Politeness in Linguistics: An overview

Summary

Politeness theory, developed by Brown and Levinson in the 1980s, explains how we navigate social interactions to protect our 'face'—the public self-image we wish to project. The theory distinguishes between positive face (the desire for approval) and negative face (the need for autonomy). When making requests or engaging in communication that may threaten someone's face, speakers can use strategies like positive politeness (seeking closeness) or negative politeness (minimizing imposition). The theory provides a framework for understanding how language mitigates face-threatening acts to maintain social harmony.

Takeaways

• 😀 Politeness is a fundamental aspect of social interactions and is studied from a linguistic perspective to understand how language helps manage social relationships.
• 😀 Brown and Levinson's politeness theory introduced the concept of 'face' as a public self-image that individuals wish to maintain in social settings.
• 😀 There are two types of face: positive face (the desire to be liked and belong to a group) and negative face (the desire for independence and freedom from imposition).
• 😀 Face-threatening acts (FTAs) are requests or behaviors that might threaten another person's face, either by infringing on their positive or negative face.
• 😀 Positive politeness strategies appeal to someone's positive face, making them feel appreciated, respected, or included in a group.
• 😀 Negative politeness strategies are used to minimize the threat to someone’s negative face by acknowledging their need for freedom and not imposing on them.
• 😀 The theory explains how individuals choose language that either minimizes or exacerbates the risk of threatening someone's face during communication.
• 😀 In making requests, individuals have a decision tree: They first decide whether to perform a face-threatening act (FTA), then whether to do it directly or indirectly (on-record or off-record).
• 😀 Off-record politeness is indirect and allows the other person to avoid responding or interpreting a request, reducing face threat but risking miscommunication.
• 😀 On-record politeness involves making a direct request, which is clearer but may put pressure on the listener, especially if no hedging or politeness strategies are used.
• 😀 Depending on the relationship and context, people mix positive and negative politeness strategies to minimize face loss and navigate social dynamics effectively.

Q & A

What does the term 'face' mean in Brown and Levinson's politeness theory?

In Brown and Levinson's politeness theory, 'face' refers to a person's public self-image or social identity that they present in interactions. It's how an individual wants others to perceive them in terms of their social roles and relationships.

What are positive and negative face in the context of the theory?

Positive face refers to the desire to be liked, accepted, and included in social groups, while negative face refers to the need for autonomy, freedom, and the avoidance of being imposed upon in social interactions.

How does a face-threatening act (FTA) work in social communication?

A face-threatening act (FTA) is any communication that threatens someone's face, whether their positive or negative face. For example, asking someone for a favor can threaten their negative face if it imposes on their freedom or independence.

Can you give an example of positive politeness?

An example of positive politeness is using language that creates closeness and shows appreciation, such as saying, 'Hey Tom, you always have the best notes, could you help me out?' This strategy appeals to the listener's positive face by making them feel valued.

What is negative politeness, and when is it used?

Negative politeness is a strategy that minimizes the imposition of a request, showing respect for the listener's negative face. It's used when a speaker wants to avoid making the other person feel uncomfortable or forced to comply. For example, 'I feel bad asking this, but would it be okay if I copied your notes just this once?'

What is the difference between on-record and off-record speech acts?

On-record speech acts are direct and clear, such as making an explicit request. Off-record speech acts are more indirect, such as hinting at something without directly asking for it, in order to reduce the risk of threatening someone's face.

What role does context play in choosing between positive and negative politeness strategies?

Context is crucial in determining which politeness strategy to use. Factors like the relationship between the speakers, their familiarity with each other's social identity, and the situation's formality influence whether positive or negative politeness is more appropriate.

What are regressive actions in Brown and Levinson’s decision tree for politeness?

Regressive actions involve taking extra steps to reduce the impact of an FTA on someone's face, such as using hedging or providing reasons to lessen the imposition. These actions are typically used to show respect for the other person's negative face.

How does Brown and Levinson's politeness theory explain the balance between social relationships and language use?

Brown and Levinson's theory highlights how language serves as a tool to manage and maintain social relationships by mitigating potential threats to face. By carefully choosing speech acts and strategies, individuals navigate the risks of face loss, balancing their own desires with respect for others.

Why is it important to understand face-threatening acts in everyday communication?

Understanding face-threatening acts is important because it helps people communicate more effectively by recognizing when their words or actions might harm someone's social self-image. By using politeness strategies, individuals can reduce misunderstandings and maintain positive relationships.