Politeness in the History of English

From the Middle Ages to the Present Day

Andreas H. Jucker (Universität Zürich)

$43.95

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Cambridge University Press
07 March 2024

Language: history & general works; Sociolinguistics; Historical & comparative linguistics

The concept of politeness permeates all aspects of modern life and society. However, to what extent has this phenomenon changed over time? This book traces the elusive concept of politeness from its beginnings in the Middle Ages up to the present day. Detailed case studies of mostly literary texts provide insights into historically specific ways of being polite, from discernment politeness in Old English to recent examples, such as non-imposition politeness. Readers will gain a better understanding of both the folk-notion of politeness and specific scholarly definitions, and how these can be applied to historical data. The long diachrony provides a novel perspective both on the concept of politeness and on the history of the English language in its social context, making this essential reading for politeness specialists, cultural historians and historical linguists alike. Politeness emerges as a multifaceted phenomenon that is both culture-specific and history-specific.

By: Andreas H. Jucker (Universität Zürich)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781108730945
ISBN 10: 1108730949
Pages: 222
Publication Date: 07 March 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of figures; List of tables; Preface; 1. Exploring politeness in the history of English; 2. Research methods and data problems; 3. Medieval Britain; 4. Terms of address in middle English; 5. Renaissance and early modern England; 6. Terms of address in early modern English; 7. The eighteenth century: The age of politeness; 8. The eighteenth century: Educational literature; 9. The rise (and fall) of non-imposition politeness; 10. Conclusion. Politeness, manners and dissimulation; References; Index.

Andreas H. Jucker is Professor of English Linguistics, University of Zurich.

Reviews for Politeness in the History of English: From the Middle Ages to the Present Day

'… the book serves as a great resource for historical pragmaticists who are looking for an overview of politeness across the history of English.' Daniela Cesiri, Journal of Pragmatics '… Jucker gives readers a thorough overview of the complexities of politeness and a snapshot of how English notions of politeness have evolved over time … Recommend.' C. P. Jamison, Choice