礼貌原则与面子理论视角下的婆媳冲突话语研究——以电视剧《婆婆

Contents

Abstract (i)

摘要 .......................................................................................................................... i v Chapter 1 Introduction (1)

1.1 Background of the study (1)

1.2 Objectives and significance of the study (2)

1.3 Data source and methodology of the research (4)

1.4 Organization of the study (5)

Chapter 2 Literature Review (7)

2.1 Review of conflict talk (7)

2.1.1 From the perspective of conversation analysis (7)

2.1.2 From the perspective of pragmatics (10)

2.2 Previous studies of conflict talk between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law

(13)

2.2.1 Linguistic adaptation perspective (13)

2.2.2 Pragmatic perspective (15)

Chapter 3 Theoretical Base (18)

3.1 Leech’s politeness principle (18)

3.1.1 Maxims of the politeness principle (18)

3.1.2 Implicature in conversation (21)

3.2 Face theory (22)

3.2.1 Face threatening acts (23)

3.2.2 Politeness strategies (25)

Chapter 4 Analysis of Conflict Forms in Violating the Politeness Maxims in Mother-in-law Is Coming (27)

4.1 Violating tact and generosity maxims (27)

4.1.1 Displaying refusal (28)

4.1.2 Indicating refutation (29)

4.1.3 Expressing scold (31)

4.2 Violating approbation and modesty maxims (32)

4.2.1 Employing accusation form to demonstrate blame (32)

4.2.2 Employing ironic utterances to express emotions (34)

4.2.3 Applying exaggeration to show satire (35)

4.2.4 Applying arrogant utterances to reveal over-confident (36)

4.3 Violating agreement and sympathy maxims (38)

4.3.1 Showing opposition (39)

4.3.2 Indicating disobedience (40)

4.3.3 Expressing argument (42)

4.4 Causes of producing conflict talk (43)

4.4.1 Differences in values (46)

4.4.2 Differences in desires (47)

4.4.3 Differences in personality character (48)

Chapter 5 Analysis of Conflict Talk in Violating Face Value in Mother-in-law Is Coming (50)

5.1 Threatening positive face (50)

5.1.1 Threatening speaker’s positive face (51)

5.1.2 Threatening listener’s positive face (52)

5.2 Threatening negative face (53)

5.2.1 Threatening speaker’s negative face (54)

5.2.2 Threatening listener’s negative face (55)

Chapter 6 Solutions to Conflict Talk Between Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law (58)

6.1 Solutions from politeness viewpoint (58)

6.1.1 Mutual respecting and caring between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law (59)

6.1.2 Daughter-in-law’s showing filial respect for mother-in-law (61)

6.1.3 Mother-in-law’s caring for daughter-in-law (62)

6.2 Solutions from face saving viewpoint (63)

6.2.1 Giving positive face to the other side (63)

6.2.2 Obtaining one’s own face by giving others’ face (65)

Chapter 7 Conclusion (67)

7.1 Major findings of the study (67)

7.2 Limitations of the present study (69)

7.3 Suggestions for future research (69)

Bibliography (71)

攻读硕士学位期间主要科研成果 (76)

Acknowledgements (77)

湖南工业大学硕士学位论文

Chapter 1 Introduction

Conflict talk refers to negative or dispute discourse produced in the process of verbal communication, the nature of behavior not only directly or indirectly threatened the face of the communicators, but also may cause misunderstanding or hostility, leading to interpersonal communication failure (Zhao Yinglin, 2004). This study intends to provide a pragmatic analysis of conflict talk between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a Chinese TV play series Mother-in-law Is Coming. This chapter firstly presents the research background, objectives and significances of the present study, and then briefly illustrates the data collection and methodology of the research, and finally outlines the overall structure of the thesis.

1.1 Background of the study

In daily communication life, people always play different roles and always are in certain social relationships. Whenever people communicate with other people, there are some potential conflict talks to occur. Conflict talk, as a common linguistic phenomenon, occurs frequently in social interaction. It can be defined as a relationship when two people have incompatible goals and use a variety of prosocial and antisocial strategies to influence each other’s behavior (Malloy and McMurray, 1996). Conflict talk is usually caused by different values, worldviews, interests, personalities and living habits, etc. As Kuo (1992:4) notes, “Conflict talk is ubiquitous, normal, and integral to the working of every society.” People might have conflict with their friends or families in their personal life and might have conflict with their workmates and leaders in work time.

Conflict talk is also pervasive and ubiquitous between mother-in-law and