A Study Of Mock Politeness In Computer-mediated Communication

As one of the mixed messages and a socially-constituted interactive practice,mock politeness is a complicated but fascinating research subject that attracts increasing scholars’ attention with the arrival of the third wave of politeness theory.Many scholarly definitions of mock politeness highlight the presence of mismatch and the implicature of impoliteness.However,most studies of mock politeness have been grounded in western culture,which has little to do with Chinese culture.At the same time,previous studies are based on face-to-face conversation,while largely neglecting computer-mediated communication where mock polite behaviors are more pervasive.Following the footsteps of Culpeper’s(2011)Implicational Impoliteness Model and Categorization of Functions of Mixed Messages,this thesis investigates the realization modes,functions,and motivations for mock politeness in computermediated communication.The following research findings were drawn.Firstly,the typical realization modes of mock politeness triggered by multimodal mismatch involve conventionalized impolite head acts,such as criticisms,ridicules,and insults,and conventionalized polite supportive moves,such as emojis with a neat prevalence of positive polarity.The realization modes of mock politeness triggered by verbal formula mismatch entail the "garden path" constructions featuring its half-part of elevating salutations like "nin"((honorific second person pronoun)or conventionalized polite supportive moves like praise and gratitude,as well the halfpart of conventionalized impolite head acts like accusations and ridicules.Multimodal mismatch and verbal formula mismatch constitute two triggers for mock politeness triggered by internal mismatch.Mock politeness triggered by external mismatch is realized by the conventionalized polite alerters like elevating salutations,head acts like compliments and blessings,as well as supportive moves like emojis with positive or neutral meanings.Drawing on a quantitative study of two types of mock politeness,this thesis finds that mock politeness triggered by internal mismatch is more prevailing than that of external mismatch in CMC.Multimodal mismatch is the principal trigger among mock polite behaviors triggered by internal mismatch,while mismatch between utterances and linguistic contexts is more prevalent among mock polite behaviors triggered by external mismatch.Secondly,mock politeness is characterized by its affective,instrumental,and interpersonal functions.Their focuses vary with the different types of mock politeness.Specifically,for the affective function,mock politeness triggered by internal mismatch is more likely to make negative emotional outbursts,while mock politeness triggered by external mismatch serves as a buffer against blatant impoliteness with its superficial positive emotions.Regarding the instrumental function,mock politeness triggered by internal mismatch usually entails more overt moral transgressions than external mismatch and serves as a means of gaining power over others within the norms of subcultural groups;mock politeness triggered by external mismatch is more in line with the Chinese socio-cultural norms.Concerning the interpersonal function,mock politeness triggered by internal mismatch,especially multimodal mismatch,may lead to the deconstruction of relationships,while mock politeness triggered by external mismatch is more likely for speakers to construct their own alternative ideal identities.Thirdly,multidimensional motivations such as socio-cultural,socio-psychological,and technological motivations account for mock politeness.Socio-cultural motivations entail harmonyoriented socio-cultural norms and the Politeness Principle in Chinese.Sociopsychological motivations include the expansion of internet subcultural stratification and emotional contagion.Technological motivations encompass the defining features of computer-mediated communication,its technological resources,as well as the invisible constraints of Chinese Internet censorship.By mapping out mock politeness in computer-mediated communication,this thesis offers insights into mock polite behaviors in the Chinese setting and extends earlier studies of mock politeness from face-to-face conversation to virtual cyberspace.Meanwhile,it provides a theoretical reference for the subsequent introduction of the third-wave politeness theory into mock politeness research.More importantly,the thesis may shed light on a facet of Chinese online culture,with the hope to offer some practical reference for interpersonal communication in computermediated communication as well as the regulation and correction of cyber language.