Politeness is known as a courteous manner that displays respects, show deference in society where people live and communicate together (OED online). Furthermore, according to Brown and Levinson (19780, politeness theory is the speaker’s expressions use toward receiver in soft manner of Face Threaten Acts (FTAs) to saving face of addressees. There are four main strategies in politeness theory as: bald-on record, positive politeness, negative politeness and off record. Bald- on record, a type is commonly with people known each other very well and very comfortable in their environment, is reduce the impact of FTAs. Off record is removing the speakers from any imposition whatsoever (Zhan, 1992). “Positive politeness is redress directed to addressee’s …show more content…
Do you want to buy anything?
Chen: Please give me some stamps.
David: How many do you want?
Chen: Five.
Lili: David, could you buy for me some envelopes?
David: How many do you want?
Lili: Ten. Please, can you get me a copy of China Pictorial as well?
David: O.K
For this situation, the speaker speak to his family members to tell them where he going. He shows his respect to his father by using honorific form ““您”, while in English, the speaker just address “you”. The father reply by using imperative sentence to demand his wants. In Chinese, the elder people or high status, or the close relationship has more power; therefore they often command to the youth or powerless people via imperative sentences, such as” 给我买几张邮票”. However, English people use indirect form via interrogative sentences tends for more polite like “Please, can you get me a copy of China Pictorial as well?” At restaurant: (Wu zhongwei, 2003) Chinese English
客人1: 服务员, 来一下!
服务员: 先生, 您要什么?
客人1: 我要 一瓶啤酒.
服务员: 请问小姐，您要什么？
客人 2: 来咖啡吧。
服务员：小朋友，你呢？
客人3：请来一杯可口可乐，谢谢。
服务员：好，您们等一等，马上就来。
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After researching and comparing two languages, even though English and Chinese request can be used with interrogative and imperative sentences, but there are many strategies of politeness in the Chinese language because Chinese are affected in Chinese culture and grammar. Chinese people apply direct request form in the small size of face-threatening act, while English speakers use indirect form in either small or big of face threatening act. Although Chinese and English have some different way to express the politeness in making request, but both two languages have one purpose that is softening the tone of speech between requesters and addressees by keeping a proper distance, since politeness is an important role in the smoothly and efficiently
Nonverbal communication surrounds us all the time. “Nonverbal communication is all aspects of communication other than words” (Wood, 2016, p. 135). It is not communication with words, but we use nonverbal communication when we talk. We use nonverbal communication without even realizing it in every facet of our lives. This type of communication can be challenging depending on someone’s culture. Something that means one thing in America, can mean something totally different in another country. It is important to know this so that you don’t offend someone from another culture (Wood, 2016, p. 149).
“meanings lost in manners” (Kay 701). In other words, the polite way in which they communicate
Steven Pinker distinguishes the difference between talking to man and women. Pinker showed a lady that was comfortable talking to another lady and the lady became angry when her talking to a man, not women (Pinker 2007 .p112, 113). People used intricacies method to achieve their needs and emotion instead of saying what they need to say directly. (Pinker 2007 .p113) Furthermore, even in a sexual situation, people twist and turn around and turn around their words. For example, “would you like to come up and see my etching?” (Pinker 2007.p113) Moreover, people use a kind word to order something from someone else without making a demand to the receiver or using indirect speeches to avoid a problem that may happen by mistake. (Pinker, 2007
In the podcast, Politeness, Melyvn Bragg discusses the idea of politeness at the start of the 18th century. As mentioned, politeness is “a notion that implies care and the ability to recognize others feelings”. The guidelines for best behavior at the end of the 17th century was formed out of moderation, so going into the 18th century created a new world of contact and conversation through the development of coffeehouses. People discovered interaction through politeness, thus allowing them to deal with people inferior to them or to those who made them feel inferior. Melvyn brings up how the movement of politeness was essentially a reaction to the civil war that eventually laid foundations for a new world. The introduction of coffeehouses permitted the public to read The Spectator and embrace issues and arguments; which allowed it's readers to recognize problems and social issues. Melvyn brought up that conversation was how one learned politeness so that opposing people can meet on equal terms. As the civil war continued in politics, politeness became an attempt to making a difference in society and social life. It allowed people to speak to others regardless of rank and gender. He discusses how the growth of public space in coffeehouses was both a real place as well as a metaphorical one, which allowed opinion and publication so that people can read aloud and interact with others. An interesting point he mentioned was showing politeness through culture; that the whole idea of culture is displayed by reading and how/what you read. Also I found it interesting how manners are based on inner morality, but excessive manners can lead to manipulation and getting one's own way. Politeness brings philosophy to the table, thus ...
