Brief Description
This book, presents a radical way of looking at linguistic politeness.
Learn More about the Book
Using a wide range of data from real-life speech situations, this introduction to politeness theory breaks away from the limitations of current models. It argues that the proper object of study in politeness theory must be "common sense" definitions of politeness and impoliteness. Richard Watts concludes that a more appropriate model, based on Bourdieu's concept of social practice, can thus be developed.
Review Quotes
1. 'The book as a whole is very clear and well-structured and provides both an overview and critique of existing politeness theories, but perhaps of more importance, he shows that there is nothing inherently polite about particular utterances, it is simply that some utterances may be more open to interpretation as polite than others ...'. Multilingua
2. 'This excellent volume in a new series called Key Topics on Sociolinguistics is the first textbook on this subject ... This clearly written book will stretch its readers, leaving them with the sense that the field is more fertile and interesting than they may have imagined at the start ... An unusually rich and stimulating textbook ...'. The Times Higher Education Supplement
3. 'I can think of no-one in the field better qualified to write a critical introduction to linguistic politeness research than Professor Watts. He has a lively critical awareness of the shortcomings of the standard approach, an excellent overview of the presently available alternative approaches, and a willingness to work within standard theory to make the politeness research paradigm more responsive to the needs and interests of researchers around the world. There is no doubt in my mind that a critical introduction to linguistic politeness will be met with enthusiasm by the world's politeness researchers. This book is predestined to become the first standard introduction to the field.' Professor Richard W. Janney, Institut fur Englische Philologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munchen
4. ..."a valuable overview of the literature."
Current Anthropology
5. ..."the book stands as a useful introduction to the study of linguistic politness, and is notable for its attention to the play of force relations in constituting social interaction."
Canadian Journal of Sociology Online
6. .,."a valuable overview of the literature." Current Anthropology
7. .,."the book stands as a useful introduction to the study of linguistic politness, and is notable for its attention to the play of force relations in constituting social interaction." Canadian Journal of Sociology Online
8. ."..a valuable overview of the literature." Current Anthropology
9. ."..the book stands as a useful introduction to the study of linguistic politness, and is notable for its attention to the play of force relations in constituting social interaction." Canadian Journal of Sociology Online
10. ..".a valuable overview of the literature." Current Anthropology
11. "Politeness is a challenging, insightful, and provocative approach to the study of politeness phenomena...thoughtful and engaging..."
Women and Language
12. ..".the book stands as a useful introduction to the study of linguistic politness, and is notable for its attention to the play of force relations in constituting social interaction."
Canadian Journal of Sociology Online
13. ..".a valuable overview of the literature."
Current Anthropology
