Functions of Speech

1
Functions of Speech

• 1. Expressive
• 2. Directive
• 3. Informative (Referential)
• 4. Metalinguistic
• 5. Poetic
• 6. Phatic
• 7. Heuristic
• 8. Commissive
• 9. Performative (Declarative)

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London Pearson,
p. 273.
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Politeness Tips (Norms, Rules)

• ? Learn to assess Social Distance, Relative
  Social Status, Formality of Context/Situation
• ? In general, imperatives are used between
  people who know each other well or to
  subordinates.
• ? Clearly, getting what you want from someone
  else requires knowledge of the norms rules for
  expressing yourself appropriately in the relevant
  socio-cultural context. A successful outcome can
  reflect a real sociolinguist accomplishment.
• ? Learn politeness routines (e.g., please, thank
  you)
• ? Learn / use appropriate naming conventions

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London Pearson,
pp. 279-282.
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Politeness 1

• Generally speaking politeness involves taking
  account of the feelings of others. A polite
  person makes others feel comfortable. (3rd ed.
  281)
• Being linguistically polite is often a matter of
  selecting linguistic forms which express the
  appropriate degree of social distance or which
  recognise relevant status of power differences.
  (2nd ed., 258)
• OR Being linguistically polite involves
  speaking to people appropriately in the light of
  their relationship to you. Inappropriate
  linguistic choices may be considered rude. (3rd
  281 / 4th ed. 285)

Holmes, Janet. 2001, 2008, 2013.
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Politeness 2

• Being polite is a complicated business in any
  language. It is difficult to learn because it
  involves understanding not just the language, but
  also the social and cultural values of the
  community.

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London Pearson,
p. 284.
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Politeness 3

• We often dont appreciate just how complicated
  it is, because we tend to think of politeness
  simply as a matter of saying please and thank you
  in the right places. In fact it involves a great
  deal more than the superficial politeness
  routines that parents explicitly teach their
  children

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London Pearson,
p. 284.
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Elements Contributing to Politeness

• 1. Form
• (modal interrogative, interrogative,
• declarative, imperative)
• 2. Politeness routines / formulas
• (please, thank you)
• 3. Intonation
• 4. Tone of voice

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London Pearson,
pp. 277-284.
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7
American Address Forms
Crystal, David. 1987. The Cambridge Encyclopedia
of Language. Cambridge Cambridge University
Press, p. 44. Based on Ervin-Tripp (1972).
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What should you teach? What should students
learn? 1

• ADVICE
• ? I believe THE Rules of Addressing people should
  be taught EXPLICITLY to avoid misunderstandings.
• ? NOT IN JUST ONE SESSION. We need REPETITION /
  Practice  

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What should you teach? What should students
learn? 2

• REMIND YOUR STUDENTS
• ? It is better to start off Extra-Polite. The
  situation can always change (or not) later.
• ? Teachers can still give DISPENSATION to use
  their first name, BUT REMIND STUDENTS This may
  NOT be accepted by other teachers. Students
  should OBSERVE, and wait for a dispensation. (Or
  ask what to call them. This is ALWAYS OK to do.)
• ? These limitations do NOT apply to other people
  your own (YOUNG) age.

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Choosing T / V Form in Yiddish
Crystal, David. 1987. The Cambridge Encyclopedia
of Language. Cambridge Cambridge University
Press, p. 45.
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Cultural Awareness

• Learning another language usually involves a
  great deal more than learning the literal meaning
  of the words, how to put them together, and how
  to pronounce them. We need to know what they
  mean in the cultural context in which they are
  normally used. And that involves some
  understanding of the cultural and social norms of
  their users.

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London Pearson,
p. 292.
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Practical Sociolinguistic Applications

• ? Speech functions
• ? Addressing conventions
• ? Conversational rules
• ? Grices cooperative principle and maxims
• ? Non-linguistic politeness
• ? Cultural attitudes affecting interactions

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