Hedging Opinion in Romanian Conversational Discourse: The Use of Softeners

<P align=left><I><FONT size=1 face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=1 face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>This corpus-based paper addresses the use of softeners in Romanian conversational </FONT><FONT size=3>discourse. It highlights two important interactional functions: (i) as devices for mitigating the </FONT><FONT size=3>imposition of face-threatening acts; (ii) as markers of shared knowledge. When they serve the latter </FONT><FONT size=3>function, softeners offer the addressee the opportunity to provide support, understanding, thus s</FONT><FONT size=3>howing that both speaker and addressee are on the same wavelength.</FONT></FONT></FONT></I></P>

03_Ionela Duduta - articol BT ultim.pdf

<font size="3"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abstract</span>: Politeness involves consideration for others, adherence to the rules, but at the same<br>time avoidance of confrontation and conflict. The main purpose of the politeness strategies is to save<br>the public self-image and to mentain an harmonious balance in interactions in which face threatening<br>acts take place. This study focuses on FTAs and on politeness strategies that the german speaker use<br>to avoid giving offense by emphasizing a friendly behaviour (positive politeness) or by showing<br>deference (negative politeness).<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key words</span>: politeness, FTA (face-threatening-act), positive politeness, negative politeness,<br>politeness strategie</font>