Chapter 11: Speech Functions, Politeness, and Cross-Cultural Communication PDF

4.2 Speech functions, politeness, and cross-cultural communication D r. P h u o n g N g u y e n 4.2.1. The functions of speech 4.2.2. Politeness and address forms 4.2.3. Linguistic politeness in different cultures  4.2.1. The functions of speech GREETINGS:...

4.2 Speech functions, politeness, and cross-cultural communication D r. P h u o n g N g u y e n 4.2.1. The functions of speech 4.2.2. Politeness and address forms 4.2.3. Linguistic politeness in different cultures  4.2.1. The functions of speech GREETINGS: may or may not be followed by conversation may also function as a summons; mainly social function: establishes the proper level of interaction Affective and referential functions of speech: there are several categories relating to these functions 1. Expressive - utterances express the speaker’s feelings. 2. Directive - utterances attempt to get someone to do something 3. Referential - utterances provide information. 4. Metalinguistic - utterances comment on language itself. 5. Poetic - utterances focus on aesthetic features of language 6. Phatic - utterances construct solidarity, rapport and empathy with others  4.2.1. The functions of speech any utterance may in fact express more than one function any function may be served by a stretch of discourse - doesn’t exactly coincide with an utterance. fundamental functions of language the speaker (expressive) the addressee (directive) the message (referential) The phatic function an affective or social message Other speech function categories have been identified “tell me why” function- utterances seemed to be aimed at learning more about the world. commissives function - promises and threats performatives or declarations function - marriage vows, bets and declarations of war 4.2.1.1 Directives  4.2.1.1 Directives The directive function - getting people to do things. Vary in strength suggesting or inviting them to do ordering or commanding expressed in imperative form. Polite attempts - use interrogatives or declaratives Intonation, tone of voice and context Social factors affect a speaker’s choice of the appropriate form of directive social distance relative status and roles gender and age formality of the context  4.2.1.1 Directives close friends or intimates - more imperatives superiors use imperatives to subordinates clear- cut rules - use minimally explicit forms and be confident they will be interpreted accurately Formality and status - choice contributes to constructing dimensions of interaction. Expressing directives less directly and more politely The required action - a subordinate clause of the declarative sentence directives upwards - indirect forms, hints Relative influenced by age and size. Routineness or reasonableness of the task 4.2.1.1 Directives the addressee’s gender girls and women tend to favor more polite and less direct forms of directives than males male doctors typically used imperatives (e.g. eat more fruit), while female doctors tended to use less direct forms (e.g. maybe you could try fresh fruit for dessert). women use less direct forms of directive - receive less direct forms. Relative power or status and social distance we - pronouns can be used to balance solidarity with power.  4.2.1.1 Directives Exception a community of lower- class male migrant agricultural workers on the eastern coast of the USA all the directives took the form of imperatives the insecure and unpleasant work conditions - antagonism evident in many of their social interactions. Relations workers - bosses - mistrust and tension -Unhappy social relationships a threat can sometimes be more effective considerations of politeness - using terms of address for exemplification. 4.2.1.1 Directives Identity construction: a more abstract function of interaction Identity construction influenced by the social setting one’s social role particular goals and responses to others a specific situation macro- level social categories constructed by linguistic features interactional and local identity categories When online may construct rather different identities  4.2.2. Politeness and address forms Being polite – complicated involves understanding the language, the social and cultural values What is politeness? “…politeness involves contributing to social harmony and avoiding social conflict”. A summons is used to get someone to attend to the summoner; greetings may be used phatically linguistic politeness discourse strategies linguistic devices  4.2.2. Politeness and address forms Inappropriate linguistic choices may be considered rude assessing social relationships, dimensions of social distance or solidarity, and relative power or status in a specific social context. understand the social values 2 different types of politeness Positive politeness solidarity or rapport oriented emphasizes shared attitudes and values. Negative politeness based on power relations Expressing oneself appropriately in terms of social distance and respecting status differences.  4.2.2. Politeness and address forms  4.2.2. Politeness and address forms type of relationship involved. in Britain- Doctors and patients similarly tend to use mutual TLN put the emphasis on the social distance dimension even long- standing Transactional relationships are usually one-dimensional Age Adults use FN to children Young people to receive FN in any context; often be expected to use TLN back the use of familiarizers such as mate, dude, babe, bro, sis, cuz, love, etc. depend on the context of a conversation  4.2.2. Politeness and address forms Getting the linguistic expression of social distance “right” as far as your addressee is concerned. British - mutual TLN (Mrs Landy, Mr Duncan) the norm between upper working- class neighbors In North America, the first names (FN) to people you work with In earlier centuries, Status was the major consideration used TLN (or an appropriate kin- term) upwards to superiors FN downwards to subordinates, Equals used mutual TLN with people they did not know well, mutual FN to friends. Today, more complicated a conflict of norms in two situations (1) high status with high solidarity (2) low status with low solidarity solidarity dimension tends to win out  4.2.2. Politeness and address forms norms of address usage have changed over time -> more emphasis on solidarity and less on status. NOT in many Asian societies remains on status differences. recognizes relative status explicitly - constructs both the speaker’s and the addressee’s identities that interaction is NOT static what is considered polite or impolite may emerge, change and develop throughout an interaction… people unintentionally offend others as - different norms and expectations about how to express friendliness or respect.  4.2.3. Linguistic politeness in different cultures cross- cultural communication misunderstanding relates to different assumptions deriving from different “normal” environments Need to learn what the words mean in the cultural contexts involves some understanding of the cultural and social norms  4.2.3. Linguistic politeness in different cultures Sociolinguistic norms for polite acceptance and refusal Western culture – plausible, reasonably and specific excuse In some cultures - general vague formulas in Britain and New Zealand - more specific reason solidarity is the dominant → privacy is reduced and vagueness about one’s activities is seen as evasive. How do you get enough to eat parts of India and Taiwan, parts of the Arabic-speaking world - impolite to accept food when it is first offered. Only on the third offer is it appropriate to accept Plying someone with food is - positively polite behavior, sharp economic differences culture In many countries, being forced to repeatedly refuse offers of food - embarrassing.  4.2.3.1 Greetings Greeting an affective function of establishing non- threatening contact and rapport culture specific. The Māori ritual of encounter- complex procedure. rules governing which particular elements occur on any particular occasion. The more formal and important the occasion, the more speeches there are, and the longer they are 4.2.3.1 Greetings Discussion 11 Think and write down 3 obvious and 3 less obvious verbal ways of telling people to keep silent Analyze what social factors affect speakers’ choice of the appropriate form of the 6 directive forms for “keep silent” including social distance relative status and roles gender and age formality of the context Class Discussion 11 1 2 3 12:30 -15:00 15:10-17:40 Go to your class Complete Don’t forget to Voicethread include your Discussion name and 12:30 -15:00 11 tasks student id. 15:10-17:40 Homework Complete Class Read Chapter 12 Discussion 11 THANK YOU