What is discourse?

 Discourse is the use of language and text.

 Discourse is written or spoken communication or debate.
 Discourse is language beyond the sentence. (Yule)
What is discourse analysis?
 Discourse analysis is a general term for a number of approaches to analyze written, vocal
or sign language use.
 Discourse analysis is the study of language in text and conversation. (Yule)
What is conversational analysis?
 Conversational analysis is the study of social interaction, embracing both verbal and non-
verbal conduct in situations of everyday life.
What is turn-taking?
 Turn-taking is a type of organization in conversation and discourse where participants
speak one at a time in alternating turns. (Wikipedia)
 Turn taking is the way in which each speaker takes a turn in conversation. (Yule)
 Turn taking mechanism is the way in which speakers hold or pass the floor, vary between
cultures and between languages. (Cook)
What does cross-cultural mean?
 Cross-cultural means a comparison and contrast between two cultural groups.
 Cross-cultural communication is the study of a particular idea or concept within many
cultures in order to compare one culture to another.
What is intercultural communication/pragmatics?
 Intercultural communication is a symbolic, interpretative, transactional, contextual
process”, which implies the engagement of culturally-different people.
 Intercultural communication involves interactions among people from different cultures.

What is politeness principle?

 Politeness principle is a series of maxims, which Geoffrey Leech has proposed as a way
of explaining how politeness operates in conversational exchanges.
According to Geoffrey Leech, there are six maxims of politeness.
Tact maxim: minimize the expression of beliefs which imply cost of other
maximize the expression of beliefs which imply benefit to other
Generosity maxim: minimize the expression of beliefs that express benefit to self
maximize the expression of beliefs that express cost to self
Approbation maxim: minimize the expression of beliefs which express dispraise of other
maximize the expression of beliefs which express approval of other
Modesty maxim: minimize praise of self
maximize dispraise of self
Agreement maxim: minimize the expression of disagreement between self and other
maximize the expression of agreement of self and other
Sympathy maxim: minimize antipathy between self and other
maximize sympathy between self and other