Jon Hall
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195329063
- eISBN:
- 9780199870233
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195329063.003.0002
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This chapter examines in detail seven letters from Cicero's correspondence in order to establish some of the conventions of linguistic politeness typically used in more formal epistolary exchanges ...
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This chapter examines in detail seven letters from Cicero's correspondence in order to establish some of the conventions of linguistic politeness typically used in more formal epistolary exchanges between Roman aristocrats. These seven letters include missives from Cicero to C. Matius, Marcus Crassus, Cassius Longinus, Scribonius Curio, Acilius Caninus, and L. Culleolus, as well as one from M. Marcellus to Cicero. These letters show the important role played by conventionalized polite language in aristocratic correspondence and in particular by the following linguistic strategies: expressions of thanks and appreciation, pledges of help and support, emphatic assertions of pleasure, assertions of goodwill and congratulations, compliments (often wittily phrased), and the commemoration of family ties and previous friendly services. Overall, these letters demonstrate the value placed on the politeness of respect in circles where personal dignitas received great emphasis, as well as the significance of conventionalized affiliative politeness and polite fictions for individuals attempting to forge cooperative political alliances.Less
This chapter examines in detail seven letters from Cicero's correspondence in order to establish some of the conventions of linguistic politeness typically used in more formal epistolary exchanges between Roman aristocrats. These seven letters include missives from Cicero to C. Matius, Marcus Crassus, Cassius Longinus, Scribonius Curio, Acilius Caninus, and L. Culleolus, as well as one from M. Marcellus to Cicero. These letters show the important role played by conventionalized polite language in aristocratic correspondence and in particular by the following linguistic strategies: expressions of thanks and appreciation, pledges of help and support, emphatic assertions of pleasure, assertions of goodwill and congratulations, compliments (often wittily phrased), and the commemoration of family ties and previous friendly services. Overall, these letters demonstrate the value placed on the politeness of respect in circles where personal dignitas received great emphasis, as well as the significance of conventionalized affiliative politeness and polite fictions for individuals attempting to forge cooperative political alliances.
Geoffrey Leech
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- August 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780195341386
- eISBN:
- 9780190225933
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195341386.003.0007
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics
This chapter covers a range of speech events that are liable to involve politeness: offers, invitations, and undertakings; compliments and criticisms; thanks; agreement and disagreement; advice and ...
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This chapter covers a range of speech events that are liable to involve politeness: offers, invitations, and undertakings; compliments and criticisms; thanks; agreement and disagreement; advice and suggestions; and congratulations, commiserations, good wishes, greetings and farewells. These illustrate in some detail the operation of the various maxims introduced in Chapter 4: for example, offers and invitations manifest the Generosity Maxim, and compliments manifest the Approbation Maxim. Responses to these speech events, in their turn, can manifest the opposite maxims, those of Tact and Modesty. However, it needs to be emphasized that maxims, as goal-oriented constraints, can have conflicting or competing effects. Offers and invitations may be tentative, taking into account the influence of Tact as well as of Generosity. Similarly, advice is often tentative because of the conflicting influences of Generosity and Opinion reticence.Less
This chapter covers a range of speech events that are liable to involve politeness: offers, invitations, and undertakings; compliments and criticisms; thanks; agreement and disagreement; advice and suggestions; and congratulations, commiserations, good wishes, greetings and farewells. These illustrate in some detail the operation of the various maxims introduced in Chapter 4: for example, offers and invitations manifest the Generosity Maxim, and compliments manifest the Approbation Maxim. Responses to these speech events, in their turn, can manifest the opposite maxims, those of Tact and Modesty. However, it needs to be emphasized that maxims, as goal-oriented constraints, can have conflicting or competing effects. Offers and invitations may be tentative, taking into account the influence of Tact as well as of Generosity. Similarly, advice is often tentative because of the conflicting influences of Generosity and Opinion reticence.
