a.a. 2018-2019 Traduzione Lingua inglese 1 Olga Denti Piropos (SP) Compliments, catcalls, flirtatious remarks (EN) Complimenti, lusinghe, adulazione (IT) a.a. 2018-2019 Traduzione Lingua inglese 1 Olga Denti

Piropos – main characteristics Colloquial use of language Appreciation towards people’s physical qualities Sometimes they turn to be sexual harassment (sexist and disrespectful compliments, unwelcome sexual attentions) It is cultural-bound and normally makes use of metaphors

Compliments Illocutionary speech acts – expressive & directives Grice’s maxims They try to “minimize dispraise of others” and “maximize praise of others” (Leech 1983: 132) They relate to forms of courtesy and aim to satisfy the need to be pursued, admired, appreciated (Holmes 1986: 485ff) They are considered as a “caress or verbal gift” (Turner/Edgely 1974: 1) Others: supportive action, social lubricants, positive affective speech acts, action bienfaisant (Pomerantz 2014, Wolfson 1983, Holmes 1986, Marandin (1987)

Face Threatening Acts - Courtesy Goffman 1985 – Brown & Levinson 1987 Bald on record: very open and direct strategy (“Give me that book”) On record: - Positive politeness: using expressions linked to dialects, nicknames, etc. Negative politeness: indirect strategies (using ’negative expressions’ underlying the interlocutor’s autonomy) Off record: implicit strategies (use of ambiguous or metaphorical expressions to avoid being direct) Omission of FTA (the speaker avoids using expressions which may be perceived as threatening by the interlocutor)

Context Context is relevant as it limits the compliment’s polysemous meaning Positive or negative? Explicit or implicit Acceptance or refusal: verbal or non-verbal (yes v smile) Optimal agreement or disagreement Transfer Disregard

As metaphors Women as food, engines, godly creatures, men’s prizes Strongly cultural-bound Typical of the Spanish culture, divided into: traditional or street activity (actividad callejera) – a sudden emotion piropos andaluces or de urgencia, accompanied by exclamation markers

Features Public Short Improvised Nice, funny and polite Smart Humorous Appropriate Often linked to a woman’s body parts

In English Love quotes and romantic sayings Compliments on: eyes, smile, for girls, Flattering expressions