SERMAN PRAYOGI

(082084040)

Chapter 71

Politeness and Interaction

1 Yule, Georg, 1996. Pragmatics. (page 59-70) Oxford: Oxford University Press

Factors of

Politeness and

Instruction External

Social Distance Internal

Amount of imposition

Or Degree of Friendliness

Politeness

Politeness

Definition: The

means employed to

show awareness of

another person‟s

face.

Face means the

public self-image of

a person.

General

Principles of

Politeness:

- Being Tactful

- Being

Generous

- Being Modest

- Being

Sympathetic

towards

others

Face Wants

Face Wants

In everyday

social

interaction,

people

generally

behave as if

their

expectations

concerning their

public self-

image.

If a speaker says

something that

represents a threat to

another individual‟s

expectations

regarding self-image,

it is described as a

face threatening act.

Being given the

possibility that some

action might be

interpreted as a

threat to another‟s

face, the speaker can

say something to

lessen the possible

threat. This is called

a face saving act.

Negative and Positive Face

A person‟s

positive face is

the need to be

accepted, even liked,

by others, to be

treated as a member

of the same group,

and to know that his

or her wants are

shared by others.

A person‟s

negative face is

the need to be

independent, to have

freedom of action,

and not to be

imposed on by

others.

The word „negative‟ doesn‟t mean „bad‟, it‟s just

the opposite pole from „positive‟.

Positive face = Positive Politeness

Negative Face = Negative Politeness

Self and Other: Say Nothing

Say something: Off and ON record

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 expressions used within that

event.

Off Record: You

can simply produce a

statement but it‟s not

directly addressed to

the other.

Example:

“Uh, I forgot my

pen”

On Record: You

can directly address

to other as a means of

expressing your

needs.

Example:

“Give me a pen”

Positive and Negative Politeness

Positive

Politeness

Strategy >>

Leads the

requester to

appeal to a

common goal, and

even friendship,

such as:

- How about

letting me use

your pen

This strategy has

a high risk of

refusal by the

hearer.

Negative

Politeness

Strategy >>

Performs a save

saving act such as:

- Could you

lend me a

pen?

The most typical

form used is a

question

containing a

modal verb. This

strategy is used in

most English-

speaking contexts

Strategies

The tendency to

use positive

politeness forms,

emphasizing

closeness between

speaker and

hearer, can be

seen as a

Solidarity

Strategy.

Example:

Come on, let‟s go

on to the party.

Everyone will be

there. We‟ll have

fun.

The tendency to

use negative

politeness forms,

emphasizes the

hearer‟s right to

freedom, can be

seen as a

Deference

strategy.

Example:

There‟s going to

be a party, if you

can make it. It

will be fun.

Strategies

Pre-sequences

That face is typically at risk when the self

needs to accomplish something involving

other. The greatest risk appears to be when

the other is put in a difficult position.

One way of avoiding risk is to provide an

opportunity for the other to halt the

potentially risky act. It‟s called a Pre-

sequence-involving pre-request, pre-

invention, and pre-announcement.

Her: Are you busy? (= pre-request)

Him: Not Really. (= go ahead)

Her: Check over this memo. (= request)

Him: Okay (= accept)