Face-threatening Acts总.ppt

1、2020/9/29,1,Strategies for Doing Face-Threatening Acts in English,2020/9/29,2,Structure Definition of face-threatening acts Brown and Levinsons politeness theory Strategies for doing face-threatening acts choice of strategy,2020/9/29,3,What is Face-threatening Acts?,Definition1:Face is the public se

2、lf image that every adult tries to project. Definition2:A face threatening act(FTA) is an act that inherently damages the face of the speaker by acting against the wants and desires of the other. Definition3:Positive face is the want of every member that his wants be desirable to at least some other

3、s.-self-esteem. Negative face is the want of every capable adult that his actions be unimpeded(畅通无阻的） by others.-freedom to act.,2020/9/29,4,Why We Discuss FTAs?,According to Brown and Levinson, positive and negative face exist universally in human culture. In social interactions, face-threatening a

4、cts (FTAs) are at times inevitable based on the terms of the conversation. Positive Face refers to ones self-esteem, while negative face refers to ones freedom to act. The two aspects of face are the basic wants in any social interaction, and so during any social interaction, cooperation is needed a

5、mongst the participants to maintain each others faces.,2020/9/29,5,The Types of Face-threatening Acts,According to Brown and Levinson ,a distinction can be made between (i) FTAs which threaten positive face and negative face; (ii) FTAs which threaten the hearers face and the speakers face.,2020/9/29

6、,6,The Damage of Face-threatening Acts,Negative Face Threatening Acts:Negative face is threatened when an individual does not avoid or intend to avoid the obstruction(阻碍） of their interlocutors(对话者） freedom of action. Damage to the Hearer: An act that affirms or denies a future act of the hearer cre

7、ates pressure on the hearer to either perform or not perform the act. Examples: orders, requests, suggestions, advice, remindings, threats, or warnings. An act that expresses the speakers sentiments of the hearer or the hearers belongings. Examples: compliments, expressions of envy or admiration, or

8、 expressions of strong negative emotion toward the hearer (e.g. hatred, anger, lust). An act that expresses some positive future act of the speaker toward the hearer. In doing so, pressure has been put on the hearer to accept or reject the act and possibly incur a debt. Examples: offers, and promise

9、s.,2020/9/29,7,Damage to the Speaker An act that shows that the speaker is succumbing to（屈服于） the power of the hearer. Example: Expressing thanks Accepting a thank you or apology Excuses Acceptance of offers A response to the hearers violation of social etiquette（违反社交礼节） The speaker commits himself

10、to something he or she does not want to do,The Damage of Face-threatening Acts,2020/9/29,8,The Damage of Face-threatening Acts,Positive Face Threatening Acts:Positive face is threatened when the speaker or hearer does not care about their interactors feelings, wants, or does not want what the other

11、wants. Damage to the Hearer An act that expresses the speakers negative assessment of the hearers positive face . Examples: expressions of disapproval , disagreements, or challenges. An act that expresses the speakers indifference toward the addressees positive face. The addressee might be embarrass

12、ed for the speaker. Examples: excessively emotional expressions. The speaker indicates that he doesnt have the same values or fears as the hearer Examples: disrespect, mention of topics which are inappropriate in general or in the context. The speaker increases the possibility that a face-threatenin

13、g act will occur. This situation is created when a topic is brought up by the speaker that is a sensitive societal subject. Examples: topics that relate to politics, race, religion.,2020/9/29,9,Damage to the Speaker An act that shows that in some sense the speaker is wrong and unable to control hims

14、elf. Example: Apologies: In this act, speaker is damaging his own face by admitting that he regrets one of his previous acts. Acceptance of a compliment Inability to control ones physical self Inability to control ones emotional self Self-humiliation Confessions,The Damage of Face-threatening Acts,2

15、020/9/29,10,Brown and Levinsons politeness theory was originally published in 1978.,Two parts,their fundamental theory concerning the nature of politeness and how it functions in interaction,a list of politeness strategies with examples from three languages: English, Tzeltal, and Tamil.,Brown and Le

16、vinsons politeness theory,2020/9/29,11,theoretical part,the notion of face in order to illustrate politeness in the broad sense,define positive face as the positive and consistent image people have of themselves, and their desire for approval,negative face is “the basic claim to territories, persona

17、l preserves, and rights to non-distraction”,2020/9/29,12,Positive politeness,by indicating similarities amongst interactors,by expressing an appreciation of the interlocutors self-image,Negative politeness,by saving the interlocutors face (either negative or positive) by mitigating face threatening

18、acts (hereafter FTA), such as advice-giving and disapproval,by satisfying negative face by indicating respect for the addressees right not to be imposed on.,2020/9/29,13,？shortcomings,ignore the fact that most single utterances are actually just constituent of a larger exchange between two or more i

19、nteractors.,they pay no attention to phenomena which occur across the entire discourse, such as back-channeling or the overall sequence of utterances,they ignore any interaction, such as simply enjoying a casual conversation, which does not involve a predetermined goal,2020/9/29,14,Possible strategi

