Social Meanings of the Hungarian Politeness Marker Tetszik in Doctor-Patient Communication

Abstract

The paper explores how the politeness marker tetszik is used in Hungarian and how its functions are evaluated by the participants of doctor-patient communication. The possible functions of tetszik are investigated on the basis of questionnaires filled in by 50 patients and 50 GPs. Data about the social meanings of tetszik are presented with regard to the following: proportions of the use of tetszik in doctor-patient communication; metapragmatic evaluations and attitudes to the use of tetszik by doctors and patients; probable strategies underlying its use. Based on the data, we conclude that the use of the politeness marker tetszik is prototypically respectful while conveying familiarity and friendliness, with the age, gender, and relative status of the interlocutors also taken into consideration.