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Article published In: Languages in Contrast
Vol. 17:1 (2017) ► pp.128–150

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Beyond saying thanks

Compliment responses in American English and Peninsular Spanish

 | Illinois State University
 | Universitat de Lleida
Published online: 13 February 2017
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lic.17.1.06mir
Abstract
This study explores how American English and Peninsular Spanish speakers respond to a compliment. Participants completed an online discourse completion test with nine different complimenting scenarios. A total of 14 different strategies for responding to a compliment were found in the data. Based on verbal reports on language use, it was found that Peninsular Spanish speakers do not compliment as often as American English speakers do. The data analysis also revealed that both language groups clearly prefer to accept a compliment, but whereas American English speakers regard a simple ‘thank you’ as an appropriate compliment response, Peninsular Spanish speakers prefer to agree with the complimented assertion by making a semantically fitted comment. Other differences include the importance of returning a compliment in American English and the need to scale down the illocutionary force of the compliment among Peninsular Spanish speakers.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.CRs in American English and Peninsular Spanish
  • 3.Methodology
  • 4.Results and discussion
    • 4.1Respondents’ definition of compliments and frequency of use
    • 4.2Strategy type: Frequency and preference
    • 4.3Strategy use across social contexts
      • 4.3.1Returning the compliment
      • 4.3.2Scaling down the force of the compliment
      • 4.3.3Expressing humor
      • 4.3.4Disagreeing with and refusing a compliment
  • 5.Conclusions
  • References
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