TR-I-0075 :March, 1989

Gayle K. Sato

Politeness Strategies in American English Telephone Dialogues

Abstract:"Politeness Strategies in American English Telephone Dialogues" To contribute towards the translation of intentions from Japanese into English, a study of politeness strategies in American telephone dialogues was conducted. A data base of telephone conversations was first constructed and then described from a socio-linguistic viewpoint. In particular, attention is paid to the difference between respect and friendliness as components of politeness in American speech, since in Japanese speech friendliness is not considered part of politeness whereas in American English it is an integral part.

Twelve kinds of dialogues were constructed: (1) starting a request, (2) maintaining a request, (3) ending a request, (4) requesting a meeting, (5) making and confirming reservations, (6) making and changing appointments, (7) placing an order, (8) inviting, (9) asking directions, and (10) leaving and following up a message. When these dialogues were analyzed, eight Politeness strategies were identified: (1) degree of politeness, (2) use of "please," (3) use of "may/could/would," (4) orienting the receiver, (5) softening requests, (6) connecting a series of requests, (7) ending a request dialogue, and (8) friendliness. Friendliness was further categorized as either tonal or verbal friendliness, with verbal friendliness subclassified into informality, intimacy, sharing of information, and display of personality.