Positive and negative face as descriptive categories in the history of English
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Andreas H. Jucker
Abstract
Studies in the history of politeness in English have generally relied on the notions of positive and negative face. While earlier work argued that a general trend from positive politeness to negative politeness can be observed, more recent work has shown that in Old English and in Middle English face concerns were not as important as in Modern English and that, in certain contexts, there are also opposing tendencies from negative to positive politeness. In this paper, I focus in more detail on the notions of positive and negative face and follow up earlier suggestions that for negative face a clear distinction must be made between deference politeness and non-imposition politeness. On this basis, I assess the usefulness of the notions of positive and negative face for the development of politeness in the history of English.
Abstract
Studies in the history of politeness in English have generally relied on the notions of positive and negative face. While earlier work argued that a general trend from positive politeness to negative politeness can be observed, more recent work has shown that in Old English and in Middle English face concerns were not as important as in Modern English and that, in certain contexts, there are also opposing tendencies from negative to positive politeness. In this paper, I focus in more detail on the notions of positive and negative face and follow up earlier suggestions that for negative face a clear distinction must be made between deference politeness and non-imposition politeness. On this basis, I assess the usefulness of the notions of positive and negative face for the development of politeness in the history of English.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- The historical understanding of historical (im)politeness 1
- ‘Face’ across historical cultures 25
- Nineteenth-century English politeness 49
- “[T]his most unnecessary, unjust, and disgraceful war” 81
- A socio-cognitive approach to historical politeness 103
- From good manners to facework 131
- “Tumbled into the dirt” 154
- Positive and negative face as descriptive categories in the history of English 175
- Insults, violence, and the meaning of lytegian in the Old English Battle of Maldon 195
- Understanding Anglo-Saxon “politeness” 227
- An evolutionary take on (im)politeness 251
- Notes on Contributors 279
- Index 283
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- The historical understanding of historical (im)politeness 1
- ‘Face’ across historical cultures 25
- Nineteenth-century English politeness 49
- “[T]his most unnecessary, unjust, and disgraceful war” 81
- A socio-cognitive approach to historical politeness 103
- From good manners to facework 131
- “Tumbled into the dirt” 154
- Positive and negative face as descriptive categories in the history of English 175
- Insults, violence, and the meaning of lytegian in the Old English Battle of Maldon 195
- Understanding Anglo-Saxon “politeness” 227
- An evolutionary take on (im)politeness 251
- Notes on Contributors 279
- Index 283
