1. The Rose and Its Name http://simona-petrescu.name
2. Saying hello, goodbye, thank you etc? Mary, or Ms. Smith?
Not telling the truth when it hurts? Doing things, e.g. helping
with a bag, holding the door open etc?
3. Politeness: Some Universals in Using Language, by Penelope
Brown, Steven what we say is Levinson, 1987 Language is action /
what we do to people and ourselves Speakers use language with a
purpose Rationality Face
4. Mutual vulnerability of face We all have needs Positive face
needs: solidarity Negative face needs: freedom, territory Some
verbal acts are intrinsically facethreatening
5. Negative: Positive: approach By showing solidarity avoid By
reassuring your wants are my wants I will not trespass your
territory Compliments, invitati ons, offers, greetings, praise
Indirect questions or requests, I was hoping, I was wondering
etc
6. Direct Positive Negati ve Allusive Dont say it Help me with
the bag! Sorry to put you out, but please help me with the bag! I
was wondering if you could help me with the bag! This bag is
killing me! .
7. Questions Offers of help; advertising Compliments Dont
hesitate to contact us
8. Office worker inviting customer to sit down: Im afraid itll
take rather long. I was wondering if youd like to sit down. Do sit
down, please!
9. Man to woman, first encounter, party, compliment: You do
have the most ravishing blue eyes! Could I tell you that your eyes
are quite nice? Did I see your picture in a magazine, by any
chance?
10. Conference organizer to potential guest who announces he
cant participate: Its all right, dont worry, well find a
replacement. Were terribly sorry you cannot keep your promise. Were
so sorry you wont be able to attend.
11. Old friend, request: Look, Id really need your CD player
for Saturday. Is it all right if I borrow it? Theres something I
have to tell you. I know it might not be the right moment, maybe
youll be mad at me, but you see, Ive got this party on Saturday and
my CD players broken down. I was hoping maybe only if you can do
without it would it be possible to lend me your own CD player, at
least for 2 hours?
12. some people prefer to take the blame on themselves rather
than complain; some people humbly reject compliments; some people
sometimes formulate statements in the form of questions (Why dont
we?, Could you tell me? etc); sometimes a mistake was made is more
appropriate than you made a mistake; some people offend even if
they use perfectly courteous language?
13. The Rose and Its Name http://simona-petrescu.name
