Politeness In Mexico And The United States

This book explores the issue of politeness phenomena and socially appropriate behavior in two societies, Mexico and the United States, in three different contexts: refusing invitations, requests, and suggestions. In addition to a state-of-the-art review of the speech act of refusals in numerous languages, the book provides a rigorous analysis of data collection methods utilized to examine speech act behavior at the production and perception levels. Many examples of native speaker interactions illustrate the similarities and differences observed in the realization patterns and the perception of refusals by Mexicans and Americans in formal and informal situations. The data are analyzed in terms of refusal sequences and pragmatic strategies which are strategically used to carry out relational work during the negotiation of face. The results of the quantitative and qualitative analyses are interpreted in light of the notions of face, politeness, and relational work in Mexico and the United States. This publication will be of interest to researchers and students in pragmatics and discourse analysis, cross-cultural communication, and sociology.

This book studies the principles for constructing polite speeches, based on the detailed study of three unrelated languages and cultures.

The present study sheds light on how 16 Mexican-Americans residing in Texas perceive and follow politeness norms (e.g., Brown & Levinson, 1987; Fraser, 1990; Terkourafi, 2005) related to greetings and leave-takings in different cultural and linguistic contexts. Data from online questionnaires identify a significant difference in perceived level of social expectation (i.e. politeness) for employing the speech acts with Spanish- versus non-Spanish speakers. The data support previous research in identifying a sense of solidarity among Mexican-American extended families, but go further in suggesting that this bond extends to other Spanish-speaking acquaintances. Better understanding of these norms should facilitate inter-cultural exchanges between linguistic in- and out-group members.

One of the main contributions of this important book is that it offers a thorough survey of the theoretical and empirical developments that have occurred in the area of (im)politeness in the different regions of the Spanish-speaking world, gathering together overviews by distinguished scholars. Additionally, the book advances the field with new empirical research on linguistic (im)politeness, and silence and (im)politeness, in a range of (non)institutional contexts, as well as new perspectives for the study of (im)politeness. A closing chapter by the editors provides an assessment of salient trends in the area and directions for future research. Research on Politeness in the Spanish-Speaking World is essential reading for students in Spanish pragmatics and Spanish linguistics, sociolinguistics, and discourse analysis. The volume is also very useful to English-speaking scholars in the general field of pragmatics who are not proficient in Spanish but require access to these empirical studies.

From the Middle Ages up to the present day, this book traces politeness in the history of the English language.

Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this is the first book to systemise the processes by which we manage relations across cultures.

Illustrates the latest trends in politeness research from a multilingual and multicultural perspective, through the application of diverse methodologies.

Understand why good neighbors are separated by the meaning of yes Whether negotiating a delivery date, launching a local franchise or renting a car in Mexico City, speaking the language and knowing the rules of business are not enough. In any culture where yes can mean no - or sometimes maybe - even giants like Wal-Mart and IBM can make costly mistakes. Mexicans and Americans gets to the heart of our differences and lays the groundwork for cultural fluency. Here is a humorous and insightful firthand look at how to succeed in working with Mexicans - on either side of the border. Steeped in the richness of Mexican culture and history, Ned Crouch helps us understand the most critical elements that determine what works and what doesn't when Mexicans and Americans come together in business: our different views of time and space, and our construction and use of language. He debunks the manana stereotype and offers specific advice on how to cross the cultural divide that separates us.