Definition Of The Politeness Theory - 704 Words

1.4. Theoretical Framework 1.4.1. Definition of the politeness theory. Watts (2003) explains, â€Å"Politeness is not something we are born with, but something we have to learn and be socialized into† (p. 9). Each linguist defines politeness in a different way. Cobley (2010) says that politeness is a way of showing consideration and social position in language. Politeness includes words that show respect such as please . He indicates, â€Å"The phenomenon has been the object of the considerable scrutiny in pragmatics† (p. 290). In addition, Yule (2006) describes politeness as â€Å"showing awareness of and consideration for another person s face† (p. 119). Huang (2014) defines it as any behavior that maintains his or her face through an interaction. Brown (1987) threw light on different aspects of behavior such as manners, courtesy, tact, etc...(p. 142). On the other hand, Thomas (1995) sees politeness as a real world goal, which means that politeness happens t o be only a desire to be pleasant to others. In his point of view, politeness should not be included within pragmatics, because linguists do not have access to the speakers intentions, they only hear what the speakers say and see how the hearers react (p. 150). Pinker (2007) indicates that politeness is not an etiquette to learn, but to the countless ways that can confuse their listeners (p. 380). Hence, one can define politeness in many ways, but what is surely common between them is thatShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On The Semantics Of Face And The Harlequin / Al Bhlwan /1671 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant theories in the pragmatics field, which is the Politeness theory. This theory is proposed by Penelope Brown and Stephen C.Levinson (1978) and it is based on the notion of face by Goffman (1967). This paper applies this theory to two plays, which are The Misanthrope by Moliere and The Harlequin /Al-Bhlwan/ by Yusuf Idris. In both plays, through the main characters, the authors point out the hypocrisy in the society they each belong to. This study explains the politeness theory throughRead MorePoliteness and Pragmatics in the Context of Cross-Cultural Communication1160 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout almost all societies, politeness plays an integral role in the effectiveness of social life and interaction within the context of both inter-cultural and cross-cultural communication. Within different cultures the definition of politeness may vary substantially and as a result may be appropriated in ways that are largely misunderstood within the context of other cultures. 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