This course delves into the topic of language and politeness (and by extension also language and impoliteness). Linguistic politeness first received academic attention in the 1970s (e.g. Lakoff 1973). Since Brown and Levinson proposed their seminal politeness model in 1978, academic interest in linguistic politeness (and later linguistic impoliteness) has flourished and become a key branch of pragmatics. Brown and Levinson (1978, 1987) see politeness as the use of strategies to maintain the positive face wants (the desire to be approved of) and negative face wants (the desire to be unimpeded in one’s actions) of the interactant. This understanding of politeness has however been widely criticised since the 2000s and several (partly overlapping approaches) have been proposed.

The first part of the course will provide a critical overview of major approaches to linguistic (im)politeness, including early classic politeness (e.g. Leech 1983; Brown and Levinson 1978, 1987) and impoliteness theories (e.g. Culpeper 1996) and more recent developments in the field (e.g. Mills 2003; Watts 2005), and look at how (im)politeness is defined, theorised and analysed differently by different approaches. The second part of the course will turn to topics in relation to linguistic (im)politeness such as (im)politeness and culture as well as (im)politeness in (social) media communication. Examples will be drawn from a wide range of sources such as everyday conversations, political communication and online communication.

 

1. What is ‘(im)politeness’?
2. Pragmatic approaches to (im)politeness
3. Discursive approaches to (im)politeness
4. (Im)politeness and culture
5. (Im)politeness in media communication

 

1. To introduce students to key theoretical perspectives and issues in linguistic (im)politeness;
2. To develop students’ critical awareness of key issues in (im)politeness research;
3. To enable students to engage with issues relating to gender, power and culture, as they relate to linguistic (im)politeness;
4. To develop students’ capacity to apply the theories learnt to authentic data.

 

The course is comprised of weekly lectures and tutorials

 

Assessment for the course is 100% coursework. It is comprised of three parts:

1. Tutorials and in-class participation (10%)
   Please note that attendance of all tutorials is mandatory.
2. 2 short essays (each 20%)
3. Final essay (50%)
    

There is no specific textbook for the course. Relevant readings and references will be provided in class.