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 Topic 12 - Meaning between the lines (Session B) > Politeness and characterisation > Task C skip topic navigation

Session Overview
Politeness and impoliteness
Top Girls revisited - with politeness in mind
Politeness and characterisation
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Politeness and characterisation

Task C – Turn 2

How is Jeeves rude to Captain Biggar in turn 2, while appearing to be polite?

[Tip: you will need to consider turn-taking and Gricean implicature as well as politeness theory].

1. CAPTAIN:

Good evening

The voice has a familiar ring to JEEVES, but he turns with great calm and continues to dust out ashtrays and polish them with a cloth he has taken from the drawer.

2. JEEVES:

Yes, sir? May I suggest that the front door is round to the right, the tradesman's entrance to the left?

Our Answer

 


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