Politeness Theory - Research Paper Example

Politeness Theory Introduction Politeness theory revolves around people’s view on social platforms and self-image created in the eyes or faces of other persons. The developers of the theory, Brown and Levinson proposed that people use politeness strategies to protect the face of other while addressing their issues. Politeness brings out both positive and negative views depending on the opinions of other persons. Politicians suffer from negative face that implies that certain personality issues cannot be imposed upon by the public. On the other hand, positive face suggests that people like or desire their self-image being approved by others. No one would like to have a negative reputation in the eyes of other people. For leaders, having a negative face ruins one’s ambitions to lead. One has to apply convincing politeness strategies in order to win approval of the masses. In institutions, people interested in leadership roles use appropriate politeness strategies so as to win approval from other members. Politeness implies that individuals show a positive face that can be easily approved by other people. Therefore, in case face-threatening acts arise, politeness strategies may work if the relationship between the speaker and the listener remains intact. The paper analyzes the importance of politeness theory in understanding institutional discourses, appropriate personal relationships in terms of language use, cohesion, and friendship as well as communication efficiency. Research Question In what ways does politeness theory enhance institutional discourses as well as enumerating specific linguistic indices of politeness? Sociolinguistic and Anthropological Theory of Politeness According to Morad (1), sociolinguistic and anthropological theory of politeness contributes to a successful computer-mediated communication (CMC). Different institutions rely on politeness theory as it enables research in various disciplines such as systems science, computer science, psychology and organizational theory. Social interchange between individuals results into respect if politeness can be witnessed among communicating groups. In reality, phrasing things in order to show other people respect ensures that organizations will be successful, in the long run. Dealing with cases of impoliteness remains every organization’s nightmare. For this reason, if all employees uphold politeness, organizations become centers of success. Politeness means that customers remain loyal to those institutions that supply them with various goods and services. Politeness theory contributes a lot towards effective communication not only in institutions but at the society level. Morad (6) argues that politeness brings about relational communication. In order to create a ‘positive face’, each member of the community or institution ensures communication process remains as professional as possible. Different communities across the globe uphold high levels of active communication. Community leaders argue that efficient and relational communication emanates from upholding moral values that guide each member. Effective communication brings about cohesion, friendship, unity, impersonality and communicative efficiency. Each community has its way of communicating with other. For instance, each community teaches its people how to communicate effectively with each other. The youth must respect the elderly people through proper communication techniques. In the case some radical youths disrespect the old, the blame goes to their parents or any person who played a key role in their upbringing. As a result, effective communication emanates from politeness and the need to create a ‘positive face’ as well as winning approval from other members of the society. In addition, CMC assumes that socio-emotional aspects can be applied by humans so as to possess strong social and affiliative needs. However, in certain aspects, literature tends to take these social needs for granted by focusing on how different communication environments affect individual outcomes. Various models of human interaction elaborate politeness theory by directing people’s attention to the central roles of face in social interchanges as well as looking at frameworks that offer fresh insights related to interpersonal and emotional dynamics. Politeness brings out what many people refer to as ‘mannered etiquette’. The theory applies to social linguistics, anthropology, and linguistics. Proponents of linguistics use politeness theory to communicate and develop ‘respectful’ language that people in the society should use. In addition, individuals use linguistics, gestural displays to present a positive self-image to the communal world, as well as behavioral aspects, in order to seek or create certain impressions in others. The individuals also use self-image in writing so as to appear competent and smooth in their performances as well as be perceived to as appropriately heedful and supportive of other people’s performances. In this light, many people use language in producing scripts that attract praise and attention from readers. Writers use the social platforms to identify the performance of their ‘self-image’ by looking at the different comments people make. In this context, each writer can know his/her fate since their face represents oneself in a public or social platform. Face acts as the very reflection of self-worth where each person’s aspects can be presented as self-identity, self-esteem and their credibility as members of specific social group. People can undermine one’s face (self-image) in a social platform. Since most people rely on the views of other people, their self-image can be tarnished if they allow negative comments regarding their achievements to halt their activities (Morad 11). Organizations depend on effective communication in ensuring smooth running of their daily activities. Effective communication between different departments provides coordination thus improvements in production can be noted. In reality, communication in organizations involves the use of appropriate language (formal language). Use of unofficial language does not augur well with the management or other people working in those organizations. Each organization aims at ensuring that its employees work as a team in order to realize the set goals and objectives. In this light, organizations tend to expose their ‘faces’ through interaction by avoiding “face-threatening-acts” that may lead to disorganization of events at the workplace. Face-threatening acts include disagreements, criticizing one another, interruptions in production, imposing, asking certain favors, embarrassments and asking or requesting information about goods or services (Morad 13). Organizations develop rules and regulations that guide all employees. In addition, organizations do have their code of ethics that each employee must adhere to in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts with other employees or leaders. Today’s organizations have their ways of locating politeness in everyday speech. Employees practice the use of formal language while carrying out their duties. In addition, the use of CMC enables organizations to track employee communication channels in order to figure out whether they follow the right communication etiquette. Communication between employees, organizational leadership, and customers can either threaten or mend the face of each organization. If employees talk ill of their company, then no one would like to be connected to that organization. For this reason, organizations need to address the issue of linguistic politeness so as to avoid face-threatening aspects. Learning how to use appropriate phrases such as ‘sorry’, ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’ reduces interaction gross and language misuse (Matsumoto 3). These phrases help in managing uncertainties related to social interface. Communication efficiency, friendship, and cohesion develop due to people’s efforts of avoiding to threaten each other’s face or self-image. The approaches that different people use to communicate indicate whether