In my country, South Korea, when two people communicate each other, active listeners are more valued as we believe that appropriate response and attentive behaviour is coming from the essence of the listening skill. For foreigners who are not from an Asian country, they could misunderstand the intention of senders, if I don’t actively respond to the receiver in the course of conversation as they are not aware of our customs and values. Therefore, it is imperative to place ourselves to someone else’s shoe so we could comprehend how the misunderstanding of intention can be
For instance, using immediacy behaviors “communicate[s] respect, responsibility, and caring,” and these three qualities are the central tenants of being civil and ethical (Lane 7). Communicators should smile, give compliments, employ confident and relaxed postures, use confirming responses when listening, etc. Confirming responses include letting the speaker know that the listener is paying attention to what he or she has to say, asking questions, paraphrasing, and showing concern to the speaker (“Confirming and Disconfirming Responses”). These considerations show “openness to the other person, helping that person to feel acknowledged and appreciated” (Lane 85). Another way of considering these behaviors is labelled by Dr. Jeff Thompson as the three “C 's of Nonverbal Communication: context, clusters, and congruence.” These refer to considerations individuals should take when interpreting a message. The individual should remember contexts like the relationship with the other person and their role in the conversation; the individual should cluster the nonverbal signals being received, so no single cue is being given unrealistic proportion and causing conflict; the individual should seek congruence between the words in the message, and the physical characteristics perceived (Thompson). These three C’s also show respect and care
Rudeness is something we all experience in our lives. It could be someone not holding the door for you or someone “ cutting you off” while your driving. In some way you have dealt with rudeness at one point in your life. Have you ever wondered why people are rude? Rudeness is something that we all do sometimes without even noticing, but it’s something we can all control. According to Jennifer Harper’s article “ Whatever happened to nice? – Society is Meaner, louder and ruder, studies find”, the Emily post-institute stated the reason for the rudeness is “ the influence of coarse TV, films, and music; “obsession with self”; the constant intrusion of e-mails and cellular phones; and “ the need to do everything fast.” So what it basically meant is that as a people focus on what’s going on in our own lives and give no mind to other people that are around and that’s what causes the rudeness some of else experience in our daily lives.
As men and women are socialized differently, females tend to express politeness more than men. One common facilitative device is ...
The frequent situations of misunderstandings in intercultural communication may be more common then one may believe. The potential for misunderstandings between two different cultures communicating is very high. Through such things as idioms, translation errors, and wrong body language communicative skills can be incorrect. When these intercultural mistakes occur between the people speaking or moving it may be perceived by the opposite culture as funny, rude or confusing. With these considerations in mind, the combination of possibilities for misinterpretations is increasingly elevated.
... and that everyone matters. Our children's future and success will be enhanced by the use of appropriate behavior. Let us create an environment in our homes, schools, and churches where manners are taught and valued so that every child feels safe and becomes all they were created to be. A quote by William Arthur Ward makes people wonder whether they have been polite and good-mannered during the day: "God gave you a gift of 86, 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?"
Everything we do in our life involves communication because it is a way for a sender to send message to the receiver by verbal and non-verbal communication. However, in some parts of the world messages that are delivered sometimes are not received in a way it is supposed to. A way to solve this is by using competent communicator and intercultural communication because it makes it easier for people from other cultures to communicate in general. On the other hand, there are also some problems faced because different cultures have different ways to express their way of communication. By understanding these types of communication and by defining them may solve this dilemma. In addition to that, there are also types of communication to consider that are commonly used, which is Proxemics, Gestures and body language.
Have you ever wondered who taught you to talk the way you do? People learn to talk and express themselves everyday of their lives. Starting from the day you were born you used language or some form of it to communicate with those around you. As a baby you usually show your displeasure with your new surroundings by crying, and if you don’t the doctor will make sure you do. Everyday we express our point of view to others in some form of language. Whether it is through verbal communication, written discourse or through body language, you can tell if a person is upset, angry, or happy. We as human beings don’t realize how much language has to do with our lives. How can you determine if one of your friends is angry with you? Is there a different tone to their voice? Do they have a stern look on their face? Of course they do, your friend feels the need to express their anger to you by these different forms of language. Where do we learn to use these different forms of language? How are our uses of these languages shaped? The three main contributing factors to how we express ourselves through language come from our schooling, our friends, and most of all from our families.
...ions and politeness strategies used by Jordanian speakers in daily communication and the social factors that affect on such choice of speech act.
People live in the world of communication. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English (Moore, 1997), communication is defined as, “The activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information”. The significance of communication can be found within the context of a human existing as a social being. As a human being manages his or her life in the course of the interaction between other members of the entire society, communication is inevitable. Communication occurs through the medium of a language and it is presented in two different forms which are written and spoken (Brown & Yule, 1983: 1-10). The importance of spoken performance of a language is becoming more prominent over the written performance capability. It is because the ability to speak a language reflects a person’s personality, self image, knowledge of the world, ability to reason, skill to express thoughts in real-time (Luoma, 2004: ix). These days, due to the global trend of internationalisation, the ability to communicate in English is needed as an essential skill. Whenever the international exchange happens, the use of spoken English entails. However, it is not always an easy task for people who use English as a second language to be able to speak to the level of a native speaker. They have to perfectly understand the sound system of English, have almost instant access to proper vocabulary and be able to place words together intelligibly without hesitation. Moreover, they also have to perceive what is being said to them and need to be able to respond appropriately to acquire amiable relations or to accomplish their communicative goals (Luoma, 2004: ix). Therefore, non-native English speakers encounter these barriers and they are subject to make mistakes often. In relation to this matter, this essay argues that there are socio-cultural factors as well as linguistic factors that affect non-native speakers’ communication in English. It provides analysis of several different situations when the use of spoken English has generated miscommunication problems in regards to author’s personal experience.
In contemporary time, people, young and old, have lost the value of manners. Words simple as “Please” and “Thank You”, make a difference in the way we approach others. Being polite and respectful at all times with anyone—especially parents and teachers, classmates, friends—is crucial for the way our society develops in the course of time, but where is it that we learn these values? Even though schools teach manners and respectfulness, manners should be taught at home where respect and discipline lead to good social manners to be better prepared for society in the future.