On The Dynamics Of Verbal Impoliteness In Polylogal Interaction

In recent years, with the deeper understanding of the impoliteness phenomena, the impoliteness research has aroused much attention of the academia. Nonetheless, concerning the extant studies, researchers seldom explore the whole process of the impoliteness on the discourse level. Moreover, the previous studies are mostly based on English corpora, with the impoliteness research in Chinese context being comparatively rare.Taking the impoliteness theory as the theoretical foundation, the study employs a qualitative research method to investigate the dynamic process of verbal impoliteness with the corpora from Chinese TV program Jinpai Tiaojie, elaborating the corresponding strategic realization and response, and also discussing the pragmatic functions of verbal impoliteness.Five questions have been focused on in the study:(1) How is verbal impoliteness triggered in the Chinese meditation TV program?(2) How is the conversation between the conflicting parties progressed once verbal impoliteness is triggered?(3) How do face-threat witnesses respond to the verbal impoliteness in polylogal interaction?(4) How is verbal impoliteness finally resolved in the interlocution? and(5) What are the pragmatic functions of verbal impoliteness in the Chinese mediation TV program?The research findings are as follows:(1) Verbal impoliteness is triggered by what is perceived by the hearer to be the offending event;(2) Once impoliteness is triggered, the impoliteness initiator will directly issue face attack or employ the impolite implicature of discourse to realize his/her impolite intention, while the face-threat recipient may respond offensively or defensively to defend his/her face and the offensive reaction is very likely to bring about a worse situation;(3) In polylogal interaction, the face-threat witness’ response may affect the orientation of the impolite conversation. Compared with the response framework of face-threat recipients, face-threat witnesses have the unique model of response options: they are prone to respond, i.e., to corroborate or deny the impoliteness act. Face-threat witnesses tend to combine specific strategies to corroborate the impoliteness act, while denying the impoliteness act, they may further propose a compromise or counter with offensive and defensive strategies;(4) Interlocutors in the Chinese meditation TV program are apt to employ the four methods to terminate verbal impoliteness, namely, dominant third party intervention, stand-off, withdrawal, and topic shift; and(5) Concerning verbal impoliteness in the Chinese meditation TV program, two kinds of pragmatic functions are frequently performed: affective function and coercive function respectively. The former can be classified into two types — venting the negative emotion and seeking support from on-site people(except the impoliteness target), and the latter has two sub-categories — getting power in conversation and getting power over actions.From a theoretical perspective, the study can provide some reference for the impoliteness research. To be specific, the study of the dynamics of verbal impoliteness in the Chinese meditation TV program is the theoretical manifestation and complement of the impoliteness theory; the construction of the model of face-threat witness’ response options may enrich the connotation of the response framework.On a practical level, the study can promote people’s understanding of the working process of verbal impoliteness, so that they may use language in a more proper way and thus reduce impolite exchanges to communicate more smoothly. All this may facilitate the build-up of harmonious interpersonal relationship.