Some Puzzles of Politeness and Impoliteness Within a Formal Semantics of Offensive Language

Abstract

Abstract. Puzzles of linguistic politeness and impoliteness are outlined. A framework for articulating formal semantic theories of linguistic politeness and impoliteness is adopted. The framework provides a foundation for a semantic theory that builds on past argument that (im)politeness behaviors arise from offence management associated with disgust. The theory is shown to explain some of the puzzles of (im)politeness.

Taboo semantics

“…The taboos of sanctity (e.g., T (w 1 )) appear to be beyond the distastefulness of excessive politeness [8]. In communities in which the terms no longer invoke sanctity, the use of such expressions with earnest attestment of belief can cause the same sort of embarrassment for witnesses as being party to conversations that include politeness at levels that reach obsequiosity.…”

“…7 The single argument, a proto-patient, need not be articulated. Commonality of meaning between taboo of sanctity and revulsion is indicative of the circular spectrum of (im)politeness that has been noted [8] -excess politeness is not a prophylactic against disgust. As with other expressions, individuals may identify different use conditions that favor production of one over the other, but it is uncertain that their judgements of relative contempt indicated by the expressions will be stable over a sequence of days or be in agreement with offensiveness ranking judgements made by others.…”

“…The contrasts for the potential antecedents (indicated with subscripts) of the pronoun it in the examples (11) and (12) show that the excrement (whether represented as T (w 5 ), Ω(w 5 ) or E(w 5 )), although unmentioned directly, is available as an antecedent, although the unmentioned object of a verb that does not evoke disgust is not accessible, as in (11). 8 (11) After the gun fired, it the gun /#it the bullet dropped to the ground. (12) After the dog defecated, #it the dog /it the excrement bore the missing ring.…”

“…Thus, the principle, even expressed as a conditional, is best understood as dependent on additional parameters left unspecified here. This framework can be used to model the interpretation of (im)polite utterances and to make predictions about linguistic and non-linguistic politeness behaviors that may emerge as a speaker evaluates an event and its participants [8], [9].…”

“…Aspects of taboo language have been discussed among a number of other puzzles of the language of politeness and impoliteness [8]. This paper provides primary focus on taboo expressions, elaborating some of their anomalous qualities.…”