Dr Derek Bousfield

Who am I?

I am the Head of the department of Languages, Information and Communications which comprises the "Journalism, Information and Communications" section, the "Languages, Linguistics and TESOL" section, and "The Language Centre". I teach and research in Stylistics, Pragmatics, and Critical Discourse Analysis. I authored the world's first monograph on linguistically communication aggression, conflict and offence which is entitled Impoliteness in Interaction (John Benjamins, 2008), further I co-edited (with Professor Miriam Locher University of Basel) the first collection of chapters on this subject in a book entitled Impoliteness in Language (Mouton de Gruyter, 2008) and the first special edition of an international journal on impoliteness, rudeness and aggression (with Professor Jonathan Culpeper, Lancaster University) in the Journal of Language, Behaviour, Culture (2008). Research in this area has led to national and internation debates and legislation relating to hate speech, and online trolling; and has had impact in terms of reference to campaigns relating to freedoms of speech, resistances to authority, and levels of civility in society.

Why do I teach?

Teaching is a privilege. To help students gain a higher level of understanding about their chosen topic, and to assist in developing discerning, critcal thinking, communicative graduates, capable of operating effectively, globally, and in an increasingly knowledge economy is one of the highest forms of endeavour in which one can engage. My students inspire me as much as I trust that I inspire them. My personal philosophy is that I teach to the same levels of passion, knowledge and enthusiasm that I encountered when I was taught, and that I want my own children to encounter as they, too, as taught.  

Words of wisdom

You have one life. You've got to live it. Whoever you are.

How I’ll teach you

Exceptionally well, with heart, soul, passion and infectious enthusiasm.

Publications

• Featured Works

  S. Bullo, D. Bousfield (2023). Talking in clichés: the use of stock phrases in discourse and communication. Cambridge University Press.

  D. Bousfield, MA. Locher (2008). Impoliteness in Language. Walter de Gruyter.

  D. Bousfield (2008). Impoliteness in Interaction. John Benjamins Publishing Company.

• Books (authored/edited/special issues)

  S. Bullo, D. Bousfield (2023). Talking in clichés: the use of stock phrases in discourse and communication. Cambridge University Press.

  D. Bousfield, MA. Locher (2008). Impoliteness in Language. Walter de Gruyter.

  D. Bousfield, M. Locher (2008). Impoliteness in Language. D. Bousfield, MA. Locher. Walter de Gruyter.

  D. Bousfield, MA. Locher (2008). Impoliteness in Language. D. Bousfield, MA. Locher. Mouton de Gruyter.

  D. Bousfield (2008). Impoliteness in Interaction. John Benjamins Publishing Company.

  L. Jeffries, D. McIntyre, D. Bousfield (2007). Stylistics and Social Cognition. BRILL.

• Journal articles

  DE. Bousfield (2018). Face(t)s of self in interaction. Journal of Politeness Research. 14(2), pp.287-305.

  D. Bousfield (2013). Face in conflict. Journal of Language Aggression and Conflict. 1(1), pp.37-57.

  M. Haugh, D. Bousfield (2012). Mock impoliteness, jocular mockery and jocular abuse in Australian and British English. Journal of Pragmatics. 44(9), pp.1099-1114.

  D. Bousfield (2010). 5. Researching impoliteness and rudeness: Issues and definitions. Interpersonal Pragmatics. 6, pp.101-136.

  D. Bousfield, K. Grainger (2010). Introduction. Politeness research: Retrospect and prospect. Journal of Politeness Research. Language, Behaviour, Culture. 6(2), pp.161-182.

  D. Archer, D. Bousfield (2010). ‘See Better, Lear’? See Lear Better! A Corpus-Based Pragma-Stylistic Investigation of Shakespeare’s King Lear. Language and Style. pp.183-203.

  D. Bousfield (2009). On Impoliteness in Interaction. Journal of Politeness Research: Language, Behaviour, Culture. 5(2), pp.305-312.

  MA. Locher, D. Bousfield (2008). Chapter 1. Introduction: Impoliteness and power in language. LANGUAGE POWER AND SOCIAL PROCESS. 21, pp.1-16.

