1、A Pragmatic Study on Politeness12英英2小组成员：小组成员：刘盼刘盼 魏梦娟魏梦娟 孙娴孙娴 薛奇妹薛奇妹杨洁杨洁 陈佳炜陈佳炜CatalogueDefinitionBackgroundLeehs PPGu Yueguos PP DefinitionPoliteness as a social phenomenon can be observed in all languages and cultures，and it has long been made an important object of study in linguistics.Politenes
2、s Principle is that in the same other conditions,minimizing the expression of impolite beliefs.Politeness is the attitude of one party to another party.It comes to both parties.The English famous pragmatist G.N.Leech(1983.64)called the two parties self and other.In letters,self”usually means to the
3、writer,and other may be the receiver,or a third party who has been mentioned or not mentioned in the letter.Therefore,politeness,what a writer express can be aimed at a receiver or a third party.It is not symmetry in nature.Two main approaches to politeness before LeechLakoff 1)formality:dont impose
4、/remain aloof 2)hesitancy:give the addressee his options3)equality:act as though you and the addressee were equal/make him feel goodBrown&Levinson（FST）Positive face-the positive consistent self-image that people have and want to be appreciated and approved of by at least some other people.Negative f
5、ace-the rights to territories,freedom of action and freedom from imposition;essentially the want that your actions be not impeded by others.The politeness principle is a series of maxims,which Leech has proposed as a way of explaining how politeness operates in conversational exchanges.Leech defines
6、 politeness as forms of behavior that establish and maintain comity.He lists six maxims:tact,generosity,approbation,modesty,agreement,and sympathy.Note that these maxims vary from culture-to-culture,meaning,what may be considered as polite in one culture,may be downright rude or strange in another.L
7、eechs maximsThe Tact maximThe tact maxim states:Minimize the cost to other;maximize the benefits to otherThe first part of this maxim fits in with Brown and Levinsons negative politeness strategy of minimising the imposition,and the second part reflects the positive politeness strategy of attending
8、to the hearers interests,wants,and needs e.g.Could I interrupt you for a second?If I could just clarify this then.The Generosity maximLeechs Generosity maxim states:Minimize the benefit to self;maximize cost to self.Unlike the tact maxim,the maxim of generosity focuses on the speaker,and says that o
9、thers should be put first instead of the self.e.g.You relax and let me do the dishes.You must come and have dinner with us.The Approbation maximThe Approbation maxim states:Minimize dispraise of other;maximize praise of other.e.g.I heard you singing at the karaoke last night.It was,um.different.John
10、,I know youre a genius-would you know how to solve this math problem here?The Modesty maximThe Modesty maxim states:Minimize praise of self;maximize dispraise of self.e.g.Oh,Im so stupid-I didnt make a note of our lecture!Did you?The Agreement maximThe Agreement maxim runs as follows:Minimize disagr
11、eement between self and other;maximize agreement between self and other.It is in line with Brown and Levinsons positive politeness strategies of seek agreement and avoid disagreement,to which they attach great importance.e.g.I dont want my daughter to do this,I want her to do that.B:Yes,but maam,I t
12、hought we resolved this already on your last visit.The Sympathy maximThe sympathy maxim states:Minimize anitipathy between self and other;maximize sympathy between self and other.This includes a small group of speech acts such as congratulation,commiseration,and expressing condolences-all of which i
13、s in accordance with Brown and Levinsons positive politeness strategy of attending to the hearers interests,wants,and needs.e.g.I was sorry to hear about your father.Gu Yueguos Politeness Principle1.The Self-denigration Maxim2.The Address Maxim3.The Refinement Maxim4.The Agreement Maxim5.The Virtues-Words-Deeds MaximGu concludes that the Self-denigration Maxim is the most Chinese culture-specific politeness maxim.He says that the Chinese people usually deny the others compliment and denigrate themselves to show that they are modest when they are complimented.Thank you
