POLITENESS
PRAGMATICS
1. The Concept of Politeness
Politeness is the theory that accounts for the redressing of the affronts to face posed by
face-threatening acts to addressees. First formulated in 1978 by Penelope Brown and Stephen
Levinson, politeness theory has since expanded academia’s perception of politeness. Politeness is
the expression of the speakers’ intention to mitigate the face threats carried by certain face
threatening acts toward another (Mills, 2003, p. 6). Another definition is "a battery of social skills
whose goal is to ensure everyone feels affirmed in a social interaction". Being polite therefore
consists of attempting to save face for another.
According to dictionary.com, politeness is defined as "showing good manners towards
others" or as being "refined or cultured" (2011); however, in the field of linguistics, the concept
of politeness is much more complex. This website outlines some of the theorists who have made
major contributions to the development of politeness theory and its role in discourse. We found
that Lakoff, Leech, Brown, and Levinson were some of the earliest linguists to study politeness.
Since then, many other theorists have either built on their ideas and principles or tried to disprove
them. Fraser and Nolen and Scollon and Scollon propose a more social interactional perspective
on politeness. Eelen and Watts, on the other hand, differ from previous theorists by dividing
politeness into two separate definitions and by stressing the differences within politeness due to
culture.
According to Brown and Levinson (1987), everyone has a self-public image that has
relation to their emotional and social sense of self and that they expect everyone else to
recognize. Politeness refers to the common notion of the term, that is, the way politeness
manifests itself in communicative interaction. Politeness is one of the constraints of human
interaction, whose purpose is to consider others' feelings, establish levels of mutual comfort, and
promote rapport. Hill et al. (1986: 282). Politeness is what we think is appropriate behavior in
particular situations in an attempt to achieve and maintain successful social relationships with
others (Lakoff 1972: 910).
According to Watts (2003:39) politeness can be identified as follows:
1. Politeness is the natural attribute of a ‘good’ character.
2. Politeness is the ability to please others through one’s external actions .
PRAGMATICS
1. The Concept of Politeness
Politeness is the theory that accounts for the redressing of the affronts to face posed by
face-threatening acts to addressees. First formulated in 1978 by Penelope Brown and Stephen
Levinson, politeness theory has since expanded academia’s perception of politeness. Politeness is
the expression of the speakers’ intention to mitigate the face threats carried by certain face
threatening acts toward another (Mills, 2003, p. 6). Another definition is "a battery of social skills
whose goal is to ensure everyone feels affirmed in a social interaction". Being polite therefore
consists of attempting to save face for another.
According to dictionary.com, politeness is defined as "showing good manners towards
others" or as being "refined or cultured" (2011); however, in the field of linguistics, the concept
of politeness is much more complex. This website outlines some of the theorists who have made
major contributions to the development of politeness theory and its role in discourse. We found
that Lakoff, Leech, Brown, and Levinson were some of the earliest linguists to study politeness.
Since then, many other theorists have either built on their ideas and principles or tried to disprove
them. Fraser and Nolen and Scollon and Scollon propose a more social interactional perspective
on politeness. Eelen and Watts, on the other hand, differ from previous theorists by dividing
politeness into two separate definitions and by stressing the differences within politeness due to
culture.
According to Brown and Levinson (1987), everyone has a self-public image that has
relation to their emotional and social sense of self and that they expect everyone else to
recognize. Politeness refers to the common notion of the term, that is, the way politeness
manifests itself in communicative interaction. Politeness is one of the constraints of human
interaction, whose purpose is to consider others' feelings, establish levels of mutual comfort, and
promote rapport. Hill et al. (1986: 282). Politeness is what we think is appropriate behavior in
particular situations in an attempt to achieve and maintain successful social relationships with
others (Lakoff 1972: 910).
According to Watts (2003:39) politeness can be identified as follows:
1. Politeness is the natural attribute of a ‘good’ character.
2. Politeness is the ability to please others through one’s external actions .
