Back to Izmir Schedule

Presenter
Ms. Piyanoot Rattananukool 
Thai PhD Research Student
Department of English, School of Music, Humanities and Media
University of Huddersfield Queensgate,  
Huddersfield,
UK

 Title
Politeness of Diplomatic Tongue: A Study of the Courtesy Calls at the Thai Parliament 

Abstract  
Being mindful of a growing demand for people who can serve international missions in many organizations, I aim to demonstrate how work in international affairs is conducted in English. It is interesting to explore the language for international relations as spoken by professionals whose career success lies in the art of conversation which, if misunderstood, might cause massive conflicts and troubles. 
  
The observation data, interaction between the diplomats and the parliamentary leaders, was collected at the Office of Thai Parliament during the political crisis in April 2009. My study focuses on politeness, the key pragmatic concept, and will be enhanced by taking into account the various present-day Englishes of both native-speakers and non-native speakers when they interact across cultures. It also reveals how Thailand, a small state without mother-tongue English and historically, free of colonial powers, shapes its linguistic strategy, as well as how it is treated in diplomatic circles through the use of language. The recent findings, as a part of my PhD research project, show that diplomatic talk in English about this sensitive issue constitutes a combination of positive face and negative face strategies tactfully articulated with intricate language devices.