Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness & Interaction
yule
English Department Faculty of Languages
Universitas Widyatma Bandung
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness & interaction
A linguistic interaction is
inevitably a social interaction.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness & interaction
To make sense of what is said in an
interaction,
- look at various factors which relate to
social distance and closeness.
Some of these factors are established
prior to an interaction and thus are
largely external factors.
Involve the relative status of the
participants, based on social values such
as age and power.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness & interaction
- We take part in a wide range of interactions
(mostly with strangers) where the social
distance determined by external factors is
dominant.
- Internal factor such as amount of
imposition or degree of friendliness can
result in the initial social distance
changing and being mark as less, and
more during the course of the interaction
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness & interaction
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness & interaction
lower status tend to mark social
distance
higher status tend to use address
forms include a title and a last
name.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
The Interpretation of what is uttered
usually goes beyond what was
intended to be expressed, and
includes evaluations in terms of
politeness. Therefore, one can clearly
observe that much more is
communicated than is said during a
sociolinguistic interaction (Yule,
1996).
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness
Brown and Levinson (1978) suggest that
a need to be polite is common to all
cultures.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Politeness
In a common sense:
Being polite showing good manners and
consideration for other people (e.g. open
the door for a lady, give your seat to an
elderly person in public transport).
Linguistic politeness: the way people
choose to speak and how the hearers
react to their speech.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
THE CONCEPT OF FACE
Brown and Levinson (1978) have
concluded that, in order to enter into
social relationships, all people must
acknowledge the face of other people.
As a technical term, face means the
public self-image of a person. It refers
to that emotional and social sense of self
that every one has and expects
everyone else to recognize.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
In an interaction, can be defined as
the means employed to show
awareness of another persons face.
In this sense, POLITENESS can be
accomplished in situations of social
distance or closeness.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Showing awareness for another
persons face when that other seems
socially distance is often described in
terms of respect and deference
Showing the equivalence awareness
when that other is socially close is
often described in terms of
friendliness, camaraderie, or
solidarity.
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Face wants
People usually behave as if their
expectations concerning their public selfimage, or their face wants, will be
respected.
If a speaker says something that
represents a threat to another individuals
expectations regarding self image, it is
described as face threatening act,
The speaker can say something to lessen
the possible threat. This called a face
saving act
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Someone face can be challenged into two
Either by telling him what to do, which
implies the speaker has power over him,
or
By showing you disagree with or do not
appreciate his values or beliefs
If you challenge someones face, they will
challenge you back
We use politeness with other people, so
that they will not attack us
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
We have to make a choice and provide a
balance between getting a message
across directly, which might challenge
someone, or
Getting a message across indirectly, which
is more polite but sometimes means the
message itself is lost.
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
People can choose between a variety of
expressions which show varying degrees
of politeness and face shaving (Francesca
Pridahma 2001:53)
The straight command:shut the door!
does not respect a persons right to have
control over their own body. Direct
command like this only issued by superior
to inferior.
Giving straight command like this can,
therefore , be rude or patronizing
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
To avoid rudeness, politeness factors hve
introduced into the language,\.
Examples:
- Please: Shut the door please.
- Hedges: if it isnt too much troulbe.
- Command hidden as question: Could you
pass the salt please.
- Using provisional language to imply
negotiation if possible e,g: if, would, and
can
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
The number of hedges or politeness factors in
a request or command is in proportion to the
amount that the speaker feels she or he is
imposing to the listener;
It wouldnt be too much trouble, I mean if you
dont mind, I would be grateful if youd type
this letter, therefore seems ridiculous
because there are too much politeness factors
used in relation to the difficulty of the task.
Sometimes, to save face, the speaker makes
the request as impersonal and as indirect e.g
if this letter was type, I would very grateful.
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Say nothing
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
One way to see the relevance of the
relationship between these politeness
concepts and language use is to take a
single speech event and map out the
different interpretations associated with
different possible expresions used within
that event.
Self= you
Other:
Person next
to you
Say something
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Off Record
Even if you decide to say something, you
dont actually have to ask for anything.
These statements are not directly
addressed to the other.
Its too cold in here
Say something
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
On Record
These statements are directly addressed
the other as a means of expressing your
needs.
Bald on record: Directly asked.
Mitigating devices
- Close the window Would you?
- Lend me a pen Please?
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Summary
Being nice to other people
Linguistic politeness studies face
In pragmatics your face is your public selfimage
Politeness is showing awareness and
consideration to another persons facr
sasmi farida; SEMANTICS
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
Faculty of Languages
Widyatama
University
End of lecture
