Brown and Livenson’s

Politeness Theory

“Politeness” and “Face”

“Politeness” is the word we use to talk about a speaker’s intention to threaten or save face of a hearer.

Face is our self imagine

that we attempt to show the

world.

Positive Face:“the want of every member that his wants

be desirable to at least some others“

Negative Face:"the want of every 'competent adult

member' that his actions be unimpeded by others", or "the basic claim to territories,

personal preserves, rights to non-distraction--i.e. the freedom of action and

freedom from imposition".[

Brown, Penelope and Stephen C. Levinson. 1987. Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

So basically…

Positive Face: LIKE ME! Negative Face: Don’t bother me. Ever.

Face Threatening Acts • an utterance or tone that damages the face of the

addressee or the speaker by acting in opposition to the wants and desires of the other.

FTAs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politeness_theory#cite_note-BandL-2

Positive FTAsCan be damaging to both

the speaker and the hearer

Negative FTAsCan be damaging to both

the speaker and the hearer

There are Politeness Strategies that speakers can employ to achieve different levels of FTAs.

We have a choice whether or not to do the FTA, and if we do, how we will go about it.

Estim

ation

of

risk

of

face

los

s

Lesser

Greater

Do the FTA

Don’t do the FTA

On record

Off record

Without redressive

action, baldly

With redressive

action Positive Politeness

Negative Politeness

Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: some universals in language usage. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press.

Politeness Strategies

Bald

On-Record

Positive Politeness Negative

Politeness

Off-Record(indirect)

Bald

On-RecordNo attempt to minimize the threat to a hearer’s face – can cause shock and embarrassment.

“Shut up!” “Turn off the lights.”

http://youtu.be/_H747FiGPp0

In this video clip of The Office, Andy makes a direct request of Jim (you can stop at 9 seconds). This threatens Jim’s face in

that Andy makes no attempt to “dress up” the demand.

Brown and Livenson suggest that Bad On-Record politeness strategies tend to be used between people with a close

relationship or during times or urgency (“get out of the way!”).

You can minimize the threat of Bald On-Record demands just by the nature of the demand.

“Come hang out with me.”“Come in!”

Positive Politeness

The speaker attempts to reduce threat to the hearer’s face by dressing up the utterance.

Strategies may include statements showing unity or belonging in some way.

Example: So because we’re such great friends, would you mind driving me to the airport?

Nope.

Negative Politeness

Directed towards the hearer’s negative face and really tries to avoid imposition on the hearer.

A few ways to do this include: Being pessimistic:

I know this is a terrible favor for me to ask…

Minimizing the imposition: I have a tiny favor to ask you…

Apologizing: I’m sorry, but would you please flip the light?

Plural nouns: We at the institution regret to inform you…

• Not actually saying what you mean, but implying it to avoid the hearer losing face

Off-Record(indirect)

Not actually saying what you mean, but implying it to avoid the hearer losing face

http://youtu.be/_H747FiGPp0?t=30s

In this same clip from The Office (start at 30 seconds if it doesn’t automatically jump there), Jim asks if there is any music. What he

means is, “Your’re terribly boring and awkward and I need a distraction.” When Andy does his own special little thing, Jim

clarifies his request at the end.

Other examples include: “Boy, I’m hungry.” Translation: Make me a sandwich ASAP, honey.

So how can we apply this Politeness Theory and its strategies to our work?

You can add ideas, share stories, or just lurk in

Moodle

Teaming?

What

does it

look

like i

n ASL? H

ow will

we adjust

our

Engli

sh

interp

retati

ons?

How do we

produce

equivalent A

SL

message

s usin

g

these

strat

egies?

Talking with

consumers?