5.2 Politeness and face-saving strategies
5 min read•august 15, 2024
Politeness and face-saving strategies are crucial in communication. They help us navigate social interactions by balancing our desire to be liked and respected with our need for autonomy. These strategies vary across cultures, reflecting different values and norms.
Understanding these concepts is key to effective communication. By using appropriate politeness strategies, we can build better relationships, avoid conflicts, and achieve our goals while respecting others' feelings and boundaries. It's all about finding the right balance in each situation.
Positive vs Negative Face
Defining Positive and Negative Face
Top images from around the web for Defining Positive and Negative Face
Self Disclosure | Introduction to Communication View original
Is this image relevant?
The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original
Is this image relevant?
The Effects of Autonomy on Motivation in Different Cultures - Dr Ritu Tripathi • scipod.global View original
Is this image relevant?
Self Disclosure | Introduction to Communication View original
Is this image relevant?
The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Defining Positive and Negative Face
Self Disclosure | Introduction to Communication View original
Is this image relevant?
The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original
Is this image relevant?
The Effects of Autonomy on Motivation in Different Cultures - Dr Ritu Tripathi • scipod.global View original
Is this image relevant?
Self Disclosure | Introduction to Communication View original
Is this image relevant?
The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- Positive face refers to the desire to be liked, appreciated, and approved of by others
- Involves the need for social acceptance and the want to be seen positively
- Examples of positive face desires include being complimented, receiving praise, or having one's opinions validated
- Negative face refers to the desire to act freely without imposition or impediment from others
- Involves the need for autonomy and the want to avoid obligations
- Examples of negative face desires include having personal space respected, being given options, or not being pressured to make a decision
Face and Face Wants in Social Interactions
- Face is the public self-image that individuals aim to maintain in social interactions
- Protecting one's own face and the face of others is a key aspect of politeness
- Face management involves balancing one's own face wants with the face wants of others
- Face wants are the specific positive and negative face desires that individuals aim to satisfy through communication and behavior
- Positive face wants include the desire for approval, appreciation, and inclusion
- Negative face wants include the desire for autonomy, freedom from imposition, and respect for personal boundaries
Face-Saving Strategies in Communication
Positive and Negative Politeness Strategies
- strategies aim to enhance the positive face of the interlocutor
- Examples include complimenting, showing interest, or expressing agreement
- Using inclusive language (we, us) or highlighting common ground can enhance positive face
- strategies aim to minimize threats to the negative face of the interlocutor
- Examples include using indirect requests, apologizing, or providing options
- Using (perhaps, maybe) or giving the interlocutor an "out" can minimize negative face threats
Indirect and Direct Communication Strategies
- Off-record strategies involve indirect communication that allows the speaker to avoid direct face-threatening acts
- Examples include hinting, using metaphors, or being intentionally vague
- Indirect strategies allow for plausible deniability and reduce the risk of direct face threats
- Bald on-record strategies involve direct communication without any attempt to mitigate face threats
- Examples include giving orders or making blunt statements
- These strategies are often used in urgent situations or when the power differential is significant
- Footing shifts involve changes in the speaker's alignment or stance towards the interlocutor or the content of the conversation
- Footing shifts can be used to manage face threats by adjusting the level of directness or indirectness in communication
- Examples include shifting from a serious to a joking tone or from a personal to a professional stance
Cultural Influence on Politeness
Individualistic vs Collectivistic Cultures
- Individualistic cultures tend to prioritize negative face wants and value personal autonomy
- Examples of individualistic cultures include the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia
- In these cultures, direct communication and individual rights are often emphasized
- Collectivistic cultures tend to prioritize positive face wants and value group harmony
- Examples of collectivistic cultures include Japan, China, and South Korea
- In these cultures, indirect communication and maintaining social relationships are often prioritized
High-Context vs Low-Context Cultures
- High-context cultures rely more on indirect communication and implicit meanings
- Examples of high-context cultures include Japan, China, and Arab countries
- In these cultures, face-saving strategies often involve reading between the lines and interpreting nonverbal cues
