Linguistic Analysis of Check-In Conversations

Masterarbeit aus dem Jahr 2011 im Fachbereich Sprachwissenschaft / Sprachforschung (fachübergreifend), , Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This Master's Thesis looks at linguistic politeness during hotel check-in conversations between native and non-native speakers. The thesis aims to examine whether the politeness changes if people speak in a different language than their native language or when talking to a person who speaks in a second language. The research question that will be answered is therefore: Does linguistic politeness change when native speakers talk to non-native speakers or when non-native speakers talk in a lingua franca? And if so, how does the politeness change in native-non-native (L1-L2) and non-native-non-native (L2-L2) communication in contrast to native-native (L1-L1) communication? And if the politeness changes, how does it change? This thesis deals with the analysis of check-in conversations at receptions in hotels. The focus of this investigation lies on conversations between German hotel employees and Danish guests, either in L1-L2 or L2-L2 communication. For comparison reasons conversations between German guests and German receptionists (L1-L1) are regarded.