Courtesy Concepts using the Example of Forms of Address in German, Russian and Bulgarian Folk Tales

Abstract

This work illustrates the usage of the pre-established concepts of positive and negative politeness on the basis of their application in Bulgarian, German and Russian fairytales. Positive politeness can be marked through familiar and evaluative forms of address. The familiar form of address towards strangers is characteristic of tales in all three languages. The evaluative forms of address can be applied relative to various characteristics of the addressee(s). Bulgarian fairytales, for example, show a striking tendency to make reference to capabilities of the addressee such as bravery and strength; German fairytales tend to emphasize the degree of emotional closeness, while Russian fairytales place a strong emphasis on the physical beauty of the interlocutrix. Negative politeness can be marked by the pronominal, formal form of address in the 2nd p. pl., which, in German fairytales, occurs often, but is rather unusual for Russian and Bulgarian tales. In applying the formal form of address, it becomes conspicuous that its usage is asymmetrical, and dependent on social parameters as well as on the semantics of the statement.