POLITENESS AND LITERARY DISCOURSE
Having considered the general theories of
politeness, which were developed to account for conversational interactions, I
turn to the issue of the extent to which they may be applicable to literary
discourse (cf. Sell 1991). There is an inherent impoliteness in being invited
to read a book. It is an imposition, which threatens our negative face. It
makes demands upon our time, and, as Cook (1994) suggests (see Chapter 3), it
may seek to overturn our schemata, to change our minds about things we may hold
dear. It may expose us to uncomfortable views of the world, show us the
perspective of people with whom we profoundly disagree. We note that in
ordinary interactions, speakers usually ask permission in some way if they are
to hold the floor for some time by telling a story because it interrupts the
normal turn-taking of conversation, and, as Labov’s analysis of natural
narratives shows, the audience is aware of the imposition, and speakers try to
minimize it (see Chapter 3). The evaluative devices considered by Labov are
clearly matters of interpersonal rhetoric and, generally speaking, attend to
the reader’s positive face, in the attempt to make the text clear, interesting,
and indicating what is of particular interest.