Chapter II. Positive and negative politeness strategies found in the conversational
II.3. Positive and negative politeness strategies and S-H relationships
To communicate successfully, S-H relationship is an important factor that decides the trend of using the politeness strategies. People pay a lot of attention to their roles, age, social status, power, strong point, week point… to choose the an appropriate and effective politeness strategies.
In this study, the role relationships are divided into 3 main categories: close proximity, medium proximity and long range. Among them, close proximity is the relationships between parents – children, brother – brother, husband – wife; medium proximity is for colleague – colleague, neighbor-neighbor and friend – friend; and long range is for presenter- caller, interviewer – interviewee, receptionist- customer, employee- employer, assistant -customer.
Here, we are going to have a look at the positive and negative politeness strategies and the S-H relationships used in “Inside Out” (Pre-intermediate).
II.3.1. Positive politeness strategies and the S-H relationships.
Positive politeness strategies
Close proximity
Medium proximity
Long range communications
Sum % Sum % Sum %
1. Notice, attend to H 0 0 0 0 1 1.61
2. Exaggerate 1 5.26 2 5.71 2 3.23
3. Intensify H's interest 2 10.53 9 25.71 11 17.74
4. Use in - group identity 8 42.11 2 5.71 16 25.81
5. Seek agreement 1 5.26 3 8.57 8 12.9
6. Avoid disagreement 0 0 2 5.71 3 4.84
7. Presuppose/common ground 2 10.53 4 11.43 10 16.13
8. Jokes 0 0 0 0 1 1.61
9. Assert S's knowledge and concern for H's wants
0 0 0 0 1 1.61
10.Offer, promise 3 15.79 1 2.86 2 3.23
11. Be optimistic 0 0 2 5.71 2 3.23
12. Include both S & H in the activity
0 0 3 8.57 1 1.61
13. Give or ask for reasons 0 0 1 2.86 1 1.61
14. Assume or assert reciprocity
0 0 1 2.86 0 0
15. Give gifts 0 0 4 11.43 1 1.61
16. Encourage 2 10.53 1 2.86 1 1.61
17. Ask personal questions 0 0 0 0 1 1.61
Table 4. The statistics of positive politeness strategies based on the S-H relationships
Role relationships
Positive politeness strategies
Sum %
Close proximity 19 16.38
Medium proximity 35 36.08
Long range communications 62 47.54
Table 5. The statistics of negative politeness strategies based on the S-H relationships
36.08%
16.38%
47.54%
Close proximity Medium proximity
Long range communications
Pie Chart 2. The frequency of positive politeness strategies in terms of the relationships between the participants
The pie-chart 2 shows that in the book, in using positive politeness strategies, the long range communications occurs most (47.54%). Whereas, the appearance of close proximity happens least (16,38%).
People, who have close proximity (parents - children, brother - brother, husband - wife), really like using strategy 4 (Use in - group identity) with the rate of 42.11%. They sometimes use strategy 10 (Offer, promise). However, there are 10 strategies they do not use at all (1,6,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,17). Whereas, strategy 3,7,16 are used with the same rate of 10.53.
Medium proximity , who are colleague - colleague, neighbor-neighbor and friend - friend, uses more strategies than close proximity. They do use thirteen strategies except strategy 1,8,9,7. Their favorite strategy is “Intensify H's interest”.
Long range communications, which include presenter- caller, interviewer - interviewee, receptionist- customer, employee- employer, assistant - customer, reflect a very interesting result. They use all strategies except strategy 14. Among them, like close proximity, they use strategy four mostly with the rate of 25.81%. They also pay more attention to strategy 3 (intensify H's interest), strategy 7 (presuppose/common ground) and strategy 5 (seek agreement).
