Complimenting Piropo-Style in Spain of 2000 and New Forms of Politeness

The prominent role played by the compliment in interactions between Spaniards, especially of the opposite sex, is recognized, but changes are noted in this cultural tradition as the society evolves toward the equality between men & women. Piropo is peculiar to Spanish culture; it is a compliment of physical attractiveness expressed mostly by men to foreign women passing by in the street or encountered in public places. A theoretical framework for discussing compliments as a special form of politeness is outlined, examining proposals by Geoffrey Leech (1983), Catherine Kerbrat-Orecchioni (1992), & Robin Lakoff (1973), among others, & considering the applicability of the notion of face flattering act to the description of piropos. Ludic & negotiating functions of language are differentiated, the relationship between piropo, compliment, flattery, flirt, & cajolery is explored, & the features differentiating piropos from other ludic speech acts are identified. A definition of piropo is proposed, & summary results of a survey carried out by linguistics majors at the U of Valencia (N unspecified) are reported. Some of the questions asked were: (1) who usually addresses a piropo to whom? (2) what age should the person doing the complimenting be, (3) what age should being the person complimented be, (4) where does piropo-style complimenting usually take place? (5) what is the dominant topic of piropos? & (6) what is the preferred situation for piropos? 2 Appendixes, 28 References. Z. Dubiel