Politeness Theory

Politeness Theory

Understanding face-saving communication strategies for effective relationship building.

Learning Objectives (LOs)

  • By the End of This Unit- Define Politeness Theory

    • Understand PT for relationship-building practices

    • Identify Face Types

    • Recognize negative and positive faces and their communication strategies

    • Apply PT Practically

    • Use theory in class exercises and simulation activities

The Challenge of Politeness

  • Few claim to be impolite, and even fewer know how to be polite.

  • To achieve politeness, understanding of two social faces is essential:- Negative face

    • Positive face

Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs)

  • Identifying another speaker's face helps avoid FTAs, crucial for negotiation and relationship building.

  • What are FTAs?- Communication acts that threaten someone's self-image or social reputation.

  • Why Avoid Them?- FTAs damage relationships and hinder effective communication.

Defining Politeness

  • "Behaviour that is socially correct and shows understanding of and care for other people's feelings" - Cambridge Dictionary

  • To be polite means to "abide by the rules of a relationship."

The Concept of Face

  • Face is our public self-image that:- "Can be lost, maintained, or enhanced."

    • Must be constantly attended to in public.

  • Origins of the Concept1. Chinese Origins

    • Derived from concepts of mianzi (面子) and lian (脸).

    1. Historical Documentation

    • First English documentation by Robert Hart in 1876.

    1. Goffman's Investigation

    • Academic investigation by Erving Goffman in the 1960s.

Goffman's Definition of Face

  • "The positive social value a person effectively claims for himself."

  • "An image of self, delineated in terms of approved social attributes."

  • Face projects our identity, morals, ethics, and behavior during encounters.

Face as a Social Phenomenon

  • Face is social and cultural—not related to physical features.

  • Terms Related to Face:- Lose Face:

    • To lose reputation, prestige, or social status.

    • Slap in the Face:

    • A rejection or affront to ideas.

    • Facework:

    • Actions taken to avoid unintended insults to another's face.

Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) Defined

  • FTAs affect relational development and communication.

  • Facework:- Defined as the performance of redressive action to minimize face threat.

    • Communication practitioners use facework to amend unfavorable FTAs during conversation.

Two Key Rules of Politeness Theory

  1. Situational Faces- People employ different face types depending on situation, culture, or social norms.

    • We do not usually use one face consistently throughout the day.

  2. Cultural Variation- Facework is not universal across cultures.

    • Brown & Levinson's universal claims face criticism.

Negative and Positive Face

Two Versions of Politeness

  • Negative Form (under-accommodation):- Aims to minimize impolite speech and actions.

  • Positive Form (over-accommodation):- Aims to minimize overtly polite expressions.

  • Both forms help avoid face-threatening acts through appropriate communication strategies.

The Model Person (MP)

  • Politeness analysis requires a "Model Person":- Characteristics:

    • Rationality: Ability to make logical decisions and communicate clearly.

    • Face: Stable self-image and social identity.

  • Note that mental disabilities or social phobias affect facework practice.

Negative Face Defined

  • Definition:- The want of every competent adult member that his/her actions be unimpeded by others.

  • Key Characteristics:- Highly values personal freedom and space.

    • Can be seen as individualistic or possibly egotistical.

Communicating with Negative Face

  • Cannot impose choices or remove freedom of decision.

  • Wrong Approach:- "Hey, let's get coffee." (This takes away freedom of choice.)

  • Better Approach:- "Would you like to get coffee or tea?" (This preserves autonomy and choice.)

FTAs to Negative Face

  • Damage occurs when we:- Assume what they should be doing, pressuring them to complete tasks.

    • Assume what they should say or do, forcing acceptance or rejection.

    • Remove their autonomy to make decisions.

Positive Face Defined

  • Definition:- A social face desiring community, belonging, understanding, and admiration.

  • Community:- Wants to belong to groups.

  • Approval:- Desires opinions and acts to be approved by others.

  • Admiration:- Wants to be seen as desirable to others.

Communicating with Positive Face

  • Cannot damage their social face or self-image with the community.

  • Wrong Approach:- "We're going out for lunch. See you later." (This outcasts and removes them from the social circle.)

  • Better Approach:- "We'd love for you to join us for lunch." (This preserves the social relationship and desirability in the group.)

FTAs to Positive Face

  • Damage occurs when someone:- Disagrees or contradicts their position in the group.

    • Does not care about their opinion or position.

    • Challenges their sense of belonging.

Cultural Variations in Face

  • Brown & Levinson's universal claims face criticism:1. Chinese Context (Mao, 1993):

    • Socially impair negative faces in public with authority figures.

    1. Japanese Context (Matsumoto, 1988):

    • Omoiyari, where social conformity demands positive face regardless of personality.

Individual vs. Cultural Determination

  • Western Approach:- "I think I want to use a Negative/Positive Face at work" (Individual choice determines face).

  • Asian Approach:- "I will use a Negative/Positive face as required by culture/society" (Social norms dictate face).

