An Analysis Of Wang Xifeng’s Speech Acts：a Politeness Perspective

This thesis explores the speech acts of Wang Xifeng in the respect of politenessprinciples, which include Lakoff’s explanation, Leech’s maxims and Gu Yueguo’smaxims from the Chinese approach. Additionally, this thesis attempts to make one ofthe initial trials that incorporate the notion of inauthentic politeness into the politenessmaxims. Inauthentic politeness is the incongruity between the true feeling and theliteral words. This principle is used a lot by people like Wang Xifeng. Of course,Wang Xifeng doesn’t always behave in a polite way. When she treats servants, shewould use the most face threatening acts and the most impolite way without anyredressive actions.The adoption of each maxim is an articulatory fact which shows Xifeng’sflexibility around people. Those maxims immaculately reflect Xifeng’s character. Sheis a great artist and puts on various faces in front of different people. Eventually, I dohope that the inauthentic politeness maxim should receive enough attention.