they care about each other’s image. In this context, organizations carry out their operations while considering the appropriate use of language. Companies ensure that all employees adhere to the set rules and regulations relating to language use and personal conduct. Word choice and selection of various phrases ensures that each person engages in formal language that does not hurt other people’s feelings. People in the society tend to move towards positive politeness by using positive politeness tactics to achieve their desires. In order to avoid negative politeness, people have to avoid using conventional phrases that tend to raise negative feelings (Morad 15). Matsumoto (4) examines politeness theory as a face-threat mitigating strategy in increasingly imposing questions. Proponents of politeness theory claim that politeness is socially determined by social distance, rank of imposition and relative power. Conventionally, increasing the level of imposition leads to increased politeness while on the contrary, decreased social distance leads to decreased politeness. Politicians use such parameters to measure their level of politeness among the people. In addition, greater power of interviewees leads to reduced level of politeness. Every person demands to have a ‘proper’ self-image so that their reputation remains adorable. As mentioned earlier, politeness is expressed through communication. People communicate by ensuring that their choice of words shows high levels of politeness. In reality, participants in different fields aim to communicate successfully while ensuring politeness crucially exists in all international communications. Politeness remains as the primary linguistic phenomenon that people use to interact in both social and cultural norms. For one to rise to power, he/she has to use convincing and polite language in order for the listeners to consider their pleas (Matsumoto 5). Effective communication requires the appropriate understanding among participants in any conversation. The conversation contribution needs to be made as necessary in order to fulfill the intended purpose. Effective communication that entails high levels of politeness needs to be truthful, relevant, clear, informative and not more than necessary. Cooperation among interacting groups ensures that participants can achieve conversational goals. Communicating groups tend to value each other’s ideas depending on their identity. People who fail to preserve their identities end up being expelled from their respective conversational groups. Groups require participants to understand each other as well as protect each other’s self-image through cooperation. Organization of groups and their idea of protecting each other’s face indicate that politeness theory works efficiently if people decide to cooperate (Sandra 29). Groups help each other in mitigating threats that may arise from possible face-threats. As a result, development of positive politeness becomes a reality and individuals of cooperating groups can be recognized as desirable or approved. Signs of positive politeness can be shown by strategies such as acknowledgment of similar values, complimenting, agreeing and sympathizing with hearers’ opinions. Politeness theory emphasizes on employing useful strategies that ensure institutions follow the right guidelines through consultative interactions. In her work, Sandra (29) argues that politeness theory remains a powerful tool for institutional dialog and organizational discourse. Control of power in various institutions depends on politeness theory. Indeed, people who wish to rise to power must seek people’s approval in a polite manner. As mentioned earlier, an individuals face or self-image needs support from other people or the general public. People (or the public) have the power to choose and approve individuals who show high levels of politeness. Power and social distance show intermittent differences that occur due to lack of interactions or cooperation. Politeness theory enjoys greater explanatory power where participants engage in interactions for the purpose of achieving the same transactional goals. Institutional settings usually bring out face-redressive politeness strategies that present confrontational encounters to participants. If the goals of participants conflict rather than coincide, institutional negative implications can be revealed thus enhancing interaction between the institution and the participants. In addition, politeness theory and politeness strategies serve as instruments of interpersonal and organizational goals. Politeness theory acts as an essential alternative framework for interpreting institutional linguistic behavior and defining institutional norms. Many institutions have accepted that linguistic manifestation describes both individual and institutional needs and can be interpreted in different ways. People have the freedom to interpret politeness theory from a sociolinguistic point of view where it has been seen as a proponent for appropriate behavior in a particular situation. Indeed, many authors define politeness as an appropriate behavior in the context (Matsumoto 9). Challenging politeness and other norms become inappropriate behavior as well as being impolite. However, politeness remains the only issue that individuals worry about while carrying out their daily activities. Linguistic strategies help individuals to schematize and exemplify appropriate linguistic realizations. Politeness theory enables individuals to realize and construct compounding-verbal minimizing expressions as far as linguistic is concerned. In addition, language acts as the intermediary between different ethnic groups across the world. However, communication breakdown may be caused by counterchallenges between opposing parties. Relationship between power and politeness can be justified by a number of discourse practices in institutional settings. These institutional settings can be interesting and significant as individuals can use them to explore the proponents of politeness fully. Politeness theory enables interpersonal modes of linguistic communication to interpenetrate in different ways where diversity between the various ethnic groups can be identified (Sandra 36). Conclusion Politeness theory remains to be a very useful tool for approaching institutional discourses that define the nature of institutional norms. In addition, the theory enables the interpretation of interactional behavior in institutions that demand power depending on the underlining principles. For this reason, politeness theory remains an important aspect that ensures appropriate personal relationships in terms of language use. Politeness theory has enabled successful computer-mediated communication where individuals have developed unique interactive skills. Politeness theory identifies different strategies that different speakers use depending on the relationship between the speaker and the listener. Indeed, politeness theory enables people to develop unique communication skills thus enhancing institutional success. Recommendations 1. Further research regarding politeness theory need to be carried out in order for individuals to understand its relevance in the social context. 2. Current components of politeness theory fail to elaborate its meaning precisely. For this reason, politeness theory needs to be integrated into different contexts in order to improve the understanding of the theory. 3. Researchers should provide more information regarding politeness theory and how it enhances interaction between different individuals and institutions. 4. The theory should be included in school curriculums in order to help many people to understand its use and importance. Works Cited Matsumoto, Katherine. Politeness in Increasing Degrees of Imposition: A Sociolinguistic Study of Politeness in Political Conversations. 2009. Print. Morad, David. Politeness Theory and Computer-Mediate Communication: A Sociolinguistic Approach to Analyzing Relational Messages. 2003. Print. Sandra, Harris. Politeness and power: Making and responding to ‘requests’ in institutional settings. 2003. Print. Read More