"Why Don't People Simply Say What They Mean?" Discuss the Issue of Indirectness in Discourse

Zhaoran Luo

Shenzhen Senior High School, Shenzhen, 518040, China

Abstract: To ensure successful communication, people may speak indirectly. Although it can be very problematic and culture-specific, it is still necessary and justifiable to employ indirectness, for it is widely considered as the norm to achieve communicative ｏｒ social goals. This paper firstly focuses on theoretical accounts for indirectness, and then exemplifies some possible factors governing indirectness. Next, the paper presents some possible problematic factors, and intends to explore motivations for employing indirectness.

Keywords: Indirectness; Pragmatics; Politeness