Linguistic politeness axes in Euripides

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Published 21-02-2022
Sandra Rodriguez Piedrabuena

Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of the distribution of deference and insults with regard to three linguistic politeness axes: Speaker-addressee, speaker-referent, speaker-bystander. In the following example, Theseus insults the Herald in the speaker-bystander axis, since he abusively speaks of him to a third participant:

E.Supp.426-28: κομψός γ’ ὁ κῆρυξ καὶ παρεργάτης λόγων.

The herald is a real smart-alec and over-argumentative.

The scale, on the one hand, of insulting and, on the other, of deference, works inversely. Therefore, a semi-circular continuum of pragmatic in-/sincerity is advanced. The S-addressee axis is the most unstable zone, both for the expression of deference and insults because it leaves way to over- and under-politeness, respectively. The S-bystander axis is more effective both for the expression of deference and for conveying insults.

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