Abstract:
The paper is an attempt to analyze request-related speech-situations
based on the discourse strategies used by beggars. These strategies are
analyzed on the material of English and Georgian languages and cultures.
The theoretical framework of the research embraces speech act theory and
politeness. The empirical material is taken from live speech and numerous
internet resources. Research has proved that beggars apply diverse strategies
in order to impress passers-by and avoid their irritation. It is well
known that any request is a face-threatening act. Naturally, the threat to
face is aggravated in a situation when a person has to beg. Therefore, the
discourse of panhandlers abounds in strategies aimed at the mitigation of
this threat. Successful begging strategies identified in the given research
embrace the following: 1. Introductory words and phrases that make the
begging acts polite; 2. The use of indirectness as face-saving strategy; 3.
The use of interrogative forms, which make the directive utterances less
categorical; 4. Specific forms of address; 5. Compliments; 6. Expressions of
gratitude, blessings and prayers. The discourse of panhandlers embraces
both oral and written means. Apart from oral discourse strategies, the paper
analyzes the written discourse of beggars on the example of signs they
hold. Apart from analyzing the diversity of content of begging signs, the
author makes special focus on humour as a successful strategy often used
by English-speaking beggars, but extremely rare in the Georgian reality.
Special focus is made on the topic of sincerity, analyzed from the viewpoint
of J. Austin’s “Felicity Conditions” and Grice’s “Cooperative Principle”. According
to numerous comments on the internet, people are inclined to give
money to those panhandlers who look and sound sincere. Thus, research
has proved that sincerity is one of major preconditions for successful begging.
