工作场所的幽默与礼貌原则

The Humour and Politeness Principle in the Workplace

幽默是工作场所交往中很有价值的资源,是一个高度灵活的话语策略。根据Brown & Levinson面子观理论,幽默在交际双方权势和地位不均等的场合(工作场所)下使用,具有很高的社会价值:幽默作为一种特殊的言语交际方式,上级使用幽默可以控制局面和加强权威,下级使用幽默可以发表冒险的观点、提出反抗,甚至挑战更大的权力者。

Humor is a very useful resource and flexible communication strategy in the workplace. This article analyses the social functions of humor in the workplace from the aspect of Brown ＆ Levinson＇ s “face needs”.Humor which serves as a special communication strategy may function in unequal power and position encounters as a means by which superiors maintain their position and strengthen their power, but also as a socially acceptable strategy by which subordinates express their risky opinion and challenge superiors.