期刊名称：International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature
印刷版ISSN：2200-3592
电子版ISSN：2200-3452
出版年度：2014
卷号：3
期号：4
页码：80-87
DOI：10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.3n.4p.80
出版社：Australian International Academic Centre PTY. LTD.
摘要：This paper reports a comprehensive study of the politeness phenomenon in Pinter’s well-known play, “The Birthday party”. It aims at figuring out how politeness strategies are used by the characters and how the variables of power and distance influence the choice of politeness levels. In order to analyze the play’s text Brown and Levinson’s (1987) universal model of politeness was used. The model is characterized by three variables which are power, distance and rank extremity. Careful screening of the dialogues demonstrates that a good many of politeness strategies were used in the drama. However, different preferences were found in the use of the strategies towards the positive pole. Regarding the social distance the findings are consistent with Brown and Levinson’s theory predictions. The findings of this study suggest that the assertion of power is a complicated process which can not merely be explained by the high frequency of the use of certain strategies and an interlocutor’s power depends upon many factors like the role of the interlocutor and his/her status in the particular interaction, and in relation to the addressee.
其他摘要：This paper reports a comprehensive study of the politeness phenomenon in Pinter’s well-known play, “The Birthday party”. It aims at figuring out how politeness strategies are used by the characters and how the variables of power and distance influence the choice of politeness levels. In order to analyze the play’s text Brown and Levinson’s (1987) universal model of politeness was used. The model is characterized by three variables which are power, distance and rank extremity. Careful screening of the dialogues demonstrates that a good many of politeness strategies were used in the drama. However, different preferences were found in the use of the strategies towards the positive pole. Regarding the social distance the findings are consistent with Brown and Levinson’s theory predictions. The findings of this study suggest that the assertion of power is a complicated process which can not merely be explained by the high frequency of the use of certain strategies and an interlocutor’s power depends upon many factors like the role of the interlocutor and his/her status in the particular interaction, and in relation to the addressee.
关键词：Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory; Distance; Face work; Politeness strategies; Power; “The Birthday party” play
其他关键词：Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory; Distance; Face work; Politeness strategies; Power; “The Birthday party” play
