Models of Politeness 3301-JF1632
The course is an overview of definitions and theories of politeness as a linguistic and pragmatic phenomenon. It compares two models of politeness, G. Leech's theory of politeness and P. Brown and S. Levinson's model of politeness, and explores their applications in a data-based analysis. Geoffrey Leech's concept of politeness is concerned with conflict avoidance, which ''can be measured in terms of the degree of effort put into the avoidance of a conflict situation''. The framework proposed by Leech is built around the Politeness Principle (''Minimize the expression of impolite beliefs'') and six maxims (Tact, Generosity, Approbation, Modesty, Agreement and Sympathy), which, along with the Irony Principle and the Banter Principle, are thoroughly discussed during the course.
Leech's theory of politeness is compared with Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson's model of politeness, which explains the phenomenon by addressing the concept of face (the public self-image of a person, emotional and social sense of self that everyone has and expects everyone else to recognize). Brown and Levinson ''view politeness as a complex system for softening face-threatening acts''. The issues raised during the course are kinds of face and face-threatening acts, strategies for doing face-threatening acts, and politeness strategies: bald on record, off record, positive politeness and negative politeness.
Specific topics to be discussed:
1. Politeness (definitions, theories of politeness - an overview).
2. The theory of conversational implicature: Paul Grice (the Co-operative Principle, conversational maxims, observing / flouting / violating / opting out of the maxims, types of implicature).
3. Robyn Lakoff's theory of politeness (the politeness rules).
4. Geoffrey Leech's theory of politeness (Interpersonal Rhetoric: Co-operative Principle (CP), Politeness Principle (PP), Irony Principle, Banter Principle; Politeness Principle: Tact Maxim, Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim, Sympathy Maxim).
5. Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson's model of politeness (the notion of ''face''; kinds of face, face-threatening acts; strategies for doing face-threatening acts; face-saving acts / politeness strategies: bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, off record.
6. Jonathan Culpeper's framework of impoliteness.
7. Janet Holmes - women, men and politeness.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Acquiring knowledge
1. The student learns linguistic terminology as well as basic concepts and principles of linguistics.
2. The student learns linguistic methodology practiced in the U.S. and the U.K. and acquires the knowledge of theory construction.
3. The student expands his/her knowledge of the English language, especially its pragmatics.
4. The student learns about communication processes in English, in both speech and writing.
5. The student learns about the major trends and new directions in linguistic research.
6. The student learns how to use research tools and research techniques of pragmatics, especially as they are applied in theories of politeness.
Acquiring expertise
1. The student acquires the expertise of how to use linguistic methodology in research projects.
2. The student acquires the expertise of how to construct his/her own research projects with regard to the goals, scope and methods.
3. The student is able to appreciate the variety of opinions presented in the subject literature and in the discussions, as well as to use them as the source of inspiration and not to treat them as dangerous to his/her own system of values.
Acquiring social skills
1. The student acquires the understanding of professional standards, especially the understanding of the ever changing environment in research and as well as the understanding of the importance of continuous education.
2. The student acquires social skills and understands the need to build social ties and engage in cooperation in the effort of making the world a better place.
3. The student shows tolerance for others; s/he respects people with different cultural behaviour and opinions.
English language practice on B2+ level
Assessment criteria
A written term paper on a selected topic related to politeness theories
Bibliography
Brown, P. and S. Levinson. 1987. Politeness. Some universals in language usage. Cambridge: CUP.
Culpeper, J. 1996. ''Towards an anatomy of impoliteness''. Journal of Pragmatics 25: 349-367.
Grice, H.P. 1975. ''Logic and conversation'', in P. Grice. 1989. Studies in the Ways of Words. Harvard UP: Cambridge, MA.
Holmes, J. 1995. Women, Men and Politeness. Longman: London.
Leech, G. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. Penguin.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: