A critical evaluation of Politeness research in English and German

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Theoretical framework of linguistic politeness
• 2.1 The conversational-maxim view of politeness
• 2.1.1 Grice's Cooperative Principle
• 2.1.2 Lakoff's Rules of Politeness
• 2.1.3 Leech's Politeness Principle
• 2.2 The face-saving view of politeness
• 2.2.1 Brown and Levinson's Theory of Politeness
• 3. Contrasting linguistic politeness in German and English
• 3.1 Dimensions of cross-cultural differences in German and English
• 3.2 Contrasting speech act realisation: Requests in German and English
• 3.2.1 Politeness markers in German and English
• 3.2.2 Critical evaluation
• 3.2.3 The role of modal particles
• 4. Conclusion
• 5. References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis aims to contrast linguistic politeness strategies in German and English, specifically focusing on the speech act of requests. It seeks to demonstrate that politeness markers and strategies do not always translate directly between the two languages and are subject to culture-specific interpretations, potentially leading to cross-cultural miscommunication. The study critically evaluates existing politeness theories and utilizes empirical findings to support its analysis.

• Cross-cultural differences in politeness strategies between German and English speakers.
• The role of politeness markers in requests in both languages.
• The impact of culture-specific interpretations on politeness perceptions.
• Critical evaluation of existing politeness theories (Grice, Lakoff, Leech, Brown & Levinson).
• The significance of modal particles in modifying requests in German.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the complexity of politeness research, highlighting the diverse definitions, theoretical frameworks, and cultural variations involved. It emphasizes the importance of contrastive analysis in understanding cross-cultural communication and explains the thesis's focus on requests in German and English, aiming to dispel stereotypes about German directness. The chapter sets the stage for a detailed examination of politeness theories and their application in the chosen languages.

2. Theoretical framework of linguistic politeness: This chapter provides a foundational overview of prominent politeness theories. It begins with Grice's Cooperative Principle and then explores the work of Lakoff and Leech, who built upon Grice's maxims to incorporate a politeness principle. Finally, it delves into Brown and Levinson's face-saving view of politeness, considered the most comprehensive model currently available. The chapter carefully lays out the theoretical underpinnings for the subsequent contrastive analysis of politeness in German and English, highlighting both similarities and differences in these influential approaches.

3. Contrasting linguistic politeness in German and English: This chapter forms the core of the thesis. It explores cross-cultural differences in politeness between German and English, analyzing how these differences manifest in the realization of requests. It draws on existing research, particularly the work of Juliane House and Gabriele Kasper on politeness markers, to compare and contrast the linguistic strategies used in both languages. The chapter also examines the crucial role played by modal particles in shaping politeness in German requests, providing detailed examples and a critical evaluation of the findings.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Linguistic politeness, cross-cultural communication, German, English, requests, speech acts, politeness markers, modal particles, Grice's Cooperative Principle, Lakoff's politeness rules, Leech's Politeness Principle, Brown and Levinson's politeness theory, contrastive analysis, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, intercultural misunderstanding.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Contrastive Analysis of Linguistic Politeness in German and English

What is the main focus of this thesis?

This thesis contrasts linguistic politeness strategies in German and English, specifically focusing on the speech act of requests. It examines how politeness markers and strategies differ between the two languages and how these differences can lead to cross-cultural miscommunication.

What theoretical frameworks are used in this analysis?

The thesis draws upon prominent politeness theories, including Grice's Cooperative Principle, Lakoff's Rules of Politeness, Leech's Politeness Principle, and Brown and Levinson's face-saving view of politeness. These theories provide the foundational framework for analyzing and comparing politeness strategies in German and English.

What specific aspects of politeness are compared between German and English?

The comparison focuses on the realization of requests in both languages. This includes an analysis of politeness markers, the impact of cultural interpretations on politeness perceptions, and the significant role of modal particles in modifying requests in German.

What are the key findings or arguments presented in the thesis?

The thesis argues that politeness markers and strategies do not always translate directly between German and English. Cultural-specific interpretations significantly influence politeness perceptions, potentially causing cross-cultural misunderstandings. The study emphasizes the importance of considering these cultural nuances when communicating across languages.

What is the structure of the thesis?

The thesis is structured into five chapters: an introduction establishing the research context; a chapter outlining the relevant politeness theories; a core chapter comparing politeness in German and English requests; a conclusion summarizing the findings; and a list of references.

What are the key themes explored in this work?

Key themes include cross-cultural differences in politeness strategies, the role of politeness markers in requests, the impact of cultural interpretations on politeness, a critical evaluation of existing politeness theories, and the significance of modal particles in German requests.

What are the chapter summaries?

Chapter 1 introduces the complexity of politeness research and sets the stage for the analysis. Chapter 2 provides a detailed overview of prominent politeness theories. Chapter 3 forms the core of the thesis, comparing politeness strategies in German and English requests. Chapter 4 concludes the study, summarizing the findings. Chapter 5 contains a complete list of references.

What keywords best describe this research?

Linguistic politeness, cross-cultural communication, German, English, requests, speech acts, politeness markers, modal particles, Grice's Cooperative Principle, Lakoff's politeness rules, Leech's Politeness Principle, Brown and Levinson's politeness theory, contrastive analysis, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, intercultural misunderstanding.