II.3.2. Negative politeness strategies and S-H relationships
Role relationships Negative politeness strategies
Negative politeness strategies
Close proximity
Medium proximity
Long range communications
Sum % Sum % Sum %
1. Be conventionally indirect 3 23.08 0 0 7 12.73
2. Question, hedge 5 38.46 4 80 29 52.73
3. Be pessimistic 0 0 0 0 8 14.55
4. Minimize the imposition, Rx 0 0 0 0 1 1.82
5. Give deference 0 0 0 0 8 14.55
6. Apologize 3 23.08 1 20 1 1.82
7. Impersonalize S & H avoid the pronoun I, you
0 0 0 0 1 1.82
8. State the FTA as the general rule
0 0 0 0 0 0
9. Nominalize 0 0 0 0 0 0
10. Go on record as incurring a debt, or as not indebting H
2 15.38 0 0 0 0
11. Avoid asking personal questions
0 0 0 0 0 0
Sum %
Close proximity 13 17.81
Medium proximity 5 8.33
Long range communications 55 73.86
Table 7. Negative politeness strategies and the S-H relationships
17.81%
8.33%
73.86%
Close proximity Medium proximity
Long range communications
Pie Chart 3. The frequency of negative politeness strategies based on the S-H relationships According to the data analysis, in using negative politeness strategies, the most utterances (73.86%) are made by long range communications. Whereas, the are only 8.33%
of the utterances made by medium proximity. Close proximity‟s ones are relatively high with the rate of 17.81 %.
Among 11 negative politeness strategies, strategy 2 (question, hedge) is used with highest percentage for all relationships; strategy 4,6,7 are used only once; and strategy 8,9,11 do not appear in the course book.
It is significant that the long range communicators use the most strategies, 7 ones.
Their domination is strategy 2 with a very high rate of 52,73%. It shows that the intention to keep “distance” between presenter - caller, interviewer - interviewee, receptionist - customer, employee - employer, assistant - customer is very big. They really like using
questions and hedge to be more polite and to make H feel less threatening. Here are some examples:
- Over in Britain he‟s really well- known, isn‟t that right? (Unit 5) - I think that she is better looking than me. (Unit 17)
- Do you think you could do some shopping on your way over here? (Unit 14) They are also pessimistic with the trend of using indirect requests using subjunctives like Could (Would, Might) you…?
For example:
- Excuse me. Would you mind answering a few questions for London south FM?
(Unit 15)
- Could you tell me something about the program? (Unit 16)
“Giving deference” is also used as often as “Be pessimistic”. This reflects the relationship between S and H in which S has a lower social status than H, for instance, H is a customer and S is an assistant; H is an employee and S is an employer …
E.g. - Just a minute, sir. Here‟s your receipt. (Unit 6) - Sorry, sir. Can I come in, please, sir? (Unit 10)
Medium proximity, which includes people who are “colleague – colleague”,
“neighbor-neighbor” and “friend – friend”, focus only 2 strategies in which strategy 2 is 80% and strategy 6 is 20%. This is the relationships between people who know each other for a certain time.
E.g.
- Is that your final decision? I think she is a very interesting choice. (Unit 4) - Yes. I‟m really sorry. (Unit 19)
Close proximity use 4 strategies (strategy 1,2,6,10). They do not focus too much on any strategy. That they use these strategies leads us to an assumption that S wants to keep H think that it is H who does favor to S.
E.g.
- I‟m home! Sorry I‟m late, darling. I had to work late at the office. (Unit 10) - I know. I‟m really sorry but it‟s an important contract. (Unit 10)
- Oh, hello, darling. How are you? (Unit 14)
That is clearly that, the occurrence and acceptance of positive or negative politeness strategies depend a lot on the relationships of H and S. Therefore, people should increase awareness of using appropriate strategies in certain relationships, then, choose what they think most acceptable strategies for different situations.
CHAPTER III
IMPLICATIONS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING III.1. Implications for teaching politeness strategies.
It is obvious that a communicator cannot be successful without a requisite knowledge of culture in general and culture-specific politeness behavior in particular.
