A discussion of Laver's analysis of linguistic routines in Greeting and Parting

2.  Introduction
 Raymond Firth’s view
 The importance of face (and FTAs)
 Risk/Routinization equivalent evolution
 Paul Grice’s Cooperative principle
 Grice’s 4 maxims vs Politeness and Face
 Ervin-Tripp’s flow chart
 Formulaic greeting and parting
 Conversational phases and routine choice
 Norm and deviation : conversational implicature
 Phatic communion
 Initial phase : Acknowledgment and Re-negotiation
 Final phase : Mitigation and consolidation
 Conclusion

3.  Permanent tension between
› Efficiency (Grice)
› Politeness (Brown and Levinson)
 Linguistic routines :
› Are polite behaviour tools
› Help reduce FTA
 Norm is key  any deviation = negotiation of
social relationship between participants (cf.
slides 9 & 10)

4.  Main function of routine linguistic material =
ceremonial / ritual function
« Sociological observations suggest [it] is
highly conventionalized (…) greeting and
parting behavior may be termed ritual since it
follows patterned routines (…) and it has
adaptative value in facilitating social
relationships. »
R.Firth 1972

5.  Face = key notion in routines
 Negative F : want of member that his actions be
unimpeded by others  negative politeness
 Positive F : want of member that his wants be
desirable to -at least some- others  positive
politeness
 Non-respect of Grice’s 4 maxims arises from
attention to Face and FTAs! (cf. slide 7 & 8)

6.  Maximum FTA risk uses maximum routinization
 conversely
 Maximum routinization reveals maximum FTA
risk
 Formality and politeness display equivalent
evolution to keep FTA at the same level
 Circumstance variation  existence of link
between formality / politeness / risk / face

7.  Grice’s 4 maxims
› Quantity : be as informative as necessary
› Quality : be truthful
› Relation : be relevant
› Manner : be clear, concise and unambiguous
 Assumption : purpose of conversation = maximally
effective exchange of information
 Notion of conversational implicature arises :
taking into account that the 4 maxims MUST be
fulfilled… what is S doing?

8.  « One powerful and pervasive motive for not
talking Maxim-wise is the desire to give some
attention to face (…) Politeness is then a major
deviation from such rational efficiency. »
Brown & Levinson 1978
 Need for maximum efficiency : Help! , Fire! , …
 Imperative for actions directly in H’s interest :
Take care , Enjoy , Be good …

10.  Follows Ervin-Tripp’s flow chart
 Address usage is reciprocal between equals
and non-reciprocal between unequals
 Adult / non-adult
 Setting  identity is official rather than personal
 Dispensation : higher rank accepting
‘closeness’
 Relatives & well-acquainted / inferiors / children
= formulaic phrase

11.  Initial (marginal) : politeness ++
 Medial (main conversational body): Grice’s
maxims + / politeness –
 Final (marginal) : politeness ++
 Social status of H
 Degree of acquaintance between S/H
 Situational factors : occasion/setting
 Characteristics os S/H : age, gender, social
class

12.  « When there is agreement about a normal address form
to alters of specific statuses, then any deviation is a
message. »
Ervin-Tripp 1969
 « How can (the S’) saying what he did say be reconciled
with the supposition that he is observing the overall
Cooperative Principle?»
Grice 1975
 Two movements :
› Social step : acquaintance , intimacy growth
› Social distancing

13.  Laver : S can signal his perception of formality /
acquaintance / social relationship
 Initial + Final phases
 Initial :
› Defuse the hostilty of silence when speech is expected
› Initiatory : cooperate, emotionally neutral, solidarity
(accepting interaction)
› Exploratory : interaction consensus , mutual
acknowledgment
 Final :
› Cooperative parting
› Consolidates relationship betwwen S/H

14.  Neutral category : factors known to S+H
(weather)
 Self-oriented : personal factors of S
 Other-oriented : factors of H
 Any 3 : well-acquainted
 Neutral : anyone (no FTA)
 Other-oriented : S>H (threat : H’s F- / treat H’s
F+)
 Self-oriented : S<H (threat : S’ F- / treat S’ F+)

15.  Reparatory acts for breaking the relationship
 Self and other –oriented (neutral very rare)
 Omission = implicature of rejection
 Mitigatory = F- : external compulsion to leave
/ needs of H & external compulsion to leave
 Consolidatory = F+ : esteem / arrangement
for continuation of relationship /
consolidation of network of acquaintances

16.  Importance of FTAs and Grice’s maxims
(their interplay)
 Norm & deviation  implicature
 Routines = strategies for negotiation and
control of social identity and relationships.