THE ROLE OF PHRASAL VERBS IN VERBALIZING POLITENESS PRINCIPLEAND POLITENESS THEORY

Аннотация

This article is devoted to the relationship between phrasal verbs in literary texts in English and Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory and Leech’s politeness principle. With the help of a qualitative analysis of several literary discourse samples, this paper investigates how phrasal verbs are utilized in different politeness contexts. The analysis focuses on pragmatic functions of phrasal verbs in literary dialogues, defining their role in using politeness in conversational interactions. The findings indicate that phrasal verbs often represent markers of politeness, particularly in indirect speech acts, and containing various politeness maxims and strategies. This research highlights the importance of phrasal verbs in pragmatic competence and language teaching. Key words: phrasal verbs, politeness principle, politeness theory, indirectness, pragmatics, face-threatening acts. Politeness plays a fundamental role in communication, influencing the way individuals interact and maintain social relationships. Language users rely on politeness strategies to navigate social interactions effectively, and one of the key linguistic tools that contribute to politeness in English is the use of phrasal verbs. Unlike single-word verbs, phrasal verbs often introduce subtle nuances that make expressions sound less direct and more considerate of the interlocutor’s face needs. Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory outlines various strategies that help speakers reduce the impact of face-threatening acts. These strategies include positive face (the need to be connected) and negative face (the need to be independed). Similarly, Leech’s politeness principle proposes a set of maxims, such as the Tact Maxim (minimizing cost to the hearer) and the Agreement Maxim (minimizing disagreement), which guide polite linguistic behavior. The purpose of this study is to analyze the pragmatic functions of phrasal verbs within the framework of politeness theory and the politeness principle. Using discourse analysis of literary texts, the study examines how phrasal verbs contribute to polite communication, particularly in contexts where indirectness 35 CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCES International scientific-online conference is preferred. By investigating real discourse examples from English literature, this research highlights the role of phrasal verbs as politeness markers and their significance in pragmatic competence. Politeness has been extensively explored in pragmatics, with scholars identifying various mechanisms that speakers employ to maintain social harmony. Brown and Levinson argue that politeness strategies help mitigate face-threatening acts, distinguishing between positive face and negative face. Positive face seeks to establish rapport and familiarity, while negative face aims to show deference and avoid imposition. Leech expands on these strategies with his Politeness Principle, which introduces six maxims that govern polite interactions: Tact, Generosity, Approbation, Modesty, Agreement, and Sympathy. These maxims provide a framework for understanding how speakers structure their utterances to minimize conflict and enhance cooperation. A critical aspect of polite communication is the use of phrasal verbs, which soften direct speech and make requests, suggestions, and refusals sound less abrupt. Holmes (1995) notes that phrasal verbs frequently replace direct expressions in spoken discourse to achieve a more considerate tone. For example, rather than saying “Leave the room,” a speaker might say “Could you step out for a moment?”, where step out functions as a less imposing alternative. The pragmatic role of phrasal verbs in politeness is evident in literary works. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, for instance, when Claudius speaks about King Hamlet’s death, he uses the phrase “He has passed away” instead of the blunt “He died”, demonstrating a politeness strategy that mitigates the harshness of the event. Similarly, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet tells his wife: “Perhaps you should bring up this matter with our daughters later,” where bring up functions as an indirect and polite alternative to mention. Yule (1996) emphasizes that politeness strategies, including the use of phrasal verbs, vary across cultural contexts. Mey (2004) and Verschueren (1999) further highlight that indirect speech acts and mitigated expressions contribute to effective politeness strategies, reinforcing the role of phrasal verbs in pragmatic communication. Methods This study employs a qualitative discourse analysis approach, focusing on literary texts containing phrasal verbs and analyzing their usage according to politeness strategies. Excerpts containing phrasal verbs were examined to determine how they align with politeness strategies proposed by Brown and Levinson and the politeness maxims by Leech. 36 CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCES International scientific-online conference Results and Analysis