In order to assist second language learners to communicate successfully, the author would suggest the following implications:
First, when teaching English with “Inside Out” (Pre-intermediate), the teacher should help students be more aware of cross-cultural differences. It is necessary to point out to students whether positive or negative politeness strategies are acceptable or preferable in some sample conversational activities.
Second, the teacher should focus more on teaching functions of language in use rather than its structures. This can help solve the dramatic problem that, after a long course of study, students will know much about English, but they cannot use that knowledge in communicating naturally, politely and culturally.
Third, the teacher should present appropriate socio-cultural situations to students.
This proves greatly helpful because students can then realize the enfluence of cultural hiddens in language use.
Good CLT/L requires real-life situations to observe, to teach, to learn and to practice using politeness strategies. Student-exchange and teacher-exchange programs with international universities seem such an effective way for students and teachers to teach/learn better and to communicate more successfully. At Thai Nguyen University, it is noticed that those students and teachers who have been once sent overseas for academic study or vocational practice always pay much more attention to cross-cultural differences.
They, thus, become more aware and willing to perform politeness strategies in interaction.
Finally, English clubs should be established. Then students can choose cultural topics to discuss and practice by acting out plays…
III.2. Supplementary activities Exercise 1. Greetings
Tick () what you say to greet others in these situations.
N0. Situations Responses Anglophone
cultures
Vietnamese culture 1 You meet your
teacher at the school‟s gate.
You greet her with:
a. Are you going to school?
b. Good morning, teacher!
c. Hello. What are you doing here?
d. Hi, how are you?
2 You phone your classmate. You say:
a. Hello, this is An. How are you?
b. Hi, have you had rice?
c. Hey, what are you doing?
d. This is An. Good evening!
3 On the street, you meet your close friend‟s mother.
You greet her with:
a. Hello, aunt!
b. Hello. Where are you going?
c. Good morning, how are you?
d. Hello, aunt. Are you going for a walk?
4 You are sitting next to a new
comer from
America. You begin with:
a. Hi, my name is Lan. What‟s your name?
b. Hello, are you a new comer?
c. Hi, how tall you are!
d. It‟s hot today, isn‟t it?
5 You are a. Hello. It is nice to see all of
introduced by a friend at her birthday party.
You stand up and greet everyone with:
you here.
b. Hi. It is an honor for me to be here.
c. I am sorry. I don‟t know what to say.
d. Hello everyone. Have a good time.
Exercise 2. Farewells
Tick ( ) what do you say in these situations.
N0. Situations Responses Anglopho
ne cultures
Vietnames e culture 1 You are talking to
a friend. You want to stop to go home. So you say:
a. Oh, I must go. See you next Sunday.
b. I am going home.
c. It‟s time for me to go. Bye.
d. I‟m afraid that I have to go home now.
2 Your cousin is going to take part in an exam.
Before you leave her house, you say:
a. Good luck!
b. Try to learn, please!
c. I hope to see you soon.
d. Don‟t be so nervous. If you pass it, I‟ll treat you to your favorite dish.
3 You dear friend is going to move to another city.
Before he leaves, you say:
a. Bye, see you again.
b. Don‟t forget me.
c. Have a better life there.
d. Remember to phone me.
4 The children say this after class:
a. See you later, alligator!
b. Bye, bye!
c. See you tomorrow.
d. I go, please.
5 It is time you leave a party, you say to others:
a. You stay here. I go home.
b. Thank you for your party. Bye.
c. I go, you go later!
d. I have to go, bye!
Exercise 3. Good replies
Circle what you should reply in an Anglophone culture.
1. How beautiful your dress is!
a. Thank you!
b. Really? It is just an ordinary dress.
c. I made it on my own.
2. I bought this bag for $50. I was prepared to pay $100.
a. That‟s too cheap.
b. You stole it.
d. Really? I can‟t believe.
