Integrative pragmatics and (im)politeness theory
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Michael Haugh
Abstract
In this chapter, we first discuss the role that pragmatics has played in the development of (im)politeness theory, and the recent move towards a middle ground that integrates classic and discursive approaches to (im)politeness. We outline the key tenets of integrative pragmatics that afford such a move, before illustrating how these can be implemented through a case study focusing on an incident in Big Brother UK where the (ostensibly) jocular use of a racial slur by a contestant caused offence and the subsequent removal of that contestant from the show. Our analyses draw from multiple methods, including those of interactional pragmatics and corpus pragmatics. In this way, we aim to both highlight the fundamentally pragmatic basis of (im)politeness, as well as the need for a nuanced and complex theorisation that integrates multiple perspectives and methods of analysis.
Abstract
In this chapter, we first discuss the role that pragmatics has played in the development of (im)politeness theory, and the recent move towards a middle ground that integrates classic and discursive approaches to (im)politeness. We outline the key tenets of integrative pragmatics that afford such a move, before illustrating how these can be implemented through a case study focusing on an incident in Big Brother UK where the (ostensibly) jocular use of a racial slur by a contestant caused offence and the subsequent removal of that contestant from the show. Our analyses draw from multiple methods, including those of interactional pragmatics and corpus pragmatics. In this way, we aim to both highlight the fundamentally pragmatic basis of (im)politeness, as well as the need for a nuanced and complex theorisation that integrates multiple perspectives and methods of analysis.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Sociolinguistics vs pragmatics 11
- Discourse pragmatics 33
- The interface between pragmatics and conversation analysis 59
- Pragmatics vs rhetoric 85
- Narrative studies versus pragmatics (of narrative) 121
- Translation studies and pragmatics 143
- The interface between pragmatics and gesture studies 163
- Pragmatics and anthropology 185
- Integrative pragmatics and (im)politeness theory 213
- Corpus linguistics and pragmatics 241
- The interface between pragmatics and internet-mediated communication 267
- Pragmatics, humor studies, and the study of interaction 291
- Index 311
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Sociolinguistics vs pragmatics 11
- Discourse pragmatics 33
- The interface between pragmatics and conversation analysis 59
- Pragmatics vs rhetoric 85
- Narrative studies versus pragmatics (of narrative) 121
- Translation studies and pragmatics 143
- The interface between pragmatics and gesture studies 163
- Pragmatics and anthropology 185
- Integrative pragmatics and (im)politeness theory 213
- Corpus linguistics and pragmatics 241
- The interface between pragmatics and internet-mediated communication 267
- Pragmatics, humor studies, and the study of interaction 291
- Index 311
