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Article published In: Spanish in Context
Vol. 21:2 (2024) ► pp.312–341

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(Im)polite uses of vocatives in present-day Madrilenian Spanish

ORCiD logo with link | Ghent University
Published online: 30 May 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sic.22008.del
Abstract
The present study aims to examine the socio-pragmatic scope of vocatives in present-day colloquial Spanish. As prototypical deictic markers, directly calling upon the addressee, vocatives are considered crucial mechanisms in the creation and maintaining of interpersonal relationships during interaction. This deictic potential makes them highly appropriate strategies at the service of face work and (im)politeness. However, the relation between (Spanish) vocatives and (im)politeness has scarcely been explored. In an attempt to fill this research gap, the present analysis empirically examines the socio-pragmatic functions related to the expression of (im)politeness that the Spanish vocative is able to fulfill in colloquial conversations. The results show that its socio-pragmatic multifunctionality needs to be evaluated in the broad context, not only by taking into account the hosting speech act and the vocative’s semantic features, but also extra-linguistic parameters, such as the interpersonal relationship and the speaker’s age.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: Vocatives and (im)politeness
  • 2.The vocative: Definition and characteristics
  • 3.The different faces of politeness
    • 3.1Politeness as a socio-pragmatic concept
    • 3.2Politeness as a sociocultural concept
  • 4.Data and methodology
  • 5.Analysis
    • 5.1How does the Spanish vocative contribute to the expression of (im)politeness?
    • 5.2To what degree does the vocative’s semantic core meaning prompt or sabotage particular (im)polite effects on the interlocutor’s face?
    • 5.3To what degree do contextual and socio-relational variables affect the vocative’s expression of (im)politeness?
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
References (47)
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