) the expression of impolite beliefs, Leech proposed six specific maxims of Politeness Principle that can restrict interpersonal communication:
(1)Tact maxim
a.Minimize cost to …show more content…
b. I can lend you my car.
c.You must come and have dinner with us.
d.We must come and have dinner with you.
In sentences b and c, the addressers give the max benefit to the addressees, so it seems to be polite and can be easily accepted by the addressees.But in the sentences a and d, the addressees can gain little benefit so the request seems to be difficult to accept.
The third and forth maxims focus on the evaluation of oneself and the other people who are talking with him.And these two maxims can apply to the expressives and assertives. For instance:
(1) a. What a marvellous meal you cooked!
b. What an awful meal you cooked!
(2) A: Her dress is beautiful!
B: Yes, isn’t it!
(3) A: Your shoes are beautiful!
B: Yes, I think
2.1 The definition of politeness
What is politeness?It seems to be a simple question, but in fact, it is not as simple as we imagine.In our daily life, people often make judgement about which behavior is polite and which is impolite.For instance, to obey the traffic regulations is considered polite; to interrupt others when they are talking is considered impolite; to offer your seat to the elder on public transportation is polite; to be late on appointments is impolite; to greet your teachers in the morning is regarded polite and to use others’ private things without permission is regarded impolite.So politeness can first of all be thought as a phenomenon, an observable social phenomenon.
Whereas, …show more content…
Anthropologists Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson identified two kinds of politeness, deriving from Erving Goffman's concept of face.They are negative politeness and positive politeness.
2.2 Geoffrey Leech’s Politeness Principle
As 1.1.2 mentioned, Grice's Cooperative Principle to help explain the relationship between the literal meaning and the pragmatic meaning of words, but did not explain why it is necessary, why the speakers will violate the conversational maxims.Therefore, Grice's Cooperative Principle needs to be added.Leech (1983) proposed the Politeness Principle, which supplements Grice’s Cooperative Principle.
Under two general requirements—maximize (other things being equal) the expression of polite beliefs and minimize (other things being equal) the expression of impolite beliefs, Leech proposed six specific maxims of Politeness Principle that can restrict interpersonal communication:
(1)Tact maxim
a.Minimize cost to …show more content…
b. I can lend you my car.
c.You must come and have dinner with us.
d.We must come and have dinner with you.
In sentences b and c, the addressers give the max benefit to the addressees, so it seems to be polite and can be easily accepted by the addressees.But in the sentences a and d, the addressees can gain little benefit so the request seems to be difficult to accept.
The third and forth maxims focus on the evaluation of oneself and the other people who are talking with him.And these two maxims can apply to the expressives and assertives. For instance:
(1) a. What a marvellous meal you cooked!
b. What an awful meal you cooked!
(2) A: Her dress is beautiful!
B: Yes, isn’t it!
(3) A: Your shoes are beautiful!
B: Yes, I think