A Pragmatic Study of Impolite Strategies in Freeman's " Billy and Susy "

Abstract

This study pragmatically investigates the phenomenon of impoliteness in a children story entitled" Billy and Susy " by Freeman. The study aims at finding out the types of impolite strategies and the functions behind using these strategies in the area under study. It is hypothesized that impolite strategies are frequently used in the story under study for different purposes. English children's stories for different purposes. To achieve the aims of the study, the selected story is analyzed according to Culpeper's (1996) model. The results of the study show that four of the impolite strategies are used in this story, whereas withhold impoliteness is not used at all. The results also show that bald on record impoliteness is the most frequently used strategy. Regarding functions, showing power and criticism are the most frequent functions behind using impolite strategies in the selected story.