Emic Perspectives on the Positive-Negative Politeness Distinction
Author(s)
Haugh, Michael
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2006
Metadata
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By resorting to the comparative analysis of oriental and western languages (Chinese, Japanese, American English, Australian English) Haugh questions the universal nature of positive / negative face, which he describes as ethnocentricoriented, and thus should be reconceptualized. To do so, he proposes a dialectic approach based on connectedness-separateness which may transcend the divisions into binary oppositions, and account for both the universal and culture-specific elements inherent in the phenomenon of politeness.By resorting to the comparative analysis of oriental and western languages (Chinese, Japanese, American English, Australian English) Haugh questions the universal nature of positive / negative face, which he describes as ethnocentricoriented, and thus should be reconceptualized. To do so, he proposes a dialectic approach based on connectedness-separateness which may transcend the divisions into binary oppositions, and account for both the universal and culture-specific elements inherent in the phenomenon of politeness.
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Journal Title
Culture, Language and Representation
Volume
3
Publisher URI
Subject
Cultural Studies
Language Studies