POLITENESS AND INTERACTION 6TH GROUP

Summary

This presentation by Group 6 from Class 6A covers the role of politeness in social interactions and communication. It explains the concept of politeness, facework theory by Brown and Levinson, and the strategies used to maintain social harmony, such as positive and negative politeness. The presentation also highlights the impact of culture on politeness, demonstrating how different cultures use varying strategies. Finally, the importance of politeness in both face-to-face and digital communication is explored, with examples from Western, Asian, and Middle Eastern cultures. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding politeness for effective intercultural communication.

Takeaways

• 😀 Politeness is a strategy used in communication to avoid conflict and maintain social harmony (Brown & Levinson, 1987).
• 😀 Interaction is the process in which individuals present themselves in social life and manage impressions to control how others perceive them.
• 😀 Politeness in interaction involves maintaining one's face, which refers to self-esteem in communication.
• 😀 There are two types of face: positive face (desire to be accepted) and negative face (desire to maintain freedom and autonomy).
• 😀 Positive politeness strengthens social relationships and is often used in informal contexts or among close friends.
• 😀 Negative politeness maintains personal space and respect, typically used in formal situations or with people of higher status.
• 😀 Factors influencing politeness include external factors like social status, power relationships, and age, as well as internal factors like social closeness and situational context.
• 😀 Face Threatening Acts (FTAs) refer to actions that threaten a person’s self-image, such as direct criticism or commands.
• 😀 Face-saving strategies, like using polite language or apologizing, reduce the impact of FTAs and protect social harmony.
• 😀 Politeness varies across cultures: Western cultures tend to use positive politeness, while Asian cultures (e.g., Japan, Indonesia) rely more on negative politeness to avoid confrontation.

Q & A

What is the definition of politeness in communication?

Politeness, as defined by Brown and Levinson (1987), is a strategy used in communication to avoid conflict and maintain social harmony. It involves maintaining the face or self-esteem of others in communication.

What are the main factors that influence politeness in interaction?

There are both external and internal factors that influence politeness in interaction. External factors include social status, power relationships, and age. Internal factors include social closeness and situational context.

How does politeness relate to the concept of 'face'?

'Face' refers to a self-image that an individual wants to maintain during social interaction. There are two types of face: positive face (the desire to be accepted and appreciated) and negative face (the desire for freedom of action without coercion).

What is the difference between positive and negative face?

Positive face is the desire to be accepted and appreciated by others, while negative face is the desire to maintain autonomy and freedom without being imposed upon.

What is face-threatening act (FTA) and how is it mitigated?

FTA refers to actions that threaten a person’s self-image, such as direct criticism or orders. To mitigate FTAs, individuals use face-saving strategies, such as choosing polite language, adding reasons, or offering apologies.

What are positive politeness strategies?

Positive politeness strategies aim to strengthen social relationships and create familiarity, solidarity, and respect. These strategies are used in informal situations or with close friends and include using greetings, offering praise, and offering choices.

What is negative politeness, and when is it used?

Negative politeness aims to respect the personal space of the interlocutor and reduce pressure in interactions. It is typically used in formal situations, especially when interacting with people of higher status or in professional contexts.

How does politeness vary across different cultures?

Politeness varies depending on cultural norms. Western cultures like America and the UK often use positive politeness for social closeness, while Asian cultures like Japan and Korea use negative politeness to maintain social harmony. Middle Eastern cultures use stronger expressions of respect.

What are some examples of politeness in Western and Asian cultures?

In Western cultures, like the US, coworkers may address their boss by first name, and criticism is often direct. In Asian cultures like Japan, formality is key, and criticism is more indirect to avoid face-threatening acts.

How has politeness evolved in the digital era?

In the digital era, politeness continues to play a role in communication, with strategies such as using emojis to soften messages or formal greetings in professional emails. The tone is generally more relaxed when interacting with friends compared to formal settings.