LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 20:2 February 2020
ISSN 1930-2940

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Semantic Analysis of the Suffixed Verbs and Postpositions in Expressing Politeness With Special Reference to Eranad Dialect of Malayalam

Dr Saidalavi Cheerangote

Abstract

Though the phonological and morphological features of Eranad Dialect have been well documented (Panikkar, G, K 1978, Sreenathan, M. et al 2015), the semantic value of the words, phrases, and particles peculiar to this dialect has been little explored. This paper is based on the semantic analysis of the suffixed verbs and post positions for expressing politeness in Eranad Dialect of Malayalam. The data for the study was collected as part of the Dialect Survey conducted by Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. The study evaluates the peculiarities of the suffixed verbs and postposition (eg /ko?dori/ (bring IMP- honorific and polite) v/s /ko?da/ (bring IMP - impolite)) used as a politeness strategy and compares them with the equivalent linguistic forms in Standard Malayalam. The contextual analysis of such linguistic forms was done to elicit its semantic value. The study also explored whether such suffixed verbs or postpositions alien to Standard Malayalam and other dialect of Malayalam was formed independently or as a result of phonological modifications in the existing root words (Eg. /poikko?ii/< /poykko?viin/ (may go) = /poy/ + /ko?/+ -iin with honorific plural marker). The also study identifies the lexical options of the speakers for polite/impolite strategy (Eg. The verb roots like /ko???/ (give), /ka???/ (give) are impolite than /tar?/ (give)). The analysis reveals that the Eranad dialect of Malappuram has devised its own linguistic pattern in expressing politeness. This paper also concludes that it is as a result of peculiar phonological and morphophonemic processes, drastic changes occurred in the surface structure of many of these linguistic forms and the root of such forms of suffixed verbs and postpositions are difficult to be identified. In the present study such linguistic forms are termed as ‘Metamorphic Expressions’. The phonological process in the formation of these linguistic forms and its contextual semantic values are analysed in order to bring new lights in understanding linguistic features of Eranad dialect in general and the politeness strategy of this dialect.

Keywords: Malayalam, Eranad Dialect, Politeness, suffixed verbs, post positions, metamorphic expressions, small quantity quantifiers

Politeness theories proposed by Goffman (1967), Lakoff (1973), Brown and Levinson (1978), Fraser (1980), and Leach (1983) generally focus on the way people choose the linguistic forms to protect their faces during conversations. Most of the theories on politeness drawn largely form Grice’s (1975) Cooperative Principles that involves four maxims. From this principle Lakoff (1973) derives two rules of conversation (be polite and be clear) and proposes a cline of linguistic politeness i.e. formal politeness- informal politeness-intimate politeness. Leach’s (1983) politeness principles identify six maxims (the tact maxim, the generosity maxim, the approbation maxim, the modesty maxim, the agreement maxim, and the sympathy maxim). Brown and Levinson’s theory can be treated as an extension of Grice’s Cooperative Principle, in which they proposed that the face protection is an important strategy in all social interactions using language. For them “Face is the public self-image that every member wants to claim for himself (Brown and Levinson: 1987)”. They argue that people keep respects in their interaction to avoid threat between speakers and the hearers and identify positive and negative politeness. Brown and Levinson also identify the social variables that determine the kind of politeness starters used. They are Social Distance (SD), Power (P), and Rank of Position (R). As Kapser (1990) observes the theories of Goffman (1967), Lakoff (1973), Brown and Levinson (1978), Fraser and Nolen (1981), and Leach (1983) unanimously conceptualize politeness a strategic conflict avoidance. All these theories provide broad frameworks with which linguistic strategies of politeness could be studies cross linguistically. In the present paper I explore the politeness structure in Eranad Dialect of Malayalam by analysing the politeness markers at morphological and syntactic levels.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr Saidalavi Cheerangote
Associate Professor
Department of Linguistics
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University
Tirur, Kerala
drsaid@temu.ac.in
9895012935
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