Abstract

Language is the medium for delivering information and meaning .For the sake of having a communication without obstacle and building a healthy interpersonal relationships and avoiding embarrassment and conflicts in communications, we always use polite expressions to communicate. The polite expressions exist widely in various cultures. Politeness is a phenomenon in human language. It embodies deep cultural information .Polite language can lubricate human interactions and enable people to have smooth communications. There is no doubt that English is more and more important in the 21st century in the era of global communication. Based on the importance of English and polite language, this paper explores polite expressions in English, hoping it can help English learners in cross cultural communications. From the perspective of linguistics, the paper studies politeness principles, cooperative principle and the use of polite expressions in English. If we can use the English polite language correctly, we can benefit from it.

Key words：politeness principle; cooperative principle; the use of polite language

Contents

摘要

Abstract

1 Introduction-1

1.1 Significanceof the study-1

1.2 Studies at home and broad-2

2 Politeness principle and cooperative principle-5

2.1 The politeness principle-5

2.2 The cooperative principle-9

3 Politeness shown in English language-13

3.1 Politeness shown in intonation .-13

3.2 Politeness shown in sentences-14

3.2.1 Question-14

3.2.2 Exclamatory sentence-15

3.3 Politeness shown in euphemism-16

3.4 Politeness shown in subjective mood.-17

4 Barriers in cross cultural communications between Chinese and Westerners-18

4.1 The differences of linguistic level and nonlinguistic level-18

4.2 The difference in value-19

4.3 The differences in thinking mode and communication style.-19

5 Strategies for the use of polite expressions in English.-19

6 Conclusion-20

References-21

Acknowledgements-21