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

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

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

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