对Leech礼貌原则的研究

A study of Leech's politeness principle in business
conversations
1. Introduction
1.1 research background
In recent years, pragmatics has a significant development, especially the book of “Pragmatics”of S.Levinson published in 1983 and the “Pragmatics standard”of Leech’s, which are drawn many people’s attention. “Pragmatics”systematically evaluated all kinds of theories of pragmatics till then. “Pragmatics standard”set up the new principle based on the old theory. lt is the Politenes Principle.
“Politeness Principle”isn’t set up by Leech. Before him, a lot of linguists and sociologists pay attention to the politeness phenomenon in using language. For example, a variety of languages have a proper appellation in Chinese,such as “you and you”.
In the early fifty’s, E.Gomnan put forward the “face”problem from the sociology angel. He said, in the communication process, in the every hours and moments, people are involved in the “face”problem. “Face”is one of the standards of the people’s behavior, is involved in the people’s behavior. On the one hand, people’s behavior is restrained by the face. On the other hand, we expect that the others should pay more attention to our face. “Face”is the personal sacred and private property, is the backbone of the sense of security and happiness. If we don’t protect the face, we should be regarded as “thick-skinned”. If we don’t protect the other’s face, it should be regarded as callous.
Goffman said: face work, is working with each other. Lost or not lost the
face is just in the hand of us. If we don’t want to lose the face, the most insurance way is not hurt the other people’s face. As a result, in the conversation, as usual we belittle you, rise up the others. If people raise up themselves, belittle the others, social interaction will be magic.
The book of the “Universal language” is written by P.Brown and S.Levinson in 1978.The politeness phenomenon is an article quoted by many people. They investigated the politeness phenomenon in English and indigenous language of Mexico and a native language in the south of India. They found that in the three unrelated cultures, the politeness phenomenon is very similar in using language. They thought, the politeness phenomenon in using language is not by accident, but a common phenomenon. They use the conception of “Face”of Goffman. They think people have two kinds of face, one is the positive face, for example,we would like to be praised by the others of our own character, occupation, hobbies and wearing. The other is the negative face, for example, we don’t want to be against by the others for you, property and freedom of action. Therefore, the politeness behavior can be classified two types, one is the positive politeness, just as we should meet the positive requirements of the other’s face(for example, we should praise the other’s occupation, position, achievements, appearance, children and so on),the other is the negative politeness, just as we meet the opposite requirements of the other’s face(for example, try our best to defense the others, the property and the freedom and so on).For example, the sentence “What a nice garden you’ve got” and “I know you’ve a warm-hearted person”. It is the positive politeness behavior. The sentence “I hate to trouble you like this ,but......”and “Would you forgive me if...... ”.It is the negative politeness behavior.
In addition, Brown and Levinson argue that avoiding to be outspoken in one’s face directly, as a while, we can talk the words in a fuzzy tone, let the others judge by themselves. For example, suggestion method, repeated the sentence meaning and just tell the standard instead of the brief things, This is discussed
by the two researchers. Leech’s politeness principle is just on the basis of them.
1.2 The importance of this thesis
This thesis is mainly about the politeness principle of Leech’s. In today's social services, high-quality society, politeness is a indispensable part of our communication. Of course, so it is in the business conversation. Politeness is the symbol of the human civilization, is an important yardstick of the human social activities. As a kind of social activity, language activities are also constrained by the criterion. In most cases, people speak in communication process is decided by the people's social relations, a language must be a social behavior in the communication. We must consider the various factors which can be accepted in society, use the appropriate language, avoid impolite words, avoid unnecessary unhappiness and misunderstanding in communication. As a result, a lot of researchers have did many research about the politeness principle. On the basis of them, I just do my best to explain some examples to let the reader have a deeper understanding about the politeness principle.
1.3 The structure of this thesis
The politeness principle is the means and strategies for successful session essential, but the use of different politeness principles plays a pragmatic value in different business conversation.
This thesis is simple and concise. This thesis focuses on the applicability of Leech's politeness principle in Business English conversation. This thesis can be divided into three parts. The first part is the introduction part, it is embodied of three parts, it is research background, the importance of this thesis, the structure of this thesis. The second part is the origin and growth of the politeness principle. The third part is the most important part, it is The politeness principle proposed by leech was used to analyze business English conversation.
2. The politeness principle
2.1 The origin of the politeness principle
Politeness is the symbol of human civilization, is an important yardstick of human social activities. Cooperative principle and politeness principle is the premise and the foundation of the success of the conversation.
In 1967, American linguist Grice proposed the concept of the cooperative principle in the conversation. So called the successful communication requires the participants of the communication should cooperate with each other. As a result, the two parts should follow the principle in the conversation, it is the cooperative principle. It requires every conversation participants in the whole conversation process should conform to the conversation goal or direction. Just because of this, the partner can be continued to make the meaningful language communication. If we can obey this rule, people can communicate with each other in a direct and efficient way. Grice summarized the cooperative principle as the maxim of quantity (Quantity Maxim), quality standards(Quality maxim), (Relation Maxim) standards and guidelines (Manner maxim). Any violation of a rule, it will be likely leading to misunderstanding or making a joke. If the violation is intentional, sometimes it is the speaker's implication, or it is in order to achieve the humorous effect. The speaker faced a conflict, if you have to break up a rule ,at the same time, you have to break up the other rule. The conflict often occurs in the number of standards and quality standards.
The politeness principle is a useful complement to complete the conversation.
2.2 The growth of the politeness principle
We have also studied the cooperative principle, the next we will talk the politeness principle.
Let us begin with an example. Why do people not say directly what they mean? Why, for instance, do people say “Could you give me a lift?” instead of “Give me a lift”? In most cases, the indirectness is motivated by considerations of politeness. By using the form “Could you ...? Or “Can you ...?”in a request, the hearer is given the alternative of refusing, for inability to help is more excusable than unwillingness to help. In fact not only the speaker abides by politeness in his speech, the hearer is also guided by the politeness principle in his interpretation of utterances. Leech proposes the Politeness Principle as a supplement to the cooperative principle. Leech says that the cooperative principle regulates what we say so that it contributes to some assumed illocutionary goals. While the politeness principle helps to maintain the friendly relations which enable us to assume that our interlocutors are cooperative in the first place. Leech formulates his Politeness principle and its maxims as follows:
(1) Tact Maxim. The communication of both sides of the speech to reduce adverse information to others. To comply with the common habits and psychological, don't let the others feel uncomfortable. For example, We are much concerned that your sales in recent months have fallen considerably. We would like to know what we can do to help. .This sentence means that we not only to pay attention to the others' performance in the decline of their business , at the same time, it is obviously that we are pleased to supply our assistance to the others. It is the implement of the tact maxim.
(2)Generosity Maxim. The communication of both sides of the speech to reduce Egocentric information, try to let them get useful information from the covering behavior and discourse information. For example, On 8th May I submitted a bill for services rendered to your office at the Lille International Exposition. More than a month has now elapsed without payment or acknowledgment of my bill. Please check this oversight, and remit payment at your earliest, Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Not only that this sentence does not recognized their billing and payment .At the same time, also expressed to continue to provide service for the other's desire and hope .When the payment, reflects the generosity principle.
(3) Approbation Maxim the speech delivered International action to avoid belittle each other, and should appreciate each other. Otherwise, easily lead to communication failure. For example, thank you for your letter of May 6, enclosing an account of the organization and work of your Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We are very grateful for such a detailed account of your activities. This information is certain to help increase our future cooperation. Here is the specification from the others about the work of the chamber of Commerce the organizational structure, to express the full agreement for the other's help . We can get the appreciation from the others.
(4) Modesty Maxim. To try to be modest in speech communication behavior. Modest including be patient to listening, evaluated myself with a humble and low-key attitude, don't exaggerate their own advantages, to ignore or conceal their shortcomings. For example：I would like to call on you to discuss our new monitor. Would 8:30 on Tuesday, June 5 be convenient? Humility in this sentence said to Each other to discuss the new monitor themselves, and for each other at eight thirty on June 5th is convenient, very friendly and polite.
(5)Agreement Maxim. The act of communication with each other should reduce differences, we should be near to the view to the others as far as possible in the non principle problem, that is to increase the consistency. Everybody expect the others to agree with their point of view. In the conversation, if we can find the rationality of the other's point of view, and to fully Certain, the exchange will progress smoothly, on the contrary, it is easy to cause the failure of communication. For example, your price is attractive, But I’d like your
Advice about my quotation. Your offer is very attractive, but I want to hear the advice you have quoted to me. This sentence is firstly and firmly to confirm the rationality of the other parties’ price, then we kindly put forward the suggestion to the others. We try to Reach an agreement.
(6)Sympathy Maxim. The communication between the two sides should reduce the other's emotional confrontation; try to increase the understanding between the two parties. Otherwise, if the emotional confrontation, will not get a good result. For example: (1) Please excuse my Late reply to your very friendly letter of June 4 please forgive me for you in June 4 Letter of reply delay. (2) We hope you will pardon us for troubling. Please forgive me for your trouble.
These maxims can help to explain, among other things, why certain forms are more acceptable than others. Following the Tact Maxim, for instance, in proposing an action potentially costly to the hearer, the more indirect the utterance is, the more polite the utterance,(Cf. Answer the phone and Could you possibly answer the phone)On the contrary, in initiating some action beneficial to the heater ,the more direct and insistent, the more polite the utterance.(Cf. Do have another apple and Will you have another apple?)The Approbation Maxim will explain why a compliment like “What a marvelous meal you cooked.”is highly valued while what an awful meal you cooked.” is not socially usable. Thus
when criticism is inevitable, understatement is preferred as a show of good as it might have been”. The Modesty Maxim accounts for the begin nature of utterances and the offensive nature of “How clever of me”. Regulated by the Agreement Maxim, people tend to exaggerate their common ground first, even when much difference is to follow. The Maxim of Sympathy has such a regulative force.