20、es for doing FTA,Do the FTA,on record,off record,without repressive action, baldly,with repressive action,positive politeness,negative politeness,Dont do the FTA,2020/9/29,15,Politeness Strategies,Strategies for doing face-threatening acts,2020/9/29,16,Definition They are used to formulate messages

21、in order to save the hearers or speakers face when face-threatening acts are inevitable or desired.,Being polite is “A battery of social skills to ensure everyone feels affirmed in a social interaction.,Politeness Strategies,2020/9/29,17,Four main types of politeness strategies: Bald on-record, Nega

22、tive politeness, Positive politeness, and Off-record (indirect).,2020/9/29,18,Bald On-record Definition Bald on-record strategies usually do not attempt to minimize the threat to the hearers face, although there are ways that bald on-record politeness can be used in trying to minimze FTAs implicitly

23、. Often using such a strategy will shock or embarrass the addressee, and so this strategy is most often utilized in situations where the speaker has a close relationship with the audience, such as family or close friends. Different situations and examples Instances in which threat minimizing does no

24、t occur Great urgency or desperation e.g. Watch out!,2020/9/29,19,Speaking as if great efficiency is necessary e.g. Hear me out:. Task-oriented e.g. Pass me the hammer. Little or no desire to maintain someones face e.g. Dont forget to clean the blinds! Doing the FTA is in the interest of the hearer

25、e.g. Your headlights are on! Instances in which the threat is minimized implicitly e.g. Welcomes Come in. Offers e.g. Leave it, Ill clean up later. Eat!,2020/9/29,20,Positive Politeness Definition Positive politeness strategies seek to minimize the threat to the hearers positive face. They are used

26、to make the hearer feel good about himself, his interests or possessions, and are most usually used in situations where the audience knows each other fairly well.In addition to hedging and attempts to avoid conflict, some strategies of positive politeness include statements of friendship, solidarity

27、, compliments,Different situations and examples Attend to Hs interests, needs, wants e.g. You look sad. Can I do anything? Use solidarity in-group identity markers e.g. Heh, mate, can you lend me a dollar?,2020/9/29,21,Be optimistic e.g. Ill just come along, if you dont mind. Include both speaker (S

28、) and hearer (H) in activity e.g. If we help each other, I guess, well both sink or swim in this course. Offer or promise e.g. If you wash the dishes, Ill vacuum the floor. Exaggerate interest in H and his interests e.g. Thats a nice haircut you got; where did you get it? Avoid Disagreement e.g. Yes

29、, its rather long; not short certainly. Joke e.g. Wow, thats a whopper!,2020/9/29,22,Negative Politeness Definition Negative politeness strategies are oriented towards the hearers negative face and emphasize avoidance of imposition on the hearer. These strategies presume that the speaker will be imp

30、osing on the listener and there is a higher potential for awkwardness or embarrassment than in bald on record strategies and positive politeness strategies. Negative face is the desire to remain autonomous so the speaker is more apt to include an out for the listener, through distancing styles like

31、apologies. Different situations and examples Be indirect e.g. Would you know where Oxford Street is?,2020/9/29,23,. Use hedges or questions e.g. Perhaps, he might have taken it, maybe. Could you please pass the rice? Be pessimistic e.g. You couldnt find your way to lending me 1000 dollars, could you

32、? Minimize the imposition e.g. Its not too much out of your way, just a couple of blocks. Use obviating structures, like nominalizations, passives, or statements of general rules e.g. Visitors sign the ledger. Spitting will not be tolerated Use plural pronouns e.g. We regret to inform you.,2020/9/29

33、,24,Favor seeking, or a speaker asking the hearer for a favor, is a common example of negative politeness strategies in use. Three main stages : The preparatory phase is when the favor-seeking is preceded by elaborate precautions against loss of face to both sides.,Favor seeking,Apologize e.g. Im so

34、rry; its a lot to ask, but can you lend me a thousand dollars?,It often involves signals of openings and markers to be used to clarify the situation (e.g. You see, or so,). The request is often softened, made less direct, and imposing (e.g. past continuous I was wondering; informal tag What dyou rec

35、kon?). The speaker must also reduce his own self-importance in the matter and exaggerate the hearers (down-scaling compliments).,2020/9/29,25,The focal stage is subdivided into elements such as askers reasons or constraints (e.g. Ive tried everywhere but cant get one), the others face (e.g. Youre th

36、e only person I can turn to), and more. The third stage is the final stage which consists of anticipatory thanks, promises, and compliments (e.g. I knew you would say yes. Youre an angel.).,Favor seeking,2020/9/29,26,All of this is done in attempt to avoid a great deal of imposition on the hearer an

37、d is concerned with proceeding towards a goal in the smoothest way and with sensitivity to ones interlocutors. An English (Excuse me, sir, could you please close the window) is associated with the avoidance or downplaying of an imposition; the more we feel we might be imposing, the more deferential we might be. It is clearly a strategy for negative politeness and the redressing of a threat to negative face, through things like favor-seeking.,Favor seeking,2020/9/