II。Talking about Leech’s Politeness Principle

2。1 Author’s background

Geoffrey Neil Leech FBA (16 January 1936 – 19 August 2014) was a specialist in English language and linguistics。 He was born in Gloucester, England on 16 January 1936。 He is a man who has Jewish ancestry。 He was the author, co-author or editor of over 30 books and over 120 published papers。 His main academic interests were English grammar, corpus linguistics, stylistics, pragmatics and semantics。 He is a man who has Jewish ancestry。 

2。2 The content of Leech’s Politeness Principle

According to Geoffrey Leech, there is a politeness principle with conversational maxims similar to those formulated by Paul Grace。 Although the Politeness Principle is not firstly created by Leech, he is the only person who specifics the concrete maxims for the Politeness Principle。 He lists six maxims, these maxims vary from culture to culture: what may be considered polite in one culture may be strange or downright rude in another。

Leech’s Politeness Principle could be stated as follows, other things being equal, minimize the expression of beliefs which are unfavorable to the hearer and at the same time maximize the expression of beliefs which are favorable to the hearer。(Leech, 1983:81)

Now, let us look at these maxims one by one。

I。  The Tact maxim:

It means that minimize the expression of beliefs which imply cost to others; maximizes the expression of beliefs which imply cost to others。 And the first part in the maxim fits in with Brown and Levenson’s negative politeness strategy of minimizing the imposition, and the next part reflects the positive politeness strategy of attending to the hearer’s needs, wants, and interests。In one word, when you ask for help, you have to try your best to reduce others pay。 When you get help, you have to enlarge the benefit you have got。

Now, there are some sentences use The Tact maxim。 In these sentences we will have clear concept of this maxim。 In the sentences a and b the mood is more polite than c and d。 So, people will accept joyfully。文献综述

a。Would it be possible for you to lend me your book?

b。Could you please lend me your book?

c。Lend me your book。

d。You must lend me your book。

II。 The Generosity maxim

It means that make yourself benefit the least and loss the most。 In this maxim it states that it is preferred to praise others and if this is impossible, or to sidestep the issue, to give some sort of minimal response (possibly through the use of euphemisms), or to remain silent。 The first part of the maxim avoids disagreement; the second part intends to make other people feel good by showing solidarity。 In a word, by asking question, the speaker sacrifices his/her own freedom and must do what the hearer asks if the hearer accept his/her offer for help。

Now, there are some sentences use The Generosity maxim。 In these sentences we will have clear concept of this maxim。 In the sentences a and b the hearer will be willing to do what you said, but in the c and d it is impolite。

a。Would you like to help me do the dishes?

b。Please help me to do the dishes。

c。Help me to do the dishes。

d。You must help me to do the dishes。

III。 The Approbation maxim

It means that we should try our best to lessen the censure to others and exaggerate the praise to others。 As for the approbation maxim, it is easy for us to understand that saying something good about others is such more polite than saying something bad。If you are in a situation that you have to say something bad about others, saying it indirectly seems to be more polite。 In other words you should imply your dispraise rather than speak it out badly。 In brief, we have to learn to speak highly of others。 It will make others fell you are a generous man。