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2. reinforce and encourage good performance;
3. show thanks;
4. soften criticism.
The functions of compliments are very similar across languages; however, when
and where compliments are appropriate are language- or culture-specific.

Complaint
Complaints are meant to contrast what is with what ought to be. They belong to
"face-threatening acts" (Brown and Levingston 1978) in which we are working against
ritual constraints - that is, it is difficult to give face to someone who has acted in a way
that begs complaint.. Complaints have patterns that are influenced by the social need to
maintain good relationship. Brown and Levingston suggested three kinds of reaction to
complaints:
1. decide not to perform the complaint at all.
2. Use "off record" stratergies (hints, vagueness, rhetorical questions).
3. Use bald "on record" strategies (direct, clear statements) to show positive politeness
when the listener's positive self-image is of concern, or negative politeness when the
speaker's freedom of action and the addressee's negative self-image are central.
Most people avoid complaint situations because it is difficult to complain and still
maintain and give face. When we indulge in complaint making, the complaints are usually
addressed to those not responsible for the offense - we gripe.
Complaint speech events typically contain an opening that includes an identification of
the complainer and an explaination of why s/he is entitled to complain (i.e., a self-
justification for the complaint), the complaint act, a possible justification of the
addressee's action, an apology, a negotiated remedy, and a closing or bridge to another
topic.
Complaints are often presented to service agencies and businesses in written form.
Writers of complaint letters spend a lot of time showing how the agency or business is at
fault. In face-to-face communication, much less time is spent assigning fault and more
time is spent negotiating a remedy.

ORAL, WRITTEN, AND ORAL-WRITTEN SPEECH ACTS

Prayers, quarrels, special songs belong to oral speech acts.
Written speech acts or inscriptions can be represented by notifications, contracts,
etc.
Universal speech acts such as asking, answering, promises can be both oral and
written. However, there are various differences between these forms of speech acts in
terms of conditions of their performance.

SPEECH ACTS AND EVENTS ACROSS CULTURES:
UNIVERSALITY AND ETHNOSPECIFICITY

Though speech acts are universal phenomena, they have their peculiarities across
cultures and even genders. Cultural patterns, customs and ways of life are generally
reflected in speech acts and events because communication and culture are mutually
interdependent and mutually influential. Much research has been done in comparing
cross-cultural and gender differences in speech acts.