Reviews of restaurants, hotels, and shops can be found on Google (including Google Maps, where the above review for the Agate Motel was found), Yelp, Amazon, NextDoor.com and many other sites. These sites show contextualized written compliment language that can serve as models for learners. Learners should note that non-anonymous and semi-anonymous reviewers (such as those found on AirbNb, Etsy, eBay, and Depop) may use more complimentary language, and downplay minor negative experiences, in order to maintain their own online reputations. Non-anonymous reviews decrease the amount of power reviewers have, since receivers of the reviews (sellers or business owners/managers) may retaliate in response to negative feedback (by leaving negative feedback of their own!).
Such review sites are prime examples of how compliments tend to be exaggerated in American English. The example pictured above makes use of the common "I/we love + noun" syntactical construction identified by Herbert (1986): "My family loves this motel!" The phrase "...this is the place to be!" the use of the emphasizing adjective "super" seen in "super friendly," and the liberal use of exclamation points, are all typical of positive reviews in American English.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
American English |