Speech Acts
Use of language to achieve a certain purpose
Invitation
Request
Complaint
Apology
How are they done in Asian cultures?
Differences between Western and Asian?
Chinese
Invitation
Request
Reading
Invitation
#20 "Politeness Phenomena in Modern Chinese" -- Yueguo Gu
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politeness in general
Request
No reading
Politeness in Chinese
Politeness = 'Li'
'propriety, ritual' >> 'politeness' >> 'gift, present'
Face
reputation
respect by others
self-worth
"save face"
"lose face"
Four Maxims of Politeness
1. Self-denigration Maxim
denigrate self and elevate other
'Self' vs 'other'
Introduction between two people
Chinese vs. English
take the first chance to elevate other
wide extensions
'little dog' vs. 'a thousand pieces of gold'
'to prostrate self to visit' vs. 'bestow light'
'stupid opinion' vs. 'great opinion'
2. Address Maxim
Address the other person with an appropriate address term
recognize other
define social relation
social bonds
Factors
gender, age, occasion, location, status...
Chinese vs. English
first name
extended uses 'Uncle driver'
occupational titles 'Teacher Wang'
Did you call 'Uncle'?
Who should address whom first?
Speaking from child's point of view
3. Generosity Maxim
Maximize benefit to others
(at the conversation level)minimize cost to self
"no trouble at all"
4. Tact Maxim
Minimize cost to others
"It's too much trouble"
(at the conversation level)Maximize benefit received
Dialogue (p. 115)
A: Why don't you come to dinner tomorrow? (inviting)
B: I'm not coming, it's too much trouble for you. (declining)
A: It's no trouble at all. I already have all the food. (inviting again)
B: But you still have to cook it. (declining again)
A: Even if you don't come, we have to eat anyway. You must come. If you don't come, I will
feel offended. (insisting)
A: All right, don't go to too much trouble. (accepting)
The Balance Principle
reciprocity
"The best demonstration of politeness is reciprocity"
be indebted
'Pay back' the debt
Caution: don't go overboard
The Sincerity Principle
make sure the invitation/offer is genuine
Request
Direct:
please take out the garbage.
I would like for you to ...
I hereby request you to take out the garbage.
Indirect:
The garbage isn't out yet?
Could you take ...?
Would you mind taking ...?
Requests in Chinese
imperatives
direct questions
want/need statements
imperatives: action verbs
'Bring some sugar back'
'Go answer (the phone)'
'Pass the book to me'
economical, clear, explicit
Direct requests
shows upfront sincerity
Gricien's Maxim of Quantity
'Say no more than you need to'
'minimal effort for effective communication
English
Could you tell me where the station is?
Chinese
Mr. Grandpa, please tell me where the station is.
English
Could you please shut the door?
Chinese
Please shut the door.
Please help me shut the door.
Politeness is done in two ways:
a. terms of address
"Mr. Grandpa"
b. polite expressions
"Please"
"Sorry to trouble you"
Three contextual factors:
power
higher position --> more direct
distance
smaller distance --> more direct
ranking of imposition
smaller matter --> more direct
How are they done in Asian cultures?
Differences between Western and Asian?
Invitation
Chn invite/decline more than one round
Eng one round
Request
Chn direct
Eng indirect