Context Sensitivity

  • Face can fluctuate depending on: - Social situation

    • Work vs home environments

    • Cultural norms

    • Expected behavior patterns

    • Relationship rules

    • Agreed-upon interaction styles

    • Individual skills (ability to create comfortable environments)

Short Exercise (30 mins)

  • On your flip chart, divide the text into two sections.- For each section, write:

    • Negative Face on the top section.

    • Positive Face on the bottom section.

Short Exercise - Negative Face Scenario

  • Choose one scenario to write: - “Ask a classmate to present on behalf of the team for the next assignment.”

    • “Request a last-minute 24-hour extension from your instructor due to a data glitch.”

    • “Invite a busy teammate to proofread your slide deck this afternoon.”

    • “Tell your lab partner that their experiment result is wrong.”

    • “Remind a group member that they must upload their section by 6 p.m. today.”

Short Exercise - Positive Face Scenario

  • Choose one scenario to write: - “Tell a teammate their slide looks cluttered and needs clearer sources.”

    • “Decline a friend’s invite to celebrate tonight because you need to study.”

    • “Suggest to a peer that their introduction would benefit from a stronger hook.”

    • “Ask a shy classmate to present the summary in front of the group.”

    • “Give feedback to a junior during a meeting that their work is sloppy.”

Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs)

  • Origins of FTA Concept:- Originates from the Chinese phrase "diu lian" meaning to lose face.

    • "Face (mianzi) is the quintessence of the Chinese spirit" - Lu Xun, 20th-century Chinese writer.

    • Recognized globally as rude and insulting acts affecting relationships.

FTA Weight Formula

  • The seriousness of an FTA is calculated using:- W: Weight or seriousness of the FTA.

    • D: Social distance between interlocutors.

    • P: Power that the hearer has over the speaker.

    • R: Degree of imposition valued in culture.

Calculating FTA Weight

  • To express as a percentage:- Each factor (D, P, R) measured on a scale of 1-10.

    • Higher percentages indicate more serious FTAs requiring stronger redressive action.

Multiple Choice Question

  • Question: Calculate the weight of the receptionist's FTA:- John, a non-English speaking foreigner, was asked to pay room fee upfront. The receptionist said loudly: "We don't call travel app agents, OK? If you don't pay, then you cannot stay here. That's all." She rolled her eyes and walked away.

  • Options: A. More than 50% B. Less than 50%

  • Answer: A. More than 50%

  • Calculation breakdown: - Social distance (D): 9/10 (strangers)

    • Degree of imposition (R): 9/10 (very offensive)

    • John's power over receptionist (P): 1/10 (language barrier).

Multiple Choice Question

  • Question: Calculate the FTA weight: - Julie was dining at a classy Hong Kong restaurant. When she ordered only water, the waiter flatly said they only serve paying customers.

  • Options: A. More than 50% B. Less than 50%

Politeness Strategies

  • Two Main Strategy Types:- On Record: FTA directed to specific person with specific intention.

    • Off Record: Subtle, indirect communication using implication.

Bald-On-Record Strategy (on-record)

  • Communication on-record without redressive action - straightforward and tactless.

  • When Appropriate:- In emergency situations where directness saves lives or prevents harm.

  • Example:- "Everybody get the hell out of here, now!" during a fire emergency.

  • Scenario Question: You are a lifeguard at a crowded beach and see a child struggling far out in the water. What bald-on-record statement would be most appropriate?

Positive Politeness Strategy (on-record)

  • Communication on-record with redressive action - enhances addressee's positive face.

  • FTA Version:- "Alex, your data is wrong. We can't use that info."

  • Positive Politeness Version:- "Alex, we appreciate your hard work. Let's check the data accuracy before using it."

  • Scenario Question: Your team member has presented a proposal with some formatting inconsistencies, but the content is excellent. How would you use positive politeness to suggest corrections while maintaining their positive face?

Negative Politeness Strategy (on-record)

  • Communication on-record with redressive action - respects addressee's negative face.

  • FTA Version:- "Hey boss, this is urgent. Sign this document and pass it to me this afternoon."

  • Negative Politeness Version:- "Sorry to bother you, but could you help me sign this by this afternoon? It's urgent from the client."

  • Scenario Question: You need to ask a busy senior colleague to review your report by the end of the day, understanding they value their autonomy. How would you use negative politeness to make this request effectively?

Off-Record Politeness Strategy

  • Subtle and indirect - relies on implication to avoid FTAs.

  • Example Situation:

  • Office is very hot

  • Off-Record Response: - "Wow. It's kinda warm in the office today, huh?"

  • Risk: - Communication may fail if too subtle.

  • Scenario Question: You want to subtly suggest to a friend that their music is too loud, without directly giving an instruction or request. How would you use off-record politeness in this situation?

