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STRATEGIC MODEL OF ADDRESS 425

STRATEGIES FOR RENEGOTIATING AN ADDRESS FORM RELATIONSHIP
(N.B. Explicit use of você is one of the most offensive mechanisms for marking anger, despite its central location in the chart.)
The speakers negotiate usage they find comfortable for the
The greater the distance between the unmarked form and the marked, the greater is the impact of the marked form.
developing relationship. The pattern(s) may follow conventionalized
norms of usage, or they may fall outside them.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES FROM EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE
Marked negotiated usage tends to be in the direction of greater conventionalized formality.
Strategy 1: Suggest use of new form: Wouldn’t it be easier if we address each other
by tu?
Strategy 2: Ask to use the new form: “Do you mind if I address you by tu?”
Strategy 3: Ask H about address preferences. (S hopes H will respond by agreeing
to a form signifying greater intimacy.)
Strategy 4: Invite H to use a new form: “(If you like,) [Y]ou may address me by
tu.”
Strategy 5: Verbally clue change to a new form: “I’m going to begin addressing
you by tu,” giving H an opportunity to object.

Source: Adapted from de Oliveira (1994: 38-39)
Level Address Form(s)
1 TU
(Once speakers have negotiated use of tu,
level 1 and level 2 forms co-occur.)
2 FN, LN or NICKNAME [FN = First Name, LN = Last Name]

3 VOCÊ Strategies used for renegotiation generally take the relationship to a more intimate level
(Usage is highly idiosyncratic; e.g., it can denote anger or to disambiguate
when the intended referent is unclear.)
4 [VOCÊ]
(In this plane use of the 3rd person singular form of the verb
without a pronoun can be a stylistic option to serve as a Forms indicating greater familiarity (você and V.Ex.(a) a being exceptions)
placeholder for a more formal form,
without the “heaviness” of continual pronoun use.)
5 SENHOR(A)
(a)
(Use of Sr 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
6d
(One difference in the negotiated plane over the conventionalized is
greater use of Title + FN,
rather than LN, with men.)
7 VOSSA EXCELÊNCIA
(On the negotiated plane, use of this form
would most likely be interpreted as ironic.)
Figure 28.3 Strategic level of the negotiated plane

in address, using a form in the same category indicating greater formality and distance),
or in as close a category as possible. Portuguese speakers choose forms which are
Speakers intending to provoke conflict may as far removed as possible in either direction,
choose a marked form. While one may and have been known to use even tu to make
assume that it would be from the highest their point, which is to clearly distinguish
numbered category possible (conventionally between this usage and the expected form.