The present paper seeks to find out the correlation between the pragmatic meaning and the sociolinguistic meaning expressed in face-to-face verbal interaction. It discusses the problematic areas in relation to how the verbal behaviour conveys pragmatic and sociolinguistic meanings, and how they contribute to the overall communicative value of verbal face-to-face interaction. To do this, the study has selected some interviews taken from two TV talk shows; namely, BBC Politic Show and 20/20 talk show. The study identifies the interviews' contexts of use, employing utterance and force techniques. Then, it employs the two separate, but related, aspects of the interlocutors' social identities and social ties and adopts Hymes’ model for the sake of identifying the contextual factors of the interaction and Brown and Levinson's (1978) theory of politeness.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Language and Communication
2.1 Code Model
2.2 Inferential Model
2.3 The Notion of Context
2.4 The Notion of Interaction
2.4.1 Features of Interaction
2.4.2 TV Interviews
2.5 The Notion of Utterance
2.6 The Notion of Force
2.7 The Notion of Implicature
2.8 Face-Management and Politeness Strategies
2.8.1 Bald on Record
2.8.2 Positive Politeness
2.8.3 Negative Politeness
2.8.4 Off Record Politeness
2.9 Stylistic Variation
3. Research Methodology
3.1 Data Collection
3.2 Data Analysis and Discussion
3.2.1 Interview no. (1)
4. Results and Discussion
5. Conclusions
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This study investigates the correlation between pragmatic meaning and sociolinguistic meaning within face-to-face verbal interactions in political TV talk shows. By analyzing specific interviews, the research explores how linguistic behavior, politeness strategies, and stylistic choices contribute to the communicative value of the interactions and the negotiation of participants' social identities.
- Analysis of pragmatic versus sociolinguistic meaning in verbal encounters.
- Application of Hymes' model and Brown and Levinson's politeness theory.
- Investigation of communicative strategies (on record, positive, negative, and off record) in political discourse.
- Examination of the role of stylistic variation and "power position" in TV interviews.
- Exploration of how interlocutors use language to maintain social relationships and fulfill communicative goals.
Excerpt from the Book
2.8.1 Bald on Record
Brown & Levinson (1978: 74) treat ‘bald on record’ strategy as speaking in conformity with Grice’s maxims. Thomas (1995: 170) argues that there are some occasions when external factors constrain an interlocutor to speak very directly, for example in case of an emergency, or a major time constraint (e.g., making an international call) or where there is some form of channel limitation (e.g., speaking on a field telephone). ‘Bald on record’ strategy may also be used when mutual demands are not over riding face concerns but are actually oriented to face (e.g., invitation, greeting, etc.):
1. Watch out!
2. Come in.
Brown & Levinson (1978: 105) argue that this strategy is also used when the overall ‘weightiness’ of the FTA is very small, e.g.:
3. Give me a pen.
Thomas (1993: 1701) adds that in situations which no attempt is made to mitigate the FTA, regardless of rating of the imposition, the power differential is great. In such cases the powerful interlocutor often employs no indirectness, as in (1) when uttered by a teacher to student:
4. Get out of the class room.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the social role of language and the correlation between pragmatic and sociolinguistic meanings in verbal interaction.
2. Language and Communication: Provides the theoretical framework, including models of communication, the concepts of context, utterance, force, and politeness strategies.
3. Research Methodology: Details the approach for analyzing TV interview transcripts based on the proposed model and contextual factors.
4. Results and Discussion: Presents the findings regarding how interviewees like Condoleezza Rice and political figures utilize specific strategies to manage their social identity and respond to discourse.
5. Conclusions: Summarizes the study’s findings, highlighting the correlation between power positions and specific politeness strategies.
6. Bibliography: Lists all academic sources and literature cited in the research.
Keywords
Socio-Pragmatics, Face-to-Face Verbal Interaction, Political Talk Shows, Politeness Strategies, Power Position, Communicative Intent, Sociolinguistic Meaning, Pragmatic Meaning, Speech Acts, Discourse Analysis, Face Threatening Act, Stylistic Variation, Inferential Model, Context, Implicature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the correlation between pragmatic and sociolinguistic meanings in face-to-face verbal interactions, specifically within the context of political TV talk shows.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study centers on language and communication theory, the nature of interaction and utterance, and the management of face through various politeness strategies.
What is the main research goal?
The primary goal is to determine how verbal behavior conveys pragmatic and sociolinguistic meanings and how these contribute to the overall communicative value of social interactions.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study adopts Hymes' model for identifying contextual factors and utilizes Brown and Levinson's (1978) theory of politeness to analyze discourse strategies.
What content is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body explores the theoretical foundations of communication and interaction, followed by a detailed methodological analysis of interviews from the "BBC Politic Show" and "20/20".
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Socio-Pragmatics, Face-to-Face Verbal Interaction, Politeness Strategies, Power Position, and Communicative Intent.
How does "Power Position" affect the communication style of the participants?
The research concludes that a participant's power position often correlates with the use of 'on record' strategies and 'positive politeness', which serve to establish or maintain social equality and familiarity.
What role does the 'off record' strategy play in the analyzed interviews?
Participants use 'off record' strategies to minimize potential face threats and manage social relations, often by flouting conversational maxims to imply meaning without stating it explicitly.
Why is stylistic variation considered socially meaningful in this study?
Stylistic variation is seen as a means for interlocutors to negotiate their social identities, with switches in style indicating a change in the social relationship or communicative goal.
- Citar trabajo
- Prof. Dr. Ahmed Sahib Mubarak (Autor), Asst. Lec. Abdul-Haq Abdul-Kareem Abdullah Al-Sahlani (Autor), 2021, Face-to-Face Verbal Interaction in Selected TV Political Talk Shows. A Socio-Pragmatic Account, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1142328