- Low-context cultures rely more on direct communication and explicit meanings
- Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Germany, and Scandinavian countries
- In these cultures, face-saving strategies often involve clear and direct expressions of needs and wants
Power Distance, Gender Roles, and Age in Politeness Norms
- , or the extent to which a culture accepts and expects power differences, influences the use of politeness strategies between individuals of different social status
- In high power distance cultures (Malaysia, Mexico), subordinates are expected to use more deferential politeness strategies towards superiors
- In low power distance cultures (Austria, Denmark), there is less emphasis on status-based politeness
- Gender roles and expectations can impact politeness norms
- In some cultures, women are expected to use more hedging (kind of, sort of) or apologizing compared to men
- Gender-based politeness norms can reflect and reinforce societal power dynamics
- Age and seniority often influence politeness expectations
- In many cultures, younger individuals are expected to show deference and respect to older individuals
- Examples include using honorifics (sir, ma'am) or avoiding direct disagreement with elders
Politeness Strategies for Mitigation
Assessing Face Wants and Face Threats
- Identify the specific positive and negative face wants of the interlocutor based on the social context and relationship
- Consider factors such as power distance, social distance, and cultural background
- Adapt politeness strategies to prioritize the most relevant face wants in a given situation
- Assess the severity of the potential face threat based on factors such as power distance, social distance, and the degree of imposition
- More severe face threats (asking for a significant favor) may require more elaborate politeness strategies
- Less severe face threats (making a small request) may be managed with simpler politeness strategies
Selecting Appropriate Politeness Strategies
- Select appropriate positive politeness strategies to enhance the interlocutor's positive face
- Examples include showing interest, expressing agreement, or offering compliments
- Positive politeness strategies can help build rapport and maintain social relationships
- Use negative politeness strategies to minimize threats to the interlocutor's negative face
- Examples include using indirect requests, providing options, or apologizing for the imposition
- Negative politeness strategies can help demonstrate respect for the interlocutor's autonomy and freedom of choice
- Consider off-record strategies for sensitive or high-stakes situations
- Off-record strategies allow for plausible deniability and reduce the risk of direct face threats
- Examples include hinting at a request or using a metaphor to express a criticism
Adjusting Footing and Alignment
- Adjust footing and alignment as needed throughout the interaction to manage face concerns and maintain rapport with the interlocutor
- Shift footing from a serious to a joking tone to defuse a tense situation
- Align with the interlocutor's perspective to demonstrate empathy and understanding
- Monitor the interlocutor's responses and adjust politeness strategies accordingly
- If the interlocutor seems uncomfortable or offended, try a different politeness strategy
- If the interlocutor responds positively, continue using similar politeness strategies to maintain rapport
Key Terms to Review (19)
Conversational implicature: Conversational implicature refers to the implied meanings that arise during communication, which are not explicitly stated but can be understood from context and shared knowledge. This concept highlights how speakers often convey more than what they say outright, relying on social cues, tone, and the situation to imply meanings. It plays a crucial role in effective communication, shaping how messages are interpreted in social interactions.
Discourse markers: Discourse markers are words or phrases used in conversation to manage the flow of dialogue, signal relationships between ideas, or express the speaker's attitude. They help in organizing speech and making it coherent, serving as cues for listeners to follow along. By employing discourse markers, speakers can navigate politeness and face-saving strategies, as well as enhance coherence in their communication.
Erving Goffman: Erving Goffman was a Canadian sociologist known for his work on social interaction, particularly his theories about the presentation of self in everyday life. His insights into how individuals manage their identities and the impressions they create have significant implications for understanding language, identity, politeness, and communication in various contexts, including social media. Goffman's work emphasizes how individuals perform roles in different social settings and the importance of maintaining one's 'face' in interactions.
Euphemism: A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one that may be considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. This linguistic strategy is often employed to soften the impact of unpleasant truths, making communication more palatable while also preserving social harmony. Euphemisms play a significant role in politeness and face-saving strategies, as they allow individuals to address sensitive subjects without causing embarrassment or discomfort to others.
