A Study Of Impolite Talks In Chinese TV Series:a CA-based Approach

In recent years, the sphere of (im)politeness research has been increasingly polarized into two confronting areas in terms of theoretical construction. One is (im)politenessl approaches which appeal to paying close attention to multifarious real-life impoliteness phenomena, focusing on interactants’discourse practice in their process of constructing politeness; whilst the other is (im)politeness2approaches laying stress on analysts’ understanding and interpretation of (im)politeness phenomena. The present thesis, in order to make a bridge-building integration of these two areas, adopts the analytical framework of conversation analysis. The present thesis points out that politeness construction not only lies in participants’ discourse practice, but also in analysts’ interpretation. Taking this as a starting point, the thesis then proceeds to carry out a data analysis of Golden Marriage. It aims to examine the felicity of Culpeper and Bousfield’s impoliteness models in Chinese cultural context. Meanwhile, these two models will be recontextualized and accordingly, numerous Chinese-specific impoliteness output strategies will be put forward as well. A view of strategy is that using impoliteness strategies in the process of impoliteness construction does not necessarily depend upon speakers alone, rather, it is a bidirectional and mutual activity between speakers and hearers on the basis of such variables as evaluation, cognition, frame and so on and so forth. In the ending part, two generic impoliteness responsive strategies are touched upon. Based on a comprehensive analysis, the conclusion can be drawn that the two impoliteness models mentioned above are applicable within Chinese-specific context, that there are numerous Chinese-specific impoliteness output strategies like insulting, satirizing, scolding and lowering others’ social status, and that felicity of two generic impoliteness responses can also be attested to a larger extent.