Linguistic politeness in British English and Thai : a comparative analysis of three expressive speech acts
This study attempts to further our understanding of linguistic politeness by focusing on both a Western and a non-Western language. It is based on two sets of data (one spontaneous and the other elicited) and provides a comparative analysis of three expressive speech acts produced by native speakers of British English and Thai. At face value, compliments, apologies and thanks may seem to have little referential meaning, yet these speech acts can be crucially important in originating, maintaining or even terminating social relationships. The data reveal a tendency for the two groups of speakers to use the three politeness devices in a different manner, reflecting cross-cultural differences in social norms and value systems. This project follows earlier studies of similar nature, in particular those carried out on different varieties of English. The findings are interpreted within pragmatic and sociolinguistic theoretical frameworks, and are discussed in the following format: linguistic structures of the speech acts, their functions, the topics of compliments, apologies and thanks, interpersonal and contextual factors influencing the production of these expressives, and the responses given to them. The analysis
Intachakra, Songthama
Comparative linguistics ; Modern Languages ; British English ; Thai
Linguistic politeness in British English and Thai : a comparative analysis of three expressive speech acts. This study attempts to further our understanding of linguistic politeness by focusing on both a Western and a non-Western language. It is based on two sets of data (one spontaneous and the other elicited) and provides a comparative analysis of three expressive speech acts produced by native speakers of British English and Thai. At face value, compliments, apologies and thanks may seem to have little referential meaning, yet these speech acts can be crucially important in originating, maintaining or even terminating social relationships. The data reveal a tendency for the two groups of speakers to use the three politeness devices in a different manner, reflecting cross-cultural differences in social norms and value systems. This project follows earlier studies of similar nature, in particular those carried out on different varieties of English. The findings are interpreted within pragmatic and sociolinguistic theoretical frameworks, and are discussed in the following format: linguistic structures of the speech acts, their functions, the topics of compliments, apologies and thanks, interpersonal and contextual factors influencing the production of these expressives, and the responses given to them. The analysis
linguistic_politeness british english thai comparative_analysis expressive speech_act study_attempt linguistic_politeness focus western non_western language base two_set data spontaneous elicit provide comparative_analysis expressive speech_act produce native_speaker british english thai face_value compliment apology thanks may seem little referential meaning yet speech_act crucially important maintain even social_relationship data_reveal tendency two_group speaker_use politeness device different manner reflect cross_cultural difference social_norm value system project follow early study similar nature particular carry different variety_english finding interpret within pragmatic sociolinguistic theoretical_framework discuss follow format linguistic_structure speech_act function topic compliment apology thanks interpersonal contextual_factor influence production response give them analysis