Conversational implicature (II)
The politeness principle
The six main maxims
The relationship between PP and CP
The politeness principle
• The five sets of phenomena under the
heading of politeness:
• politeness as a real-world goal
• deference
• register
• politeness as a surface level phenomenon
• politeness as an illocutionary phenomenon
The politeness principle
• The four pragmatic approaches to
politeness
• the conversational-maxim view
• the face-management view
• the conversational-contract view
• the pragmatic scales view
The politeness principle
• Minimize (all things being equal) the
expression of impolite beliefs; maximize (all
things being equal) the expression of polite
beliefs.
--- Leech
• Choose expressions which minimally belittle
the hearer’s status.
--- Cruse
The six main maxims
The tact maxim
minimize cost to other; maximize benefit to other
The generosity maxim
minimize benefit to self; maximize cost to self
The approbation maxim
minimize dispraise of other; maximize praise of other
The modesty maxim
minimize praise of self; maximize dispraise of self
The agreement maxim
minimize disagreement between self and other; maximize
agreement between self and other
The sympathy maxim
minimize antipathy between self and other; maximize
sympathy between self and other
六个次准则
(1)得体准则：尽量少让别人吃亏，尽量让别人多得益
(2)慷慨准则：尽量少让自己得益，尽量多让自己吃亏。
(3)赞誉准则：尽量少贬损别人，尽量多赞誉别人
(4)谦逊准则：尽量少赞誉自己，尽量多贬损自己
(5)一致准则：尽量减少双方的分歧，尽量增加双方的一致。
(6)同情准则：尽量减少双方的反感，尽量增加双方的同情。
Leech 礼貌原则的六个次准则
（从“惠”和“损”的角度）
1
得体准则
使他人受损最小；使他人受惠最大
2
慷慨准则
使自身受惠最小；使自身受损最大
3
赞誉准则
尽量少贬低别人；尽量多赞誉别人
4
谦虚准则
尽量少赞誉自己；尽量多贬低自己
5
一致准则
尽量减少双方的分歧；尽量增加双
方的一致
6
同情准则
尽量减少对别人的反感；尽量增大
对别人的同情
The politeness principle
the 3 pairs of key notions
• self 自身
• benefit 受惠
other 他人
vs.
vs.
• minimization 尽量缩小
cost 受损
vs.
maximization 尽量夸大
Leech 礼貌原则的六个次准则
（从“惠”和“损”的角度）
1
得体准则
2
慷慨准则
3
赞誉准则
4
谦虚准则
5
一致准则
6
同情准则
利益分配
评价
对待他人的态度
A check: cost or benefit?
(1)Help me to make a few copies of this
paper.
(2)That’s really wonderful! Thank you
very much!
A check: impositives
(1) Give me your money.
(2) Clean the office.
(3) Shut the window.
(4) Open your mouth wide and say Ah!
(5) Have another cup of coffee.
(6) Have a nice day.
(7) Enjoy your summer vacation.
Examples
I was wondering whether or not you
would be free to help me with my paper.
I was wondering if you could possibly
have a good time this evening.
Examples
Let me clean the office.
Lend me you computer.
A: I have been so careless.
B1:Yes, haven’t you?
B2: Don’t worry about it. We’re humans.
Examples
A:You did a wonderful job!
B1:Thank you! It’s not too bad.
B2:Yes, didn’t I?
Examples
A: This project will bring a lot of profit to our
company.
B1:You’re absolutely right. I cannot agree with
you more.
B2:Yes, but I think we’ll encounter a lot of
problems in carrying it out.
Examples
I’m really glad to hear about your promotion.
I’m terribly sorry to hear that your dog died.
Summary
(1) As for benefit to other, try to express in a
direct way;
(2) In case of cost or disagreement to other,
express in an indirect way;
(3) If disagreement is unavoidable, try to use weak
agreement first.
The relationship between PP and CP
• collaborate or rescue?
• The relationship between the two principles
goes like this: the CP and its associated maxims
are the mechanisms which enable the hearer to
interpret indirectness, where there is a
"mismatch between the expressed meaning and
the implied meaning"; the PP and its associated
maxims collaborate with the CP and its
associated maxims in conceiving the reasons
that lead to indirectness of conversation. (P73)
Your Assignment
• Try to analyze the passage Love is a fallacy
under Leech’s PP.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages
of PP?