礼貌原则视角下的会话沉默

On Conversational Silence from the Perspective of Politeness

礼貌原则是一条重要的语用原则。交际者在会话过程中受制于礼貌原则,常常使用间接语言形式。会话沉默是一种特殊的间接语言,是礼貌原则的重要体现形式。在交际过程中,会话沉默形式常常可以用来回避面子威胁行为,行使各种补救策略,包括消极礼貌策略、非公开面子威胁行为策略和不实施面子威胁行为策略,从而维护面子,规避言语交际形式有可能带给对方的强加和尴尬。

Politeness is an important pragmatic principle. In the process of communication, guided by politeness principle, communi- cators often use indirect language. Conversational silence is a kind of special indirect language, which can convey the significance of politeness. In everyday conversations, conversational silence can be used to avoid FTAs and perform such redressive strategies as negative politeness, off record and ＂don＇t do the FTA＂ so as to save face and also avoid the imposition, confrontation or embarrassment which may not be avoided when one uses verbal expressions. Key words： politeness principle; conversational silence ; indirect language ; redressive strategy