POLITENESS

Politeness refers to normative or expected linguistic and extralinguistic strategies that are culturally
agreed to be interactionally appropriate for a given situation. It involves avoiding conflict, building
rapport, and promoting cooperative communication despite differing goals of participants. Politeness
varies between languages and cultures, and understanding what is considered polite in a particular
context is crucial for effective communication.

INDIRECTNESS

Indirectness involves using speech acts that imply meaning rather than stating it explicitly. In English-
speaking North America, for example, using indirect speech acts and mitigation strategies is typically
viewed as more polite than speaking directly and bluntly. Indirectness allows speakers to make requests,
give feedback, or convey information in a softer, less confrontational manner. Cultural norms influence
the preference for indirectness, as seen in variations between languages and communication styles such
as those observed in American Sign Language.

HONORIFICS

- Honorifics are grammatical markers of respect and deference found in languages like Japanese,
Korean, and Nahuatl. They denote social rank and/or social distance, requiring knowledge of the
addressee's age, social position, and role. Younger speakers address elders with more polite forms, and
those in power, like doctors or superiors, receive more polite forms as well.

T/V DISTINCTION

The T/V distinction, found in European languages like French, Spanish, and Russian, differentiates
second-person pronouns based on social distance or intimacy. The 'T' form indicates familiarity, equality,
or higher status, while the 'V' form signifies formality, respect, or a power imbalance.

FACE THEORY

Face theory, proposed by Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson, centers on the concept of "face,"
which refers to one's positive self-image or reputation. It encompasses positive face (the desire to be
approved of by others) and negative face (the desire not to be bothered or have one's independence
infringed upon). Face-threatening acts (FTAs) are speech acts that may challenge or threaten one's face.

(under Face theory )

FACE THREATENING ACTS (FTAs)

- Face-threatening acts (FTAs) are speech acts, such as requests or orders, that may pose a threat to the
hearer's positive and/or negative face. These acts can potentially damage one's self-image or social
standing. Examples include making requests, giving orders, or stating opinions that may challenge the
hearer's autonomy or social standing.

POSITIVE POLITENESS

- Positive politeness is a strategy focused on fulfilling the desire of the hearer to be approved of by
others. It involves appealing to solidarity, friendliness, and in-group reciprocity to lessen the potential
threat to the hearer's positive face. An example is using expressions of camaraderie or friendship to
soften a request or command.

NEGATIVE POLITENESS

- Negative politeness is a strategy oriented toward the hearer's desire to be left alone. It involves
expressing the speaker's restraint and avoidance of imposing on the hearer. This strategy aims to
mitigate the threat to the hearer's negative face. Indirectness and deference are common features of
negative politeness.

BALD-ON-RECORD FTAs

- Bald-on-record FTAs are direct and straightforward speech acts that do not employ any politeness
strategies to mitigate the potential threat to the hearer's face. They involve making requests or
demands without any attempt to soften or mitigate the imposition on the hearer's face.

OFF-RECORD FTAs

- Off-record FTAs are indirect speech acts that avoid making explicit or unequivocal impositions on the
hearer's face. These strategies are used to lessen the threat to the hearer's face by implying requests or
desires indirectly, without directly stating them. Examples include using hints, implications, or vague
expressions to convey intentions without imposing directly on the hearer.

Reference:

Dawson, H., & Phelan, M. (2016). Language files: Materials for an introduction to language and
linguistics. The Ohio State University Press.