Author(s)

Yinping Lang ¹, Kehang Wang ², Li Zhang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ The School of Foreign Studies, Anhui Xinhua University, Hefei, Anhui, China
² Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Corresponding Author

Li Zhang

ABSTRACT

In our daily interactions, the employment of impolite language often serves as a significant catalyst for conflict. According to this fact, it is not groundless that this paper utilizes impoliteness theory proposed by Bousfield (2008) to analyze conflict discourse. On the basis of Bousfield’s impoliteness theory, this paper studies the conflict discourse in the American series Breeders, which gives a real portrayal of family life and includes many a family contradiction. This paper categorizes the various impolite utterances employed by speakers and the corresponding response patterns exhibited by listeners within conflict discourse, aiming to deepen our understanding of conflict communication in familial settings. After detailed data analysis and discussion, this study draws the following conclusions: firstly, this thesis finds nine impoliteness output strategies used in Breeders, including be uninterested and unconcerned, disassociate from the other, criticize, sarcasm, command, use taboo words, seek disagreement or avoid agreement, snub, hinder or block. In addition, three response patterns of impoliteness discourse are fully reflected in conflict discourse of this series. Thirdly, the pragmatic functions of impoliteness strategies in conflict discourse include negotiation, the expression of emotions, and the establishment of boundaries.

KEYWORDS

Conflict Discourse, Impoliteness Theory, Impoliteness Output Strategies and Response Patterns, Breeders

CITE THIS PAPER

Yinping Lang, Kehang Wang, Li Zhang, A Study of Conflict Talk among Family Members in Breeders Based on the Impoliteness Theory. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature (2024) Vol. 7: 142-154. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/langl.2024.070422.

REFERENCES

[1] Laura Lein & Donald Brenneis. Children’s disputes in three speech communities. Language in Society, 1978 (3): 299 - 323.
[2] Stephen T. Boggs. The development of verbal disputing in part-Hawaiian children. Language in Society, 1978 (3): 325 - 344. 
[3] Jacobs, S. & Jackson, S. Argument as natural category: the routine grounds for arguing conversation. The Western Journal of Speech Communication, 2015, 45(2): 118-132.
[4] WA Corsaro, TA Rizzo. 1990. Reply: an interpretive approach to childhood socialization. American Sociological Review. 1981 (3): 466-468.
[5] Pietikinen. K. S. Silence That speaks: the local inferences of withholding a response in intercultural couples’ conflicts. Journal of Pragmatics, 2018 (129): 76-89.
[6] Kakava, C. Opposition in modern Greek discourse: cultural and contextual constraints. Journal of Pragmatics 2002(10): 1537-1568.
[7] Bark, H. & J. Hartwick. Conceptualizing the construct of interpersonal conflict. The International Journal of Conflict Management. 2004 (15): 216-244.
[8] Hanh thi Nguyen. Boundary and alignment in multiparty conflict talk. Journal of Pragmatics, 2010 (6): 1755-1771.
[9] Chen Xiaochun. Coherence in argumentative dialogues. Journal of Foreign Languages ISSN, 2001(04): 33-37.
[10] Ran Yongping. Pragmatic analysis of divergent orientation in conflict discourse. Contemporary Chinese (Quarterly), 2010 (2): 150-157.
[11] Liu Yang. Conversational analysis of conflict talk. Journal of Northeast Normal University, 2012 (2): 111-114.
[12] Zhang Xiuwen. A study on conflict discourse in Naked Wedding. Shanghai: Shanghai International Studies University, 2013.
[13] Guo Yadong. A social cognitive analysis of identity work in conflict talk. Journal of PLA University of Foreign Languages, 2020, 43(02): 11-19+159.
[14] Zhang Wenjing. A pragmatic study of conflict talks at workplace from the perspective of adaptation theory - taking The Newsroom as an example . Guangdong: Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, 2021.
[15] Xun Yaqi. Exploring conflict talk among English teachers in WeChat Discussion . Beijing Foreign Studies University, 2021.

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Journal of Language Testing & Assessment
  
  
• Information and Knowledge Management
  
  
• Military and Armament Science
  
  
• Media and Communication Research
  
  
• Journal of Human Movement Science
  
  
• Art and Performance Letters
  
  
• Lecture Notes on History
  
  
• Philosophy Journal
  
  
• Science of Law Journal
  
  
• Journal of Political Science Research
  
  
• Journal of Sociology and Ethnology
  
  
• Advances in Broadcasting