Flashcards on Sociolinguistics: Language, Gender, Politeness
Sociolinguistics: Language, Gender, Politeness Explained for Students
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Intercultural communication
12 cards
Card 1
Question: What is a key reason different cultures have distinct politeness approaches in social interactions?
Answer: They are shaped by unique values, communication styles, and social norms that influence how people manage face and interpersonal relationships.
Card 2
Question: How do high-context cultures typically convey politeness in communication?
Answer: Through indirectness, reliance on context and non-verbal cues, and strategies that maintain harmony and face (e.g., avoiding direct refusals, self-dep
Card 3
Question: What are core elements emphasized in Chinese politeness principles mentioned in the content?
Answer: Respectfulness, modesty, attitudinal warmth, and refinement, reflecting a collectivist focus on group harmony.
Card 4
Question: How do low-context cultures generally express politeness compared with high-context cultures?
Answer: They favor direct, explicit language and straightforwardness; politeness may be shown by addressing people as equals (e.g., using first names) and cle
Card 5
Question: Give an example of a politeness norm in British communication described in the content.
Answer: British politeness often follows maxims like the Tact Maxim and Generosity Maxim and is characterized by negative politeness—indirectness to respect p
Card 6
Question: What is an example of a linguistic strategy for politeness involving indirect requests?
Answer: Phrasing a request indirectly (e.g., "Could you pass the salt?") to soften the request and show consideration for the listener's feelings.
Card 7
Question: How does formality in address function as a politeness strategy in Javanese culture?
Answer: Speakers choose different greetings and language forms depending on the addressee's social status, using more formal forms for superiors and less form
Card 8
Question: How can expressions of gratitude differ between Western and Chinese cultural norms?
Answer: Westerners may say explicit thanks (e.g., "Thank you for a wonderful evening"), whereas in Chinese culture gratitude might be conveyed as an apology f
Card 9
Question: How does the individualism vs. collectivism cultural value influence politeness styles?
Answer: Individualistic cultures prioritize autonomy and directness; collectivist cultures emphasize community harmony and indirectness, affecting what is per
Card 10
Question: How do differing privacy norms affect intercultural perceptions of politeness?
Answer: In privacy-valuing Western cultures, reserved interactions are polite; in cultures like Chinese, asking personal questions can signal care and may be