Pragmatic Study Of Addressing Terms In A Dream Of Red Mansions

The use of addressing terms is indispensable to human daily conversation. Thus researches on addressing terms are always the major subjects for scholars of various fields. Sociolinguists have made static description of rules regulating addressing term usage in static situation. Yet the use of addressing terms is flexible and dynamic, thus it is necessary to study from pragmatic point of view. The main focus of this thesis is to investigate the polite, dynamic and purposive nature of addressing terms in the novel A Dream of Red Mansions as well as the complicated personal relationship, demonstrating the fact that pragmatic theories are capable of giving an excellent explanation of literary works.Distance Principle of Politeness is applied to make investigation into politeness of addressing terms. Whether addressing term is polite at utterance level is determined by pragmatic distance which refers to the intimacy degree perceived and calculated by two members in a dyad communication. Pragmatic distance is fluid and negotiable. For instance, in one of the conversations in this novel, Chia Cheng addresses his mother with Madame and Mother, reflecting the negotiability of pragmatic distance. These two vocatives are polite at utterance level.Applying Jef Verschueren's Dynamic Context, this thesis makes discussion on the dynamic relation between addressing terms and contextual factors from the standpoint of contextual correlates of adaptability. The use of addressing terms is a process of continuously making choices with the purpose of adapting to mental, social, physical and linguistic world. These contextual factors will change and develop so as to maintain a balanced state with addressing terms.Addressing term is often used under certain motivations. Investigation into the influence of addressing terms by different communicative motivations contributes to the elaboration of the purposive nature of addressing terms. The study of motivation also enables readers to comprehend the personality of various characters by means of his language and motivation. For example, attempting to persuade Second Sister in moving...