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Notes to Chapter 2
11 use the term 'communicative style' here as a generic one. It refers to German and English
'-ways of speaking' in everyday conversation. Such 'style' may be apparent from the way
interlocutors formulate specific speech acts, such as apologies or requests, to the way persons
orient generally to one another over some common conversational topic. It may also be
reflected in certain textual communications found in everyday settings. In layman's terms it
might be referred to as Ihe way the Germans or the English talk when they're together.
21 have adopted this term from the German vernacular. The label 'Englishman' is regularly used
in German as a term of endearment, invoking images of bowler hats, straightened ties, and
heightened politeness. This is the 'membership category' (Sacks 1992) that was frequently
invoked in early encounters and through which I was generally perceived and still to some
degree am perceived by my German acquaintances today.
31 shall consider here both German - British English and German - US English comparative
studies. The intent is not of course to cast the British and the Americans as one and the same
speech community, but to add to the contrastive nature of this review which seeks to draw out
salient aspects of particularly German communicative style, which the English reader may not
be aware of and which essentially underlie the research problem on which this study is based.
In addition, I would draw the readers attention to comments made by scholars such as Byrnes
(1986) and Straehle (1997), who both employ British and US data in their contrastive reviews
with German.
4 'Ideational' here refers in general terms to the propositional content of spoken discourse;
'interpersonal' refers to the relational aspects, for example in showing affiliation, solidarity, or
deference.
5 Transition relevant places are those sequential slots in conversation where a speaker can be
'heard'to have completed or be about to complete his / her current turn at talk. This term is most
often employed by scholars working in the field of Conversation Analysis (Hutchby and Wooffitt
1998, Silverman 1999, and ten Have 1999 for recent overviews of Conversational Analysis).
a Watts notes that the term equilibrium does not here refer to social equality. The social status's
of participants may differ markedly in any one gathering. In dosed-group settings though, any
act by any participant '... may at any time impose a set of obligations on co-interactants
regardless of social status and social distance' (p. 163n. 1).
71 will say a little more about 'casual conversation' below (see Chapter 3). Here however, the
term should be taken to refer to the kind of talk that goes on between friends, family, and dose
acquaintances.
a There are exceptions to this rule in Anglo-American culture such as responses to compliments
and self-deprecation. An unmitigated agreement with the former would threaten one's own face
(being overly conceded), and to the latter would threaten one's interlocutors face (by agreeing
unreservedly with the self deprecation).
9 This corroborates my own experience of German conversationalists, who have remarked on
the 'Spass' to be had from combative discussion. It should be noted here that the German word
'Spass'. although commonly translated as the English 'fun' is in fact subtly different. Whereas
Fun implies a lack of work, effort and discipline in favour of more hedonistic pursuits, Spass is
very much more associated with personal discipline, control, and success as an individual.
10 Indeed, I have on occasion myself 'played up'to this image of the charming Englishman
whilst In the German milieu, much to the delight of my German interlocutors who invariably take
my behaviour as a 'refreshing change'.
11 See also Malone (1997) who employs individuating and affiliative styles to male and female
styles respectively.
12 Watts does make the point that this reduction of overt politeness is particularly salient in
'volitional' cultures (e. g. England, Germany, and Western cultures in general) compare to
'discemment'odented cultures (e. g. Asian cultures) (See 1.2).
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