Face Theory: Face theory is a concept in sociolinguistics that addresses how individuals manage their social identity and self-esteem during interactions, focusing on the notion of 'face' which refers to a person's social image. This theory plays a crucial role in understanding politeness strategies and how people navigate social situations to maintain their own face while respecting others' face, especially in situations that may threaten social harmony.
Face-threatening act: A face-threatening act refers to any communication that challenges or undermines an individual's self-esteem or social identity, potentially causing embarrassment or loss of dignity. This concept is crucial in understanding how people navigate interactions and maintain their social relationships, as it ties closely to the ways individuals perform speech acts and manage conversational implicature, while also highlighting the importance of politeness strategies that can mitigate threats to one's face.
Facework: Facework refers to the communicative strategies used to manage one's own and others' social identities or 'faces' in interactions. It plays a vital role in maintaining respect and politeness, as individuals navigate social situations while trying to avoid embarrassment or loss of dignity. Effective facework helps in negotiating relationships and fostering a positive social atmosphere.
Hedges: Hedges are linguistic expressions used to indicate uncertainty, politeness, or to soften statements, making them less direct and more tentative. They help in managing social interactions by allowing speakers to navigate sensitive topics while maintaining the listener's face or dignity, and they also contribute to the coherence of discourse by signaling the degree of commitment to a statement.
High-context culture: A high-context culture is one where communication relies heavily on implicit messages, social cues, and the surrounding context rather than direct words. In these cultures, understanding is often achieved through shared experiences and relationships, making non-verbal cues, tone, and body language essential to effective interaction. This type of communication influences how individuals navigate social norms, personal space, and professional interactions.
Low-context culture: A low-context culture is one where communication is direct, explicit, and relies heavily on verbal expression. In these cultures, the message is clear and straightforward, often prioritizing clarity and efficiency over subtlety or implied meanings. This style of communication is often seen in individualistic societies where people tend to value personal autonomy and clarity in interactions, making it essential for understanding social dynamics, personal space preferences, and effective business communication.
Mitigation: Mitigation refers to strategies and techniques used to soften or reduce the impact of a potentially face-threatening act in communication. This involves carefully choosing language and behavior to preserve social harmony and protect the self-esteem of individuals involved in the interaction. It plays a crucial role in how people navigate social relationships, often leading to a more positive and constructive dialogue.
Modal verbs: Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. They play a significant role in softening requests and statements, making communication more polite and socially acceptable. In legal contexts, modal verbs can indicate obligations or permissions, shaping the interpretation of laws and agreements.
Negative Politeness: Negative politeness refers to a communication strategy that aims to avoid imposing on the listener, thereby showing respect for their autonomy and desire not to be disturbed. It involves indirectness, hedging, and the use of mitigated language to reduce the potential threat to the listener's face. This strategy is often used in situations where there is a social distance or power imbalance, emphasizing the speaker's consideration for the listener's feelings and social standing.
Penelope Brown: Penelope Brown is a prominent linguist known for her work on politeness theory and discourse analysis. Her research, particularly in collaboration with Stephen Levinson, has significantly contributed to understanding how people navigate social interactions while managing their self-image and the image of others, which is critical when discussing politeness and face-saving strategies.
Politeness Theory: Politeness theory is a framework that examines how individuals manage social interactions by mitigating face-threatening acts and maintaining their self-image and the image of others in communication. It emphasizes the concept of 'face,' which refers to a person's self-esteem or social value, and how language use can either support or undermine it. This theory is vital for understanding how people navigate conversations, showing respect and consideration while managing differing social identities.
Positive politeness: Positive politeness is a communication strategy used to enhance social cohesion and express friendliness in interactions, often by emphasizing shared interests, camaraderie, and solidarity. This approach helps speakers maintain the 'positive face' of their conversational partners, which is the desire to be liked and accepted. Positive politeness can be seen in various speech acts and involves making connections that foster rapport while also incorporating face-saving strategies that help prevent embