Politeness and Culture

Thesis Statement:

Politeness can be realized in a number of ways, among which the use of language concerns us most in the present discussion. Politeness is then taken to be the various forms of language structure and usage which allow the members of a socio-cultural group to achieve their conflict-avoiding goals.

Outline

1.0          Introduction of Politeness

1.1         What is Politeness?

Politeness is a kind of socio-cultural phenomenon in human communication. Politeness is seen as the adequacy of linguistic behavior.

1.2         Motives of Being Politeness

The motives of being politeness lies in the consideration of "face". Face is viewed as a positive public self-image that is maintaining in society.

2.0 Culture

2.1 Define Culture

Culture consists of not only language, behavioural norms, which can be observed, but also values and beliefs underlying them.

2.2 Language and Culture

Every language is part of a culture.

3.0 Politeness and Culture

3.1 The Concept of Face In Chinese and English

3.1.1 The Source of B & L's " Face"

B & L characterize face as image that intrinsically belongs to the individual, to the self.

3.1.2 Chinese "Face"

Chinese speakers will be seen as being polite if they know how to attend to each other's and to enact speech acts appropriate to and worthy of such an image.

3.2 Differences between Chinese "face" and B&L's "face"

The differences are related to the conceptualization and the content of "face".

3.3 Cultural Assumption

3.3.1 A Historical Review

3.3.2 Two Construals of the Self: Interdependent and Independent

1.0         Introduction

1.1          What is politeness?

Politeness is a kind of socio-cultural phenomenon in human communication. It has been defined in diverse ways.

For Kochman (1984), politeness has a protective mission exercised in putting things in such a way as to take account of the feelings of others:...