(a) Politeness can be defined as the use of language and behavior that shows respect and consideration for others. It involves being mindful of others' feelings, maintaining social harmony, and showing empathy and kindness in communication.
(b) Politeness theory, as discussed by Brown and Levinson (1978), posits that politeness is a universal concept that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. According to this theory, politeness is a social phenomenon that serves to minimize face threats and maintain positive social relationships. The theory distinguishes between positive politeness strategies, which aim to promote positive feelings of respect and solidarity, and negative politeness strategies, which aim to avoid imposing on others and preserving their autonomy.
(c) In the English language, there are various politeness strategies that speakers can employ to demonstrate respect and consideration for others. These include:
1. Polite forms of address: Using honorifics and titles such as "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Sir" when addressing others shows respect and politeness. For example, addressing a professor as "Dr. Smith" instead of just "Smith" is a polite form of address.
2. Polite requests: Softening requests with polite language such as "please" and "thank you" can make them more palatable to the listener. For example, saying "Could you please pass me the salt?" is more polite than simply saying "Pass me the salt."
3. Apologies and expressions of gratitude: Apologizing for mistakes or inconveniences and expressing gratitude for favors or help received are important politeness strategies. For example, saying "I'm sorry for the inconvenience" when arriving late to a meeting or "Thank you for your help" when someone assists you shows politeness.
4. Polite disagreement: Disagreeing with others in a respectful manner, using phrases like "I see your point, but I respectfully disagree" can help maintain harmony in conversations and relationships.
One additional academic source that can be used to further explore politeness strategies in language is the paper "Politeness Strategies in Conversations of Social Anxiety Disorder: An Empirical Study" by Ferreira, Ribeiro, and Lopes (2013).
In conclusion, politeness is an essential aspect of communication that involves showing respect and consideration for others. By employing various politeness strategies such as using polite forms of address, making polite requests, apologizing, expressing gratitude, and disagreeing respectfully, speakers can foster positive social interactions and maintain positive relationships with others.
Discuss the different politeness strategies used in any language of your choice. In your essay you should (a) define politeness (b) discuss the politeness theory and (c) describe and explain the different politeness strategies and provide examples, where necessary. Make use the Kroger textbook, Saeed chapter and the Kula and Marten paper as your academic sources, but you also need to find at least ONE other academic sources to use.
• Use the APA referencing system to cite your sources.
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