It is argued that when the CP and PP are in contradiction, it is generally the CP maxims that get scarified. When the truth can not be told for politeness sake, a white lie may be offered. In fact the PP is so powerful that people are often encouraged to violate its maxims in order to ensure a cooperative discourse.
3.The politeness principle proposed by leech was used to analyze business English conversation
3.1 the types of the business English conversation
We have studied Business English; it is can be divided into four parts. The first part is Business Life, it embodied On a Business Trip, Reserving a room, Crossing the Border and so on. The second part is Business Communications. It embodied Business Letters, E-mail and Trade forms and so on. The third part is Business Practice, it embodied Inquiry, Offer, Counter-offer and so on. The fourth part is the Other Business Sectors, it embodied Advertising, Patent and Trademark, Job Interviews and so on.
3.2 explain the brief examples using the politeness principle
Business Practice is we studied in the university. We must be familiar with the example about this .The following is just this type of example. The example is about signing a contract.
A：Now, we have finally reached a basic agreement on the problems that need be worked out .Shall we make sure we’ve got right one more time?
B：Ok. I think tha t’s a good idea and will help clarity some important items that we may have overlooked.
A：First of all, about the format of our sales contact, we always use copies prepared and printed by our own company. Will that be all right?
B：I guess so. As long as yo u’ve got an English version, I have no objections.
A：Yes, we do have that. And all the content is written both in Chinese and in English. Therefore, in terms of law, they are equally authentic.
B：Thanks. Let’s use your own copies then.
A：Now let’s check th e items in the sales contract. Let’s start from the name of the commodity, specifications, quantity, unit price and the total amount···
Do you think they are OK?
B：Yes, very good. But I want to point out here that shipment should be effected and completed before the end of July. We can’t accept any delay.
A：Of course not.
B：Please inform us immediately when shipment is effected.
A：No problem. Then everything else is started clearly in the sales contract and you can go through them on your own. If there should be a problem, you can contact us any time tomorrow before 5 p.m.
B：That sounds good to me. When will the contract be ready?
A：the day after tomorrow. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon,we’ll sign the contract. B：Excellent. I’ll see you then.
A：See you.
B：See you.
The following is that we will discuss the application of politeness principle in the conversation. The first sentence “Now, we have finally reached a basic agreement on the problems that need be worked out .Shall we make sure we’ve got right one more time?”We can easily make out that it has use Agreement Maxim. The two parts have got the agreement, but because of Modesty Maxim, they should confirm the contract again. This is lively to describe the two principles of the politeness principle. The second sentence is “Ok.I think that’s a good idea and will help clarity some important items that we may have overlooked.” It can be obviously seen the Approbation Maxim .It is pleased by each other, it can let the business be continued. The third is “A：Now let’s check the items in the sales contract.Let’s start from the name of the commodity, specifications, quantity, unit price and the total amount···Do you think they are OK?
B：Yes, very good. But I want to point out here that shipment should be effected and completed before the end of July. We can’t accept any delay.” This dialogue
uses the Tact Maxim. They discussed with each other. They respect each other. It is great contribution to the success of the business. The fourth sentence is “ev erything else is started clearly in the sales contract and you can go through them on your own .If there should be a problem, you can contact us any time tomorrow before 5 p.m.
B：That sounds good to me “.If you have any problem, you can contact with me. it uses the Tact Maxim. we should learn how to cooperate with each other. Business can be conducted with a happy atmosphere and a good environment. Doing business we can’t hurt the other’s feeling, we should respect each other.
4.Couclusion
With the global economic integration advancement, international trade has the increasingly fierce competition; the business English letters to create are fined and courteous. A respect to each other, seek cooperation atmosphere, make each other happy with me.
Our cooperation, which helps to occupy a space for one person in the competition. / ceremony appearance is one of the mall on the weapon, write and do not pay attention to politeness, like war time no bullet. 0 business correspondence is not only realize communication
medium, and is building friendship, the means of attracting customers. Written a business English letter, politeness principle is must pay attention to, because this directly related to your letter have positive effect, or is the success of it. Therefore, attention should be paid to the use of polite, decent English Language, with honest attitude to write, write down each other especially in for the letter, remember / temperate reply can eliminate 0. Such, business letters in order to play its due role. Timely feedback, language words appropriately, respect each other, be neither humble nor pushy, writing carefully, politeness in principle, but the need of business letters.
Cooperative principle and politeness principle is the interaction, complement ary-relationship in conversation analysis. Because in the actual conversation of people sometimes side. The cooperative principle consideration, especially when people communicate more pay attention to the information content, the politeness principle to consider in cooperative. Then, And sometimes, people only care about good manners, such as:greetings, greetings. Therefore, the cooperative principle and the politeness principle is a kind of advance and retreat, complementary phase relationship. The cooperative principle and the politeness principle is often with the other principles, such as: the aesthetic principles, the social norms, the rules and the constraints of people's conversation. The total is that clarify these relationships, especially the relationship of cooperation and politeness principle, can effectively help us to guide the students to conversation analysis.。