What is politeness theory by Brown and Levinson?

Politeness theory, proposed by Penelope Brown and Stephen C. Levinson, centers on the notion of politeness, construed as efforts on redressing the affronts to a person’s self-esteems of effectively claiming positive social values in social interactions.

What is Lakoff’s politeness principle?

Lakoff developed the “Politeness Principle,” in which she devised three maxims that are usually followed in interaction. These are: Don’t impose, give the receiver options, and make the receiver feel good. She stated that these are paramount in good interaction.

What is positive and negative politeness?

A positive politeness strategy seeks to minimize threat to hearer’s positive face and make the hearer feel good about him/herself. A negative politeness strategy is avoidance based and it presumes that the speaker will be imposing on the hearer.

What is politeness theory in discourse analysis?

The Politeness theory is a theory that appeared within the framework of pragmatic approach in linguistics. According to this theory the interlocutors use particular strategies in order to achieve successful communication. These strategies enable to create maximally comfortable environment for communication.

What is politeness in intercultural communication?

The core of politeness, in all cultures, is to take other people into consideration, to take care. In some other cultures, this kind of behaviour could be judged as impolite, or even rude. Politeness norms and behaviours are culturally and socially learned, and misunderstandings are therefore interculturally common.

Why is politeness theory relevant to intercultural communication?

The theory of politeness suggests strategies in social interaction by which a person can use to save the hearer’s face upon the effect of face-threatening acts or FTAs. Brown and Levinson accepted that the notion of face is respected as universal norms or values subscribed to by the members of the society.

What is politeness and what are different parameters of politeness?

Positive politeness strategies are intended to avoid giving offense by highlighting friendliness. These strategies include juxtaposing criticism with compliments, establishing common ground, and using jokes, nicknames, honorifics, tag questions, special discourse markers (please), and in-group jargon and slang.