Thanking Formulae in English : Explorations Across Varieties and Genres.

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Thanking Formulae in English; Editorial page; Title page; LCC data; Dedication page; Table of contents; List of tables; List of figures; 1. Introduction; 2. Setting the scene: Theoretical background; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Linguistic research on thanking (formulae); 2.2.1 Defining 'thanking formula'; 2.2.2 Analysis of formal characteristics of thanking formulae; 2.2.3 Analysis of functional characteristics of thanking formulae; 2.2.4 Analysis of pragmatic aspects of the usage of thanking formulae; 2.2.5 Cultural variation in the use of thanking formulae.

2.2.6 Linguistic research on thanking (formulae) -- summary and outlook2.3 Linguistic research on politeness; 2.3.1 Defining politeness; 2.3.2 Brown/Levinson's (1978/1987) politeness theory; 2.3.3 Leech's (1983, 2007) politeness principle; 2.3.4 Watts' (2003) distinction of polite and politic behaviour; 2.3.5 Politeness as social indexing or discernment; 2.3.6 Linguistic research on politeness -- summary and outlook; 2.4 Digression: The influence of the interlocutors' status on language use; 2.5 Contrasting British and New Zealand English.

2.5.1 Phonetic, morphological, lexical, orthographical and syntactic variation2.5.2 Pragmatic variation; 2.6 Radio talk; 2.6.1 Development and characterisation of radio phone-ins; 2.6.2 Participant roles; 2.6.3 Conversational structure of phone-ins; 2.6.4 Closing (radio) conversations with the help of thanking formulae; 2.6.5 Multiple addressees; 2.6.6 Radio talk -- summary and outlook; 2.7 Summary of the theoretical background and outlook on the present study; 3. Methodology; 3.1 Methods of data collection; 3.1.1 Classic methods of data collection to investigate pragmatic phenomena.

3.1.2 Using corpus data to investigate pragmatic phenomena3.1.3 Research design of the present study; 3.2 Data; 3.2.1 Corpora under investigation; 3.2.2 Determining search terms; 3.3 Aspects under investigation; 3.3.1 Examining the form of thanking formulae; 3.3.2 Determining the functions of thanking formulae; 3.3.3 Operationalising models of politeness; 3.3.4 Exploring the relative social status of speakers and addressees; 3.4 Presentation of results and examples; 3.5 Structure of the following empirical analyses; 4. Focus on varieties: Thanking formulae in British and New Zealand English.

4.1 Introduction4.2 The form of thanking formulae in British and New Zealand English; 4.2.1 Overall frequencies; 4.2.2 Common syntactic realisations; 4.2.3 Naming a benefactor; 4.2.4 Using intensifiers; 4.2.5 Naming a reason; 4.2.6 Positions of thanking formulae within conversations; 4.2.7 Discussion: Formal realisations of thanking formulae in BrE and NZE; 4.3 Functions of thanking formulae in BrE and NZE; 4.3.1 Organising the ongoing discourse: Closing conversations by means of thanking formulae and fare; 4.3.2 Serving the phatic communion; 4.3.3 Responding to material goods and services.

4.3.4 Responding to immaterial goods and interpersonal support.

In the present study the use of thanking formulae is examined across different genres and varieties of English. Data is taken from the British National Corpus and the Wellington Corpus of Spoken New Zealand English. Employing a form-to-function mapping, thanking formulae are not only analysed quantitatively, but also qualitatively accounting for local contexts and genre. Additionally, the status of thanking formulae is examined in the most prominent models of politeness, and the interpersonal relation amongst the interlocutors is investigated. The first part is devote.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

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