«Thank you!» said Thorin. [41]

86. «Welcome to the valley!» he said.

«Thank you!» said Thorin a bit gruffly; but Gandalf was already off his horse and among the elves, talking merrily with them. [41]

87. «I brought him, and I don't bring things that are of no use. Either you help me to look for him, or I go and leave you here to get out of the mess as best you can yourselves. If we can only find him again, you will thank me before all is over. Whatever did you want to go and drop him for, Dori?»

«You would have dropped him,» said Dori, «if a goblin had suddenly grabbed your leg from behind in the dark, tripped up your feet, and kicked you in the back!"[41]

88. «Can't help it,» said Gandalf, «unless you like to go back and ask the goblins nicely to let you have your pony back and your luggage.»

«No thank you!» said Bilbo.

«Very well then, we must just tighten our belts and trudge on - or we shall be made into supper, and that will be much worse than having none ourselves.» [42]

89. «They would shoot at us with their great bows of yew,» he said, «for they would think we were after their sheep. And at other times they would be right. No! we are glad to cheat the goblins of their sport, and glad to repay our thanks to you, but we will not risk ourselves for dwarves in the southward plains.»

«Very well,» said Gandalf. «Take us where and as far as you will! We are already deeply obliged to you. But in the meantime we are famished with hunger. "[42]

The above-mentioned examples illustrate the sign of respect and appreciation.

90. «Thorin Oakenshield, at your service! Dori at your service!» said the two dwarves bowing again.

«I don't need your service, thank you,» said Beorn, «but I expect you need mine. I am not over fond of dwarves; but if it is true you are Thorin (son of Thrain, son of Thror, I believe), and that your companion is respectable, and that you are enemies of goblins and are not up to any mischief in my lands-what are you up to, by the way?"[41]

91. «Hullo!» said Beorn. «You came pretty quick-where were you hiding? Come on my jack-in-the-boxes!»

«Nori at your service, Ori at…» they began; but Beorn interrupted them.

«Thank you! When I want your help I will ask for it. Sit down, and let's get on with this tale, or it will be supper-time before it is ended.» [41]

92. «A very good tale!» said he. «The best I have heard for a long while. If all beggars could tell such a good one, they might find me kinder. You may be making it all up, of course, but you deserve a supper for the story all the same. Let's have something to eat!»

«Yes, please!» they all said together. «Thank you very much!"[41]

93. «Well! Here we are!» said Thorin. «And I suppose we ought to thank our stars and Mr. Baggins. I am sure he has a right to expect it, though I wish he could have arranged a more comfortable journey. Still-all very much at your service once more, Mr. Baggins. No doubt we shall feel properly grateful, when we are fed and recovered. In the meanwhile what next?"[42]

Here we come across the regular use of gratitude expression in the contextual situation.

94. «No thank you, O Smaug the. Tremendous!» he replied. «I did not come for presents. I only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales say. I did not believe them.»

«Do you now?» said the dragon somewhat flattered, even though he did not believe a word of it. [42]

95. «Our thanks, R (ac Carc's son. You and your people shall not be forgotten. But none of our gold shall thieves take or the violent carry off while we are alive. If you would earn our thanks still more, bring us news of any that draw near. Also I would beg of you, if any of you are still young and strong of wing, that you would send messengers to our kin in the mountains of the North, both west from here and east, and tell them of our plight. But go specially to my cousin Dain in the Iron Hills, for he has many people well-armed, and dwells nearest to this place. Bid him hasten!» [42]

96. «Bilbo Baggins!» he said. «You are more worthy to wear the armour of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely in it. But I wonder if Thorin Oakenshield will see it so. I have more knowledge of dwarves in general than you have perhaps. I advise you to remain with us, and here you shall be honoured and thrice welcome.»

«Thank you very much I am sure,» said Bilbo with a bow. «But I don't think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through together. And I promised to wake old Bombur at midnight, too! Really I must be going, and quickly.»

97. «Well, Merry People!» said Bilbo looking out. «What time by the moon is this? Your lullaby would waken a drunken goblin! Yet I thank you. "[42]

98. «And your snores would waken a stone dragon - yet we thank you,» they answered with laughter. «It is drawing towards dawn, and you have slept now since the night's beginning. Tomorrow, perhaps, you will be cured of weariness.»

«A little sleep does a great cure in the house of Elrond,» said he; «but I will take all the cure I can get. A second good night, fair friends!» And with that he went back to bed and slept till late morning. [42]

99. «Thank-you, Ruf. Thank-you for believing me.»

Rufus beamed. He said, «Yo bes' eat sum dis grub. It call' Rufus Stew.» [42]

100. «Thank you so much for bringing our brother home. I only hope we can keep him alive. I don't know much about doctoring or helping the sick…» She looked around the barren kitchen. «We don't have much for medical supplies either… Our mother died before the war started. Father was killed in a logging accident and our brothers joined the armies. Until you brought Davy back to us, it has been Amy and I here alone.» She sounded apologetic. [42]

Repetition of the «thank you» expression, its strengthening with some additional marks gives additional positive meaning which intensifies the act of gratitude in every specific situation.

The examples which are given above in this chapter perfectly illustrate how gratitude functions in the dialogic discourse.

It should be stressed that the most often form for expressing gratitude is using the form «thank you» in all possible variations such as «thanking», «thanks», etc. Less often we have met gratitude experession in the form of «appreciate», «appreciation». Though it has some additional meaning, nevertheless, it is considered to be the form of gratitude expression.

Merriam-Webster Online dictionary gives the following definition to the word «appreciate»:

Definition of APPRECIATION

1. a: judgment, evaluation; especially: a favorable critical estimate

b: sensitive awareness; especially: recognition of aesthetic values

c: an expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude

2. : increase in value

Thus, the practical part of our paper has perfectly demonstrated the specific features of gratitude functioning in the dialogic discourse.

Conclusion