Interactional Sociolinguistics

Activities

Week 3

In-class Activity

1. Video

Watch the video and discuss the following questions.

What 'face system' is the director operating with? 

What face system is Uncle Tin operating with? 

What do you think is the source of the problems in this interaction? 

2. Situations

 Discuss the following situations and rate them along the dimensions of P, D, and W. Write down what kinds of face strategies you might use in these situations. 

Situation

P

+/-

D

+/-

W

+/-

Possible strategies

You think your lectures in interactional sociolinguistics are boring and you want to tell you teacher so he can improve his lecturing style

 

 

 

 

You suddenly realize you have lost your wallet and have no money to take the ferry back to Lamma island. You need to borrow HK$15 from a stranger.

 

 

 

 

Your best friend has been gaining weight recently and you think she need to go on a diet.

 

 

 

 

Your boyfriend wants to have sex with you but you don't want to.

 

 

 

 

2. Role-Plays

Watch your classmates perform the role-plays and fill in the chart below:

Face Threatening Act (by S)

Kind of face threatened (H+, H-, H+/-, S+, S-, S+/-)

Strategy Used

(on/off record, bald/polite, positive/negative politeness)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Fieldwork (include this in your field journal)

Go to two shops and pretend you want to buy something (or really buy something!). Notice how the shop attendant (or waitress) manages positive and negative politeness strategies and possible 'face threatening acts'. Also notice how you do the same. Then have a conversation with a classmate and notice the kinds of strategies you use. Fill in the chart below.

  Venue 1 Venue 2 With your friend
 Their Facework

(strategies, changes, etc.)

 

 

      
 Your Facework

 

(strategies, changes, etc.)

 

 

      
 FTAs and how they were dealt with

 

 

      
 

 How can you account for the above? (think of P, D, WoI)

 

 

  

 Text for Analysis (include this in your field journal)

Under Construction

 

Reflection (include this in your field journal)

Notice the different combinations of positive and negative politeness strategies that you use in different situations and with different people. Are they always successful? Why do you choose to use these strategies.