Focusing on Chinese politeness, the book presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison with politeness across various linguacultures. It emphasizes the necessity for a universal theory of politeness, highlighting how cultural nuances shape interpersonal communication. Through this exploration, the author aims to bridge understanding between different cultural frameworks and enhance the study of politeness in a global context.
The book introduces a motivation model of pragmatics (MMP) that addresses the current skepticism towards deeper theoretical explorations in language studies. Rong Chen critiques the overemphasis on linguistic fluidity and proposes that understanding the motivations behind language use can provide a coherent framework for various contexts. This model is applied to diverse fields such as (im)politeness, cross-cultural communication, and identity construction. It aims to reconcile fluidity with stable concepts, making it a valuable resource for students across multiple disciplines.