A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PERCEIVED POLITENESS NORMS

This book explores the perceptions of
politeness-related behaviors in three groups. Two are
groups of Japanese, one of which has been living in
southern communities, while the other has recently
arrived from Japan to study English. The third
community consists of southerners living in McComb
and Jackson, Mississippi. The goal has been to learn
about each groups' views of themselves and the others
in the same domain (i.e. politeness).

The interview findings indicate mutual positive views
held by the American and Japanese participants.
However, a closer look at responses to a set of
discourse completion tasks shows differing patterns
for refusal communications for the Japanese and
American participants. The study shows that the
participants' refusals are influenced by situations,
such as status differences, relationships between
requester and requestee, and high necessity requests.

Autorentext

Dr. Ronnie Goodwin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, AmericanUniversity of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Klappentext

This book explores the perceptions ofpoliteness-related behaviors in three groups. Two aregroups of Japanese, one of which has been living insouthern communities, while the other has recentlyarrived from Japan to study English. The thirdcommunity consists of southerners living in McComband Jackson, Mississippi. The goal has been to learnabout each groups' views of themselves and the othersin the same domain (i.e. politeness).The interview findings indicate mutual positive viewsheld by the American and Japanese participants.However, a closer look at responses to a set ofdiscourse completion tasks shows differing patternsfor refusal communications for the Japanese andAmerican participants. The study shows that theparticipants' refusals are influenced by situations,such as status differences, relationships betweenrequester and requestee, and high necessity requests.