Politeness in Europe / edited by Leo Hickey and Miranda Stewart.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Hickey, Leo.

Stewart, Miranda, 1954-

Series:

Multilingual Matters S., V.127

Multilingual Matters

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sociolinguistics--Europe.

Sociolinguistics.

Etiquette--Europe.

Etiquette.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (346 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Clevedon ; Buffalo : Multilingual Matters, c2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The study of politeness has undergone an explosion of interest since the late 1980's, involving an examination of language and languages in many societies. The present volume aims to contribute to current knowledge and understanding of the subject by giving a broad picture of politeness across twenty-two European countries, addressing the essential debates at the heart of politeness studies. Each chapter attempts to provide an empirical snapshot, based on sound theoretical principles, of the issues and practices in its own society. Some of the contributors engage directly with critical thinking on politeness theory, using data from their languages and cultures to advance theoretical frameworks, while others highlight the forms politeness takes in particular cultural contexts, analysing how individuals interact with each other in ways intended to achieve their communicative goals. The volume treats questions such as whether a given society favours positive politeness or negative politeness, the use of formal or informal pronouns of address, small-talk, conventional politeness formulas and how politeness practices change over time.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Notes on the Contributors

Introduction

Politeness in Germany: Politeness in GERMANY?

Politeness in France: How To Buy Bread Politely

Politeness in Belgium: Face, Distance and Sincerity in Service-exchange Rituals

Politeness in Luxemburg: Greetings from Foreign Parts

Politeness in The Netherlands: Indirect Requests

Politeness in Austria: Politeness and Impoliteness

Politeness in Switzerland: Between Respect and Acceptance

Politeness in Britain: ‘It’s Only a Suggestion…’

Politeness in Ireland: ‘In Ireland, It’s Done Without Being Said’

Politeness in Norway: How Can You Be Polite and Sincere?

Politeness in Denmark: Getting to the Point

Politeness in Sweden: Parliamentary Forms of Address

Politeness in Finland: Evasion at All Costs

Politeness in Estonia: A Matter of Fact Style

Politeness in Poland: From ‘Titlemania’ to Grammaticalised Honorifics

Politeness in Hungary: Uncertainty in a Changing Society

Politeness in the Czech Republic: Distance, Levels of Expression, Management and Intercultural Contact

Politeness in Greece: The Politeness of Involvement

Politeness in Cyprus: A Coffee or a Small Coffee?

Politeness in Italy: The Art of Self-Representation in Requests

Politeness in Portugal: How to Address Others

Politeness in Spain: Thanks But No ‘Thanks’

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610828371

9781853597392

9781280828379

1280828374

9781853597398

1853597392

OCLC:

568232951