Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Theoretical framework
- 2 The roots of politeness research
- 3 Recent developments in politeness research
- 4 Politeness as social practice
- 5 Understandings of politeness
- Part II Politeness and time
- Part III Politeness and social space: from mind to society
- Notes
- Glossary
- References
- Index
5 - Understandings of politeness
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2014
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Theoretical framework
- 2 The roots of politeness research
- 3 Recent developments in politeness research
- 4 Politeness as social practice
- 5 Understandings of politeness
- Part II Politeness and time
- Part III Politeness and social space: from mind to society
- Notes
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
Introduction
In Chapter 3 we introduced the distinction between first-order politeness and second-order politeness. A first-order perspective on politeness is generally thought to encompass the understandings of participants or lay users of language. A second-order perspective, in contrast, is thought to encompass a theoretical approach to politeness. However, while the first-order/second-order distinction has been useful in politeness research in stimulating a move to greater diversity in the ways in which we study politeness, this two-way distinction nevertheless masks a number of very different kinds of understandings. It has also been claimed that there are ‘first-order’ as opposed to ‘second-order’ approaches to politeness. We reject this kind of simplistic opposition. We suggest that not only does this set up an unproductive tension in the field, it is also a view that neglects the fact that any approach to politeness necessarily draws from multiple loci of understanding.
Let us consider for a moment the following interaction from the comedy Seinfeld. In example (1) Jerry has just noticed an unusual pen belonging to Jack, who is one of the neighbours in the retirement village where Jerry's parents live.
Jerry: What kind of pen is that?
Jack: This pen?
Jerry: Yeah.
Jack: This is an astronaut pen. It writes upside down. They use this in space.
Jerry: Wow! That's the astronaut pen. I heard about that. Where did you get it?
Jack: Oh it was a gift.
Jerry: Cause sometimes I write in bed and I have to turn and lean on my elbow to make the pen work.
Jack: Take the pen.
Jerry: Oh no.
Jack: Go ahead.
Jerry: I couldn't
Jack: Come on, take the pen!
Jerry: I can't take it.
Jack: Do me a personal favour!
Jerry: No, I’m not…
Jack: Take the pen!
Jerry: I cannot take it!
Jack: Take the pen!
Jerry: Are you sure?
Jack: Positive! Take the pen!
Jerry: Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Gee, boy!
(‘The pen’, Seinfeld, Season 3, Episode 3, 1991)- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Understanding Politeness , pp. 81 - 106Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013