Multiple Choice Question

  • In Heng Di Constructions, the floor manager has a negative face and expects straightforward communication from staff to avoid delays. Which politeness strategy would be most effective?- A. Bald-on-record Politeness

    • B. Negative Politeness

    • C. Positive Politeness

    • D. Off-Record Politeness

Multiple Choice Question

  • You say to your introverted, independent colleague: "Hey, Mark, I need you to help me out with this mess. It's killing me, and I think it's really bad for our health." What type of FTA is this?- A. Non-redressive, threatened Negative Face

    • B. Non-redressive, threatened Positive Face

    • C. Redressive, threatened Negative Face

    • D. Redressive, threatened Positive Face

Multiple Choice Question

  • The new CEO of X-COM is likable, easy to talk to, enjoys team-building activities, and actively participates in professional development. Which politeness strategy would be best suited when speaking to the CEO?- A. Bald-on-record Politeness

    • B. Off-record Politeness

    • C. Negative Politeness

    • D. Positive Politeness

Short Activity (20 minutes)

  • Scenario:

    It is 4:35 p.m. on the day before your team’s poster showcase for your course project requirement. At 5:00 p.m. sharp, the print shop will close the poster order and charge rush fees for any later changes. You have a corporate sponsor that provided funding for your project; they supplied strict inclusivity guidelines and reserves the right to withdraw their logo if the taglines on the poster appear exclusionary. Your faculty adviser, Dr. Ong (a strict, ethically uncompromising but fair person), asked for a brief SMS update by 4:45 p.m. before boarding a flight; once airborne, responses will be delayed. At 4:40 p.m., Hana, the team’s most visible member, uploads a bold, visually striking poster with a cheeky tagline that could be interpreted as exclusive by some student groups. The main image is a crowd photo “borrowed from a friend,” and its licensing is unclear. Hana is well-liked, sensitive to public critique, and mentioned earlier that she “really needs good grades for this.” In the WhatsApp group, Leo posts, “Let’s just print – it looks amazing, and we’re out of time,” picking up several reactions. A safer sponsor-approved template exists, but using it would require Dr. Ong’s quick approval to swap the tagline. You are the designated submission contact to the print shop. You can (a) message Hana, (b) post in the group chat to steer the team, or (c) text Dr. Ong to request either a delay or a template switch. If you name Hana’s choices directly, you risk damaging her positive face; if you issue instructions bluntly, you may threaten others’ negative faces by imposing without options. If you only hint at risks, the team may miss the urgency and lock the problematic design. If you ask Dr. Ong, but before team consensus, you risk the ire of your team and potentially your supervisor.

  • Task: Write a one/two sentence message for each (a), (b), or (c) option using the most appropriate politeness strategy. Then state which message you would send first and the rationale.

Summary

  • Politeness Theory Purpose: - Designed to help individuals navigate social face complexity.

  • Individual vs. Social Values: - How to communicate with individualistic vs. socially-oriented people.

  • Minimize FTAs: - Best ways to avoid or reduce face-threatening acts.

  • Prevent Conflicts: - Avoid unintended conflicts through proper facework.

Universal Methodology

  • Binary categorization offers a clean, universal approach despite seeming oversimplistic.- Positive Face: Social needs, belonging, community approval.

    • Negative Face: Individual freedom, autonomy, personal space.

  • Provides a framework to gauge counterparts' social faces.

Context Sensitivity Reminder

  • Interlocutor's face is highly sensitive to context and socio-cultural norms.

  • "Nobody wants every action decided for them (complete disregard for negative wants). Nobody likes no contact with fellow humans (nil satisfaction of positive wants)." - O'Driscoll, 2017

Human Social Needs

  • As social creatures, humans need both types of wants satisfied:- Positive Wants: Social needs for connection and belonging.

    • Negative Wants: Needs for contemplation and intellectual work.

Practical Applications

  • Successful learning of Politeness Theory helps:- Quick Relationship Depth: Rapidly increase relationship intimacy through proper facework.

    • Set Right Tone: Establish appropriate communication atmosphere during the orientation stage.

    • Professional Success: Navigate workplace relationships and negotiations effectively.

Key Takeaways

  • Face is Social:- Not physical features but public self-image requiring constant attention.

  • Context Matters:- The same person may use different faces in different situations.

  • Cultural Sensitivity:- Facework varies across cultures; avoid universal assumptions.

  • Strategic Communication:- Choose appropriate politeness strategy based on face type and context.

Examples of Positive and Negative Face Communication

  • Examples of negative face communication:- Remind a group member:

    • "Hi, dropping in to give a friendly reminder that we have to submit by 6 p.m. today."

    • Request last-minute extension:

    • "Are you able to accept a negative Peer Evaluation?"

    • Decline an invite:

    • "Sorry, I have to study for an exam, but let's plan a celebration afterwards."

  • Examples of positive face communication:- Deliver feedback:

    • "Thanks for working on the slides; maybe you want to consider breaking up the info for better clarity."

    • Invite help:

    • "Would you mind presenting on behalf of the team for the next assignment?"