Article published In: ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 89/90 (1990) ► pp.1–23
Politeness Formulas in English and Arabic
A Contrastive Study
Published online: 1 January 1990
https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.89-90.01els
https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.89-90.01els
Abstract
To be familiar with the kinds of formulaic expressions used by speakers of a language as markers of politeness, is a knowledg which is indispensable to the acquisition of communicative competence in lan-guage. Such expressions can present many pitfalls for the learner who is not fully aware of their conditions of use. A failure to grasp the often subtle differences between first language and target language formulas can lead to serious misunderstandings and misjudgements.
References (20)
Blum-Kulka, S. (1984): Requests and apologies: A cross-cultural study of speech act realization patterns (CCSARP).Applied Linguistics V\III: 169–213.
Coulmas F. (ed.) (1980): Conversational Routines: Explorations in Standardized Communication Situations and Pre-patterned Speech. The Hague: Mouton.
Davies, Eirlys E. (1987): A contrastive approach to the analysis of politeness formulas. Applied Linguistics VIII\I: 75–88.
Drazdauskiene, M.L. (1981): On stereotypes in conversation: their meaning and significance. In Coulmas (ed.) 1981a.
Ferguson, C.A. (1976): The structure and use of politeness formulas. Language in Society V1: 137–51.
Grimshaw, A.D. (1973): Rules, social interaction and language behaviour. TESOL Quarterly7\2: 98–115.
Gumperz, J.J. (1966): Linguistic repertoires, grammars, and second language instruction. In Dil (ed.): Language in social groups: Essays by John Gumperz. Stanford University House.
J. & G. Kasper (1981): Politeness markers in English & German. In F. Coulmas (ed.) Routines: The Hague: Mouton.
Hymes, D. (1971): On Communicative competence. In Pride and Holmes" (eds.): Sociolinguistics. London: Penguin (1972).
Richards, J.C. and M. Suskwiwat (1983): Language transfer and conversational competence. Applied Linguistics4\2: 113–25.
Scarcella, R. and J. Brunak (1981): On speaking politely in a second language. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 271:11–34. Scollon, R. and S.B. Sollon (1983): Face in interethnic communication. In Richards and Schmidt (eds.) 1983.
Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
Bataineh, Rula F.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 march 2026. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
