Politeness theory, developed by sociolinguists Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson, explains how people use language to maintain social balance and harmony and to avoid conflict. The theory is widely used in pragmatics and discourse analysis to study how politeness is expressed in language, and how it is interpreted by speakers and listeners.
According to Politeness Theory, politeness is a complex social phenomenon that involves balancing competing needs and interests, such as the need to be polite and the need to be honest. Politeness is also context dependent, as what is considered polite in one culture or situation may not be in others.
There are two main types of politeness strategies: positive politeness and negative politeness. Positive politeness involves emphasizing similarities and showing appreciation, while negative politeness involves avoiding subordination to others and showing respect. Both strategies are used to minimize "face" threatening acts, or acts that threaten the self-esteem and social identity of others.
Examples of positive and negative politeness strategies:
positive politeness:
- "You look great today!"
- "I really appreciate your help with this project."
- "We share the same interests, don't we?"
Negative politeness:
- "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
- "I know you're busy, but can you spare a few minutes?"
- "Sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you?"
Politeness theory also distinguishes between direct and indirect speech acts. Direct speech acts are simple and clear, while indirect speech acts are more ambiguous and rely on context and shared knowledge. Indirect speech acts are often used to be more polite, as they allow speakers to make requests or convey meaning without being too direct or blunt.
Here is an example of an indirect speech act:
- "Do you have the time?" (request for an hour)
In this example, the speaker is not directly asking the time, but is using the question as a way of indirectly conveying his request.
In summary, politeness theory is a useful framework for understanding how people use language to maintain social harmony and avoid conflict. By analyzing politeness strategies and speech acts, researchers can gain insights into how people interact with each other in different social and cultural contexts.