Compliments and compliment responses in Japanese conversation

Abstract

This thesis investigates the acts of giving and receiving compliments in Japanese conversational context. Adopting a conversation analytic methodology, it explicates how conversational participants give and receive compliments in the course of conversation. By employing the notion of initial and non-initial compliments, it reveals how compliment sequences are systematically and collaboratively organised by participants. It also proposes the distinction between substantial and non-substantial target objects of compliments, as a useful device to investigate the development of compliment sequences. While participants proffer initial compliments more often on non-substantial objects, initial compliments on substantial objects are more likely to be followed by subsequent compliments. The design of compliments and compliment responses are also examined. It is found that compliment givers tend to give compliments in a less direct manner. Instead of explicitly expressing their positive evaluation of the referent, participants make use of various devices to reduce the degree of imposition. The design of compliments may reflect the compliment giver's concern for the recipient, in particular, concern for the recipients' personal territory. The analysis of how participants compliment superiors, how they make use of a third party as a mediator, and how laughter appear in compliments all suggest the possibility that the act of giving compliments involves a certain degree of negative politeness. In terms of the design of compliment responses, recipients of compliments make use of various devices to deal with the dilemma caused by conflicting pressures to avoid disagreement, as well as to avoid self-praise. Instead of accepting and rejecting compliments in a direct manner, compliment recipients tend not to display their stance, while showing their concern for compliment givers. These observations indicate that the acts of giving and receiving compliments are deeply involved with interpersonal aspects.