Abstract: In the fast-paced modern society, conflict caused by disagreements is easy to occur among people during their communication. From this point of view, studying conflict talk is of great significance to alleviate conflict and make conversation go smoothly so that people can get along with each other more harmoniously. Excessive conflict talk in court is not conducive to the normal development of court proceedings. This paper sets Culpeper’s Impoliteness Theory as the theoretical framework and mainly uses five impoliteness strategies which includes bald on record impoliteness strategy, positive impoliteness strategy, negative impoliteness strategy, sarcasm or mock politeness strategy, and withhold politeness strategy to analyze the conflict talk between the defense lawyer and the prosecution lawyer, the defense lawyer and the prosecution witness, the prosecution lawyer and the defendant in the film Witness for the Prosecution with an aim to help people have a deeper understanding of conflict talks in court and to give some references of reducing the occurrence of conflict talk in court.

Key words: conflict talk; impoliteness strategies; Witness for the Prosecution

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-1

2.1 Previous Study of Conflict Talk Abroad

2.2 Previous Study of Conflict Talk at Home

3. Theoretical Framework: Culpeper’s Impoliteness Theory-3

3.1 Bald on Record Impoliteness

3.2 Positive Impoliteness

3.3 Negative Impoliteness

3.4 Sarcasm or Mock Politeness

3.5 Withhold Politeness

4. Analysis of Conflict Talk in Witness for the Prosecution-4

4.1 Introduction to Witness for the Prosecution

4.2 Conflict Talk Between Different Relationships

4.2.1 Conflict Talk Between Defense Lawyer and Prosecution Lawyer

4.2.2 Conflict Talk Between Defense Lawyer and Prosecuting Witnesses

4.2.3 Conflict Talk Between Prosecution Lawyer and the Defendant

5. Conclusion-12

Bibliography-13

Acknowledgments-14