Abstract:English public speaking, as an art of spoken language communication, is characterized with purposefulness and logicality. Politeness is a complicated social and cultural phenomenon. This thesis, by studying one hundred English public speeches from FLTPR cup, aims to examining different faces-saving strategies adopted by college students’ in English public speaking contest The study also sums up two methods - euphemism and fuzziness - to maintain the audiences’ negative face. This research is done in the hope to highlight the importance of maintain negative face in English public speaking.

Key words: English public speech; politeness; face theory

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction.1

2. Literature Review2

2.1 Previous Studies on Politeness Principle

2.1.1 Grice’s cooperative principle

2.1.2 Leech’s politeness principles

2.1.3 Face theory

2.1.4 Theories on politeness in China

2.2 Previous Studies on Speeches

  2.3 Summary

3. Leech’s Face Theory in College Students’ English Public Speaking5

3.1 Convivial speech acts

3.2 Conflictive speech acts

4. Application of Other Forms of Politeness in English Public Speaking8

4.1 Euphemism to keep the Audiences’ Negative Face

4.2 Fuzziness to keep the Audiences’ Positive Face 

4.2.1 Shields

4.2.2 Modal auxiliaries

5. Conclusion11

Bibliography.12

Acknowledgements14