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Free gift compliments

The term compliment is often used with free gifts. In (1), diners in a restaurant receive a free drink from the waiter, and in (2) the speaker PS22G reads the dedication written by the author of a book that Ivy had received a long time ago. And (3), which is taken from a television newsscript, indicates the sponsor of the first prize for a competition.

(1) "Monsieur, mademoiselle, with the compliments of the restaurant. I think you celebrate today, yes?" (BNC ACE 267-8)
(2) PS22G: to Miss Ivy NAME
Ivy: That was my name <unclear> I married.
PS22G: with compliments and kind regards, Robert Samuel NAME (BNC HDJ 259-61; “NAME” stands for an anonymized last name)
(3) we've one winner already ... and they'll be on their way to Aintree tomorrow compliments of the Central South GrandNational Competition (BNC K1K 1434)
This type of compliment seems closely related to the ceremonious compliments and the season compliments. In contrast to the personal compliments, they do not attribute credit to the addressee. They designate a formula for situationally appropriate and gracious behaviour.

These compliments shall not be investigated further in this paper.

For other types of compliments see: