Page 453 - The ISA Handbook in Contemporary Sociology

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424 THE ISA HANDBOOK IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY

These strategies are determined
within the context of a
particular language and culture.
Unmarked conventionalized usage (with adults) results in use of the title of H’s greatest status

SAMPLE STRATEGIES FROM EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE
(In situations of protocol, a marked conventionalized form is one that does not adhere to protocolar norms.)
A marked conventionalized form would be the rejection of social norms of appropriateness.
Strategy 1: Rely on a third party to provide relevant information regarding the
education and/or social class of the stranger.
Strategy 2: Observe how others address H and choose an initial form one from
the highest category heard.
Strategy 3: In the absence of other information, use manner of dress as a
guideline in addressing the stranger.
Source: Adapted from Oliveira Medeiros (1994: 35-36)
Level Address Form(s)
Situations of PROTOCOL would require forms of Level 6 or 7.
1 TU
(As an initial form, likely restricted to children
[to approx. age 16], or school colleagues)
2 FN, LN or NICKNAME [FN = First Name, LN = Last Name]
(The same as for tu.) ↓ Strategies used for selecting a first form may result in the selection of a form of almost any level.
3 VOCÊ
(Usage of você as a first form varies highly and is rare; ↓
it would not be chosen in instances of protocol, nor when
the speaker knows the hearer has a title.) ↓
4 [VOCÊ]
(On the conventionalized plane use of the 3rd person singular ↓
form of the verb without a pronoun can be part of a
wait-and-see strategy while the speaker
collects information on the status of the hearer.) ↓
5 SENHOR(A)
(Use of o (a) Sr (a) can be a stylistic option to avoid the ↓
“heaviness” of continual title use.)
6 TITLES ↓
6a Social titles
Academic titles
6b
Professional titles ↓
6c Administrative titles
known by S. 7 (On the conventionalized plane, men would be addressed ↓
6d
as Title + LN [not FN] at the first meeting.)
VOSSA EXCELÊNCIA
(Use is rare in oral form, and titles incorporating o Sr.
have gained in popularity [e.g., o Sr. Presidente]; ↓
however, situations of protocol may require its use.)
Figure 28.2 Strategic level of the conventionalized plane

ADDRESSING CONFLICT AND speakers make. On the conventionalized
COOPERATION plane, both a positive public face and cooper-
ation are achieved through the speaker’s
In considering conflict and cooperation in deliberate use of unmarked conventionalized
the light of the negotiation of address, it forms. This is, after all, the idea behind
becomes clear that they are not static aspects politeness – to ‘cooperate’ with social norms.
in the communicative process, but elements Using Table 28.1 as the point of reference,
in play through the strategic choices the being cooperative means seeking reciprocity