Language Issues Theories Flashcards
Politeness Theory - Theorists
Brown & Levinson
‘People have a universal desire to be treated with politeness.’
FACE HYPOTHESIS
Politeness Theory - Positive face
The desire to remain respecting and admired by others
✩Flattery & compliments
✩Essentially acts to ‘cheer up’ the individual involved
✩Showing sympathy
Politeness Theory - Negative face
When we try to have the smallest impact on other’s choices as possible
✩wary of upsetting people
✩Hedging - Completely avoids controversial topics as not to cause offence
Politeness Theory - Face definition
GOVERNS OUR POLITENESS
- Changes in different social situations
Politeness Principle - Theorist
Lakoff
Conversational interaction is governed by such politeness principle
Politeness Principle - 3 Principles
Don’t impose
Give options
Make your reader feel good
Grice’s Maxims
Maxim - rule or regulation
Breaking Maxims - Unintentional
Flouting Maxims - Having little regard for the maxims
Grice’s 4 Maxims
Manner
Relevance
Quantity
Quality
Maxim of Manner
Be clear and unambiguous
Maxim of Relevance
Stay relevant with your language (don’t go off topic)
Maxim of Quantity
Don’t say too much or too little
Maxim of Quality
Always tell the truth (or what you believe to be true
Communication Accommodation Theory - Theorist
Giles
Communication Accommodation Theory
When a speaker will naturally adapt their language to accommodate those they’re speaking to
Considered polite to accommodate for who we’re speaking to
Assertions - Theorist
Fairclough
[when opinions are stated as facts]
Assertions - 8 Types
Basic / Empathetic / Escalating / Confrontive / I-language / Positive / Fogging
Basic Assertion
Stating opinion as fact
Empathetic Assertion
Recognition of other person’s situation or feelings followed by another statement standing up for speaker’s rights
Escalating Assertion
Start with a “minimal” assertive response… Other fails to respond… Gradually escalate the assertion. Increasingly firm without being aggressive
Confrontive Assertion
Describe what was to be done… Describe what actually occurred… Express what you want
I-Language Assertion
Description of behaviour, how it’s affecting you, describe your feelings, describe your desire:
Positive Assertion
Expressing positive feelings about yourself or someone else
Repeated Assertion
Opposite of escalation. Simple, calm, repetition–saying what you want over and over again, rote repetition
Fogging Assertion
Acknowledging possibility of truth to what other person is saying–agreeing in concept but not necessarily in fact
