L' acceptation du compliment: un (Macro- )acte de Discours Hybride et Ambigu

Abstract

This research analyzes the acceptance of compliments in Cameroun French,
showing, first, that it is a macro-act of hybrid discourse, generally composed
of a principle act, the expression of thanks, and of one or more accompanying
micro-acts of either an expressive type (compliment or declaration), a directive
type (advice), or a commitment (promise), etc. Secondly, we show that the
hybrid macro-act is essentially ambiguous, since it carries varied implications,
positive or negative, for the face of the speakers. In general, the global interactional value of the macro-act depends on the importance accorded the different constituent micro-acts in the discourse of acceptance. But there is no guarantee that the interpretation of the complirnenter will coincide with the communicative goal of the complimentee. If the act of accepting seems to involve positive politeness, the examples analyzed here show hybrid macro. strategies in which and through which threat and approval are expressed concurrently.