Spoken Language Power Grices Maxims and Face Theory.

Question 1

Outline all the maxims.

Answer 1

Quantity.
Quality.
Relevance.
Manner.

Question 2

Define Quantity.

Answer 2

Say neither more nor less than the discourse requires.

Question 3

Define Quality.

Answer 3

Do not lie; do not make unsupported claims.

Question 4

Define relevance.

Answer 4

Be relevant to discourse.

Question 5

Define manner.

Answer 5

Be brief and orderly; avoid ambiguity and obscurity.

Question 6

Who theorised the face theory?

Answer 6

Erving Goffman (1955).

Question 7

Outline Erving’s face theory.

Answer 7

Erving suggested that we present a particular image of ourselves to others. This ‘image’ is called our ‘face’.
We can attack other peoples ‘face’, in order to save or boost ours. And they can attack ours.

Question 8

What does it mean to be tactful in terms of the ‘face’.

Answer 8

We can be tactful and will keep our reservations to ourselves in order to ‘save’ the other persons ‘face’ and hope they would also save ours as well.

Question 9

What does it mean to reject the ‘face’ and define a face threatening act.

Answer 9

We may reject the ‘face’, or image that others present to us or we might accuse them of being insincere or mock them for trying to be more knowledgeable than they actually are.

If you say something that challenges or rejects someone’s ‘face’ this is known as a face threatening act.

Question 10

Outline the purpose of the face.

Answer 10

To maintain status (power) either within the in society. People conversation or within society. People with lower status tend to be more attentive to the face needs of those who are higher status than them etc.

Question 11

Define a super maxim.

Answer 11

A way that speakers support communication with each other, being polite and mindful of others’ personal or face needs.

Question 12

Define a positive face need.

Answer 12

A universal human need to feel valued and appreciated.

Question 13

Define a negative face need.

Answer 13

A universal human need to feel independent and not be imposed upon.

Question 14

Define a face threatening act.

Answer 14

A speech act that has the potential to damage someone’s self-esteem either in terms of positive or negative politeness.

Question 15

Define a politeness strategy.

Answer 15

Distinctive ways in which speakers can choose to speak to avoid threatening face.

Question 16

Define a negative politeness strategy.

Answer 16

Speech that addresses someone’s negative face needs.

E.g. “I don’t mean to impose”.

Question 17

Define a positive politeness strategy.

Answer 17

Speech that addresses someone’s positive face needs.

E.g. “Your work is amazing” etc.

Question 18

Outline how a direct request affects face.

Answer 18

Threatens it by directly addressing a problem.

Question 19

Outline how an indirect request

Answer 19

Avoids being explicit and therefore tries to minimise any threat to the face.

Question 20

Define power asymmetry.

Answer 20

A marked difference in the power status of individuals involved in discourse.

Question 21

Define an unequal encounter.

Answer 21

An alternative term for asymmetrical, highlighting the power one speaker has over another.

Question 22

Define a powerful participent.

Answer 22

A speaker with a higher status in a given context, who is therefore able to impose a degree of power.

Question 23

Define a less powerful participent.

Answer 23

Those with less status in a given context, who are subject to constraints imposed by a more powerful participants.

Question 24

Define comnstraints.

Answer 24

A way in which powerful participants may block or control the contributions of the less powerful participants, for example through controlling content or interrupting.

Question 25

Outline the effects of an unequal encounter.

Answer 25

In unequal encounters, the normal conventions of turn taking, such as an individuals ability to select turns and change the topic of conversations, do not operate as usual. Instead, it may be said that powerful participants place constrains upon less powerful ones and that these are a direct result of the power relationship between speakers.

Question 26

What does it mean to break a maxim?

Answer 26

We can violate them - we break the maxims covertly, so that other people do not know. Essentially, we lie.

We can flout the maxims - We break it in an obvious way.