  D. Bousfield, J. Culpeper (2008). Impoliteness: Eclecticism and Diaspora An introduction to the special edition. Journal of Politeness Research. Language, Behaviour, Culture. 4(2), pp.161-168.

  D. Bousfield, J. Culpeper (2008). Special Issue on “Impoliteness: Eclecticism and diaspora”. Journal of Politeness Research. 4(2),

  D. Bousfield (2008). The grand debate: where next politeness research?. Cultura, lenguaje y representación: revista de estudios culturales de la Universitat Jaume I. 3, pp.9-15.

  D. Bousfield (2007). Beginnings, middles and ends: A biopsy of the dynamics of impolite exchanges. Journal of Pragmatics. 39(12), pp.2185-2216.

  D. Bousfield (2007). Impoliteness, preference organization and conducivity. mult. 26(1), pp.1-33.

  D. Bousfield (2007). “Never a Truer Word Said in Jest”: A Pragmastylistic Analysis of Impoliteness as Banter in Henry IV, Part I. Contemporary Stylistics. pp.195-208.

  D. Bousfield (2005). Saeko Fukushima, Requests and Culture: Politeness in British English and Japanese, Peter Lang, Bern, 2000, 315 pp., £30, paperback, ISBN 3 906765 30 X. Journal of Pragmatics. 37(7), pp.1117-1127.

  D. Bousfield (2005). Requests and culture. Journal of Pragmatics. 37(7), pp.1117-1127.

  D. Bousfield (2005). Politeness. Journal of Politeness Research: Language, Behaviour, Culture. 1, pp.296-300.

  J. Culpeper, D. Bousfield, A. Wichmann (2003). Impoliteness revisited: with special reference to dynamic and prosodic aspects. Journal of Pragmatics. 35(10-11), pp.1545-1579.

• Chapters in books

  P. Simpson, D. Bousfield (2017). Humor and Stylistics. In: The Routledge Handbook of Language and Humor. Routledge, pp.158-173.

  D. McIntyre, D. Bousfield (2017). (Im)politeness in Fictional Texts. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Linguistic (Im)politeness. Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp.759-783.

  D. Bousfield (2015). Politeness Theory. In: The International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction, 3 Volume Set. Wiley, pp.1-15.

  D. Bousfield (2015). Impoliteness. In: The International Encyclopedia of Communication, 12 Volume Set. Wiley,

  D. Bousfield (2014). Stylistics, speech acts and im/politeness theory. In: The Routledge Handbook of Stylistics. Routledge,

  D. Bousfield, D. McIntyre (2011). Chapter 6. Emotion and empathy in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. In: Telecinematic Discourse. John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp.105-123.

  M. Short, D. McIntyre, L. Jeffries, D. Bousfield (2011). Processes of interpretation: using meta-analysis to inform pedagogic practice. Palgrave,

  D. Bousfield, D. McIntyre (2011). Emotion and empathy in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas: A case study of the" funny guy" scene. John Benjamins,

  DE. Bousfield (2010). Contemporary Stylistics. M. Lambrou, P. Stockwell. In: Contemporary Stylistics. London: Continuum, pp.209-220.

  DE. Archer, D. Bousfield (2010). “See better, Lear”? See Lear better! A corpus-based pragma-stylistic investigation of Shakespeare’s King Lear. D. McIntyre, B. Busse. In: Language and Style. Palgrave, pp.183-203.

  D. Bousfield, M. Lunan-Taylor Gaslighting: Using Language in Coercion and Control. In: Gaslighting: Using Language in Coercion and Control. Cambridge University PRess,

  D. Bousfield (2008). Chapter 6. Impoliteness in the struggle for power. D. Bousfield, MA. Locher. In: Impoliteness in Language. Mouton de Gruyter, pp.127-154.

  D. Bousfield (2007). Never a truer word said in jest A pragmastylistic analysis of Impoliteness as Banter in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, part I’in Lambrou, M, and Stockwell, P.(eds) Contemporary Stylistics. London. pp.209-220.

• Conferences

  D. McIntyre, D. Bousfield (2008). Fear.