Abstract: Impoliteness is a linguistic phenomenon widely employed by many people. However, it     has not been paid enough attention to for a long time and even has long been ignored by many scholars. A Dream of Red Mansions is one of the Chinese four classical masterpieces and is highly spoken of by researchers. Meanwhile, the novel is of high research value. In order to make a proper analysis of the linguistic impoliteness phenomenon, this paper takes the utterances of Wang Xifeng’s as research materials on the theoretical basis of Culpeper’s impoliteness theories from five aspects: bald on record impoliteness strategy, positive impoliteness strategy, passive impoliteness strategy, sarcasm or mock politeness strategy and withhold politeness strategy. This paper also tries to explore some of the reasons for Wang’s impolite utterances.

        Key words: impoliteness strategy；A Dream of Red Mansions；Wang Xifeng

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction.1

2. Literature Review1

  2.1 Previous Study of Impoliteness Abroad

  2.2 Previous Study of Impoliteness in China

  2.3 Introduction to Wang Xifeng

3. Analysis of Wang Xifeng’s Impolite Utterances 3

  3.1 Impoliteness Strategies Employed by Wang 

    3.1.1 Bald on Record Impoliteness Strategy

    3.1.2 Positive Impoliteness Strategy

    3.1.3 Passive Impoliteness Strategy

    3.1.4 Sarcasm or Mock Politeness Strategy

    3.1.5 Withhold Politeness Strategy

  3.2 Causes Accounting for the Different Impoliteness Strategies

    3.2.1 Impoliteness Relating to Different Family Relationships

    3.2.2 Impoliteness Relating to Different Social Hierarchy

4.Conclusion.6

Bibliography..8

Acknowledgments.9