The M-word
-
Nikos Vergis
Abstract
We investigate the conventionalization of mock impoliteness through a study of the Greek collocation re malaka, which can be construed as either solidary (dude) or insulting (asshole). Questionnaire results showed that the solidary sense prevails across the board, in contrast to the insulting sense, about which consensus was much lower. We propose that, when the expression is used between young males in a close relationship, the Banter Principle (Leech 1983) is no longer in operation and no inference is needed to disambiguate the interactional import of the collocation. Rather, the solidary sense, having resulted from a “conventionalization of invited inferences” (Traugott 1999), is activated automatically in this “minimal context” (Terkourafi 2005). Our study has implications for the debates on the inherent nature of im/politeness and on the semantics/pragmatics interface from the perspective of im/politeness research.
Abstract
We investigate the conventionalization of mock impoliteness through a study of the Greek collocation re malaka, which can be construed as either solidary (dude) or insulting (asshole). Questionnaire results showed that the solidary sense prevails across the board, in contrast to the insulting sense, about which consensus was much lower. We propose that, when the expression is used between young males in a close relationship, the Banter Principle (Leech 1983) is no longer in operation and no inference is needed to disambiguate the interactional import of the collocation. Rather, the solidary sense, having resulted from a “conventionalization of invited inferences” (Traugott 1999), is activated automatically in this “minimal context” (Terkourafi 2005). Our study has implications for the debates on the inherent nature of im/politeness and on the semantics/pragmatics interface from the perspective of im/politeness research.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- Introduction vii
-
Self-reporting Studies
- Introduction to Part I 3
- Social deixis in motion 7
- The M-word 41
- “There’s not a lot of negotiation” 71
-
Observational Studies
- Introduction to Part II 93
- Korean honorifics beyond politeness markers 97
- Goading as a social action 121
- Shaming, group face, and identity construction in a Russian virtual community for women 149
-
Experimental Studies
- Introduction to Part III 183
- Interactional competence and politeness 187
- Using eye-tracking to examine the reading of texts containing taboo words 213
- Impoliteness electrified 239
-
Epilogue
- Epilogue 267
- Index 277
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- Introduction vii
-
Self-reporting Studies
- Introduction to Part I 3
- Social deixis in motion 7
- The M-word 41
- “There’s not a lot of negotiation” 71
-
Observational Studies
- Introduction to Part II 93
- Korean honorifics beyond politeness markers 97
- Goading as a social action 121
- Shaming, group face, and identity construction in a Russian virtual community for women 149
-
Experimental Studies
- Introduction to Part III 183
- Interactional competence and politeness 187
- Using eye-tracking to examine the reading of texts containing taboo words 213
- Impoliteness electrified 239
-
Epilogue
- Epilogue 267
- Index 277
