Tues Nov 25 - Conversation & Politeness

Where do Indirect Speech Acts Come From?

• Gricean maxims dictate discreteness and efficiency

Basic Ideas of Politeness Theory

• Politeness: acting so as to take into account the feelings of others

• Positive face: desire to have public self/image appreciated

• Negative face: desire to be free from imposition

• Positive politeness: any effort to meet positive face needs; sympathy

• Negative politeness: any effort to meet negative face needs; deference

Positive Politeness

• Expressions of benevolence