politeness

Principles of Politeness

It is possible to treat politeness as a fixed concept, as in the idea of : polite social behavior:. Or etiquette, within a culture. It’s also possible to specify a number of different general principles for being polite in social interaction within particular culture.  Some of these might include being tactful, generous, modest, and sympathetic towards others. Let’s us assume that participant in an interaction are generally aware that such norms and principles exist in the society and large. Within an interaction however there is a more narrowly specified type of politeness at work. In other to describe, we need the concept of  face.

But, before we explain about politeness, we will explain form expression about these maxim first. The first komisif is using to assert promise or offer, the second infositif is form utterance use to offer command or order, the third expressive is form utterance  use to offer psychology act of speaker toward something situation. And the last assertive is form utterance always use to offer saying truth of proposition. 

The are many types of politeness, that is :

1.       Tact Maxim

Tact maxim is expressed in speech impositif and komisif, that is requires each participant to minimize the loss of speech act for others people, or to maximize profits for others people.  For example:

a. Answer the phone!                                                  Not polite

b. will you answer the phone?                                               polite

c. can you answer the phone?                                     polite

d. would you answering the phone may?                   Polite

2.       Approbation Maxim

This maxim is expressed in speech komisif and impositif requires, that is  each participant to maximize the loss of speech act for themselves, and to minimize its own way.

Example:

a. You have to lend me a car.                                                 polite

b. I'll lend you a car.                                                   Not polite

c. I would come home for lunch you.                         polite

d. I would invite you to come home for dinner.         Not polite

A and C of speech is less polite speakers seeking to maximize profits for themselves and made the other person. Instead of speech act B and D to maximize harm other people by maximizing self-harm.

3.      Generosity Maxim

Generosity maxim is expressed in speech expressive and assertive, that is  maximize respect for others, and to minimize respect  to others.

Example:

a. + Your playing is very good.                                  polite

-  I do not think the mediocre.

b. + Your game is very good.                                                 polite

-  Obviously, anyone had a play.

Character (+) in (a) and (b) be polite as it seeks to maximize profit (-) vs. he said. Opponents said (-) in (a) apply paradox pragmatic by trying to minimize the awards themselves. Thus, (-) in (b) is not polite.

4.       Modesty Maxim

Modesty maxim is expressed in speech expressive and assertive, that is Requires every participant substitutions to maximize self-disrespect, and minimizing the self-respect. Example:

(A) + they were so kind to us.                                                polite

- Yes They were, Weren’t They?

(B) + you were so kind to us.

- Yes l was, l Was not.

Discourse (A) comply with due modesty principle (+) extolling the virtues of others, and the response that is given (-) praised the people in question. While (B), speech (-) in (B) does not comply with the maxims of politeness because it maximizes the self-respect

5.      Agreement Maxim

Agreement maxim is expressed in speech expressive and assertive, said outline each and every opponent said to maximize compatibility between them, and minimize the discrepancies between them. Example:

(A) + English language is difficult, isn’t?                               polite

- Yes.

(B) + language of the United Kingdom is difficult, yes?

- (Who says), easy (once).

Contribution (-) in (A) is more polite than in (B) as (-) in (B) to maximize its inconsistence with the statement of (+). In case this does not mean people have to always agree with the opinion or statement he said the opposite.

6.       Sympathy Maxim

Sympathy maxim is expressed in speech assertive and expressive, that is Requires that each participant substitutions to maximize sympathy, and sympathy for the opponent to minimize speech. If opponent says to find success or happiness must congratulate the speakers, so it’s also vice versa. Example:

(A) + I graduated in UMPTN, Jhon,                                      Polite

- Congratulations!

(B) + new aunt was gone.                                                       Polite

- Oh, I'm sorry for your loss

(C) + I failed in UMPTN                                                        Not polite

- Oh, you clever, congratulations!

(D) + aunt recently was gone.                                                 Not polite

- I'm so happy, Jhon.

Discourse (A) and (B) because speakers obey polite Sympathy Maxim, namely maximizing the sense of sympathy for the opponent who got the happiness he said (A), and dolor (B). in contrast to (C) and (D) which does not comply with the Sympathy Maxim as speech (-) to maximize antipathy to the failure.

According to Brown and Levinson, politeness strategies are developed to save the hearers' "face." Face refers to the respect that an individual has for himself, and maintains that "dignity" in public or in private situations. Usually you try to avoid embarrassing the other person, or make them feel uncomfortable. Faces Threatening Acts (FTAs) are acts that violate the listeners' need to keep self-esteem, and respect. Politeness strategies are developed for the primary purpose of dealing with the FTA. What would you do if you see a cup of pens on your teacher's desk, and you want to use one, do you

a. said, "Ooh, I want to use one of them!"

b. said, "So, is it OK if I use one pen?"

c. said, "Sorry to bother you but, I just wanted to ask if I could use one pen?"

d. Indirectly say, "Hmm, I sure could use a blue pen right now."

There are four types of politeness strategies, described by Brown and Levinson, that the number of people to the behavior of "decency": strategy Bald On Record, Negative Politeness, Positive Politeness, and Off-Record-indirect.

If you answered A, you use what is called the Bald On-Record strategy which does not give an effort to minimize the threat to your teacher "face."

If you answered B, you are using Positive Politeness strategy. In this situation you acknowledge that your teacher has a desire to be respected. It also confirms that the relationship is friendly and expresses group reciprocity.

If you answered C, you use the Negative Politeness strategy which similar to Positive Politeness in that you recognize that they want respect but you also assume that you are in some way imposing on them. Some other examples would say, "I do not want to bother you but ..." or "I wonder if ..."

If you answered D, you use the Off-Record indirect strategies. The main goal is to take some pressure off of you. You tried to indirectly impose by asking for a pen. Instead you'd rather it was offered to you once teachers realize you need one, and you are looking to find one. A good example of this strategy is something that almost everyone has done or will do if you have, deliberately, decided to not return a phone call someone, so you say, "I tried to call a hundred times, but never a answer. "

Conclusions

From the above description it can be seen that the maxims of wisdom, maxims acceptance, generosity maxims, and maxim maxim that humility is a bi-polar scale (scale bipolar maxim), due to gains or losses relating to self and others. Meanwhile, maxims, and maxim kesimpatian match the scale of one pole (unipolar scale maxim) because it deals with bad speakers and towards himself or others.

According to Brown and Levinson, politeness strategies are developed to save the hearers' "face." Face refers to the respect that an individual has for himself, and maintains that "dignity" in public or in private situations. Usually you try to avoid embarrassing the other person, or make them feel uncomfortable. Faces Threatening Acts (FTAs) are acts that violate the listeners' need to keep self-esteem, and respect. Politeness strategies are developed for the primary purpose of dealing with the FTA.

Source        

-          Dewa putu wijana, Dasar-Dasar Pragmatic. Cet-1 – Yogyakarta: andi offset, 1996

-          http://logos.uoregon.edu/explore/socioling/politeness.html   

-          Charles .w. Kreidler. Introduting to Semantics Pragmatics