3. I made the curtain on my own.
a. Oh, really, I can‟t believe it.
b. That‟s great.
c. How lovely. It looks perfect.
4. A. How are you?
B. I am tired. I couldn‟t sleep last night. It was too hot.
C. ……..
a. That‟s too bad! I think you should take a short nap.
b. Yes, it was really hot.
c. Haven‟t you bought an air conditioner?
Exercise 4. Safe and unsafe topics
I. Work in groups of 4 to discuss if the following questions are considered to be safe or unsafe when you question Westerners at the first meeting. Explain your answers then compare them with the ones in Vietnamese culture.
1. Are you married?
2. How old are you?
3. What does your husband/wife do?
4. How much can you earn?
5. Why aren‟t you get married?
6. Why don‟t you have any children?
7. How much is your car?
8. Where are you from?
9. Do you like sports?
10. What is your favorite sport?
11. How long have you been here?
12. Are you from America?
13. What is your specific field?
14. How many countries have you been to?
15. Where did you buy your watch?
II. Discuss if these statements are true or false. Correct the false statements. Tick what is the same in Vietnamese culture.
1. In daily conversations, the American people never talk about the weather.
2. In America, it is a pleasant to talk about politics at the first meeting.
3. At the first meeting, people should not ask about one‟s income.
4. In English speaking countries, being polite means “Don‟t put your nose in my affairs”.
5. In English speaking countries, the old people are very happy when you ask them about their age.
6. In English speaking countries, “How are you?” is only used to express that the S wants to know about the H‟s health.
7. In English speaking countries, “No, I‟m joking!” is always needed to say after you joke about something.
Exercise 5. What should I say?
I. What do you say in the following situations:
1. You are ten minutes late for a party and when you arrive everyone is already seated at the table.
2. You don‟t understand the lesson, and you want your teacher to help you.
3. Your teacher speaks low and softly, you can‟t hear what he says.
4. You want to borrow some books from your friend.
5. You want to try on a nice hat in a shop.
6. Your friend thanks you because you are very helpful.
7. You lose your way and you ask a man in the street for directions.
8. You suggest your friends go to a picnic on the weekend.
9. You go to an English speaking country as an exchange student. You are talking to the host at the first meet.
10. You are a travel agent. You‟ve just met a foreigner visitor at the airport. You want to make the visitor feel welcome.
II. Discuss in groups of four to find out if what is said in the situations above is the same as in Vietnamese culture.
Exercise 6. Making arrangements
I. How can you arrange the meeting based on the followings situations:
1. You would like a friend to go out for a drink.
2. It is not good time for your cousin to go shopping with you. You ask her for another time.
3. It is not available for you to go to the cinema with your friend tonight. You offer another time.
4. You refuse an invitation to go to a birthday party.
5. You agree to go picnic with a classmate.
II. What can you say in the following situations:
1. You phone you teacher for a meeting in the following week.
2. You want to go to the library with your classmate after class.
3. You phone the dentist for an appointment.
Exercise 7. Making requests
1. You want a plate. How can you say when : a. you are with a group of friends?
b. you are with some strangers in a party?
c. you are at home with you parents?
2. It is very noisy in the room. You want the silence. How can you say if the people who make noise are:
a. your classmates?
b. your older brothers/ sisters?
c. some strangers?
3. It is very hot. You want to open the window. How can you say to:
a. your classmate?
b. a stranger?
c. your mother?
4. You want some pocket money. How can you say to:
a. your mother who is always happy to give you some pocket money?
b. your mother who always wants you to save your money?
c. your mother who thinks you are too expensive?
5. You want a hand to get your car to start. How can you say to:
a. a neighbor ? b. a stranger?
c. your dad?
6. You are thirsty. You want some fruit juice. How can you say to:
a. your mother?
b. your friend?
c. a waiter at a bar?
7. You want to take a seat near a man. How can you say to the man if he is:
a. a stranger at the air port?
b. a person at your same age at the bus station?
c. your father at home?