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A Study on Comforting Strategies and Realization Patterns in Chinese

Author: ZhouXiaoLi
Tutor: GaoXiaoFang
School: Central China Normal University
Course: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Keywords: comforting speech act speech act theory politeness theories appraisal theories of emotions comforting strategies realization pattern
CLC: H13
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2011
Downloads: 63
Quote: 1
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Abstract

There is misfortune in the lot of everyone and every walk of life will contain ups and downs, flowers and thorns. Consequently, in daily life no one can escape from various kinds of distress so that we often have to seek and offer comfort. When provided effectively, comforting can assist with the processing of negative emotions, maintain interpersonal relation, and protect mental and sometimes even physical health. However, comforting is not a gift we are born with, but an interpersonal skill we should learn for a life time. By contrast, in China there are only a small number of studies about comforting, none of which has investigated comforting based on data of real communication. Though studies of comforting abroad are comprehensive and profound, they all focus on effects and working process of comforting, rather than language use itself. To provide reference to comforting, this paper aims to give a detailed and authentic description of Chinese comforting speech act under the framework of speech act theory, politeness theories and appraisal theories of emotions.Firstly, to distinguish comforting from other utterances, this study explores its nature. According to its nature, then it defines the utterance or sequence of utterance in response to another’s distress as a comforting speech act. This research studies comforting speech act based on raw and authentic data of real communication. To ensure the authenticity of data,350 acts were collected from messages sent asynchronously to the affective board on BBS, paste bar, forum, websites as well as transcription of face-to-face comforting communication. Secondly, based on data collected, this study aims to look into types of Chinese comforting strategies and realization patterns qualitatively. Thirdly, this paper shall describe comforting quantitatively by analyzing strategy frequency of each type and factors influencing its use.Qualitatively, this study first puts forward 8 conditions that must hold true for comforting act to take place and 5 rules governing its successful use from social norms. Based on these conditions and rules, this study defines comforting as verbal actions in which the comforter attempts to reduce negative emotions experienced by others.Secondly, from data analyzed, it is found that Chinese comforters employ a variety of strategies and realization patterns to comfort others.This study distinguishes primary strategies and supplementary strategies. Primary strategies are those efforts that are directed at changing or helping to change a distressed person’s emotional state, which correspond with emotion-centered and problem-centered strategy respectively. In terms of the extent to which the comfortee’s negative emotions are agreed and accepted, emotion-centered strategy can fall into 3 major levels—denying, acknowledging and confirming with 8 sublevels within. Appraisal theories hold that there are primary appraisals (goal relevance, goal congruence) and secondary appraisals (judgments of responsibility, coping potentials and future expectancies). Therefore, according to dimensions of appraisal, problem-centered are classified into 3 major types, namely elaboration, modifying primary appraisals and modifying secondary appraisals, which can be further divided into 13 subtypes. As for supplementary category, it just expresses one’s hopes or wishes to change or help to change another’s emotional state. It can take 3 forms: assurance, wishes and encouragement.Thirdly, establishing emotion-centered and problem-centered as the basic elements, this paper finds that Chinese comforters realize comforting by the two independently or combination of the two.Quantitatively, it is found that there is uneven use of both strategy types and realization patterns. As for strategies, they prefer to use problem-centered strategies, especially suggestions and it is the same with the use of realization patterns. This may result from the fact that negative emotions will disappear only when the problem is made more manageable. Also it is suggested that comforting use in Chinese is influenced by situational, motivational, cognitive and cultural factors.The study theoretically advances literature of comforting speech act. Meanwhile, literature concerning strategies and realization patterns are supposed to arouse people’s awareness of comforting act and provide practical reference when needed.

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