Politeness in Language

Studies in its History, Theory and Practice

Richard J. Watts, Sachiko Ide, Konrad Ehlich

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9783110131840
• eBook ISBN:
  9783110886542
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Linguistics
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

This collection of 13 original papers focuses on the phenomenon of politeness in language. It presents the most important problems in developing a theory of linguistic politeness, which must deal with the crucial differences between lay notions of politeness in different cultures and the term 'politeness' as a concept within a theory of linguistic politeness. The universal validity of the term itself is called into question, as are models such as those developed by Brown and Levinson, Lakoff, and Leech. New approaches are suggested. In addition to this theoretical discussion, an empirical section presents a number of case studies and research projects in linguistic politeness. These show what has been achieved within current models and what still remains to be done, in particular with reference to cross-cultural studies in politeness and differences between a Western and a non-Western approach to the subject.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Contents
• List of Contributors
• Introduction
• Part 1: The Theory and History of Linguistic Politeness
• 1. Intracultural tact versus intercultural tact
• 2. Linguistic politeness and politic verbal behaviour: Reconsidering claims for universality
• 3. On the historicity of politeness
• 4. Literary texts and diachronic aspects of politeness
• 5. Politeness in linguistic research
• 6. Traditional and modern views: the social constitution and the power of politeness
• Part 2: Empirical Studies in Politeness
• 7. Secondhand politeness
• 8. Between matter-of-factness and politeness
• 9. Children’s understanding of white lies
• Part 3: Politeness in a Non-Western Cultural Setting
• 10. The metapragmatics of politeness in Israeli society
• 11. The concept of politeness: An empirical study of American English and Japanese
• 12. Linguistic etiquette in Japanese society
• 13. Politeness in Thai
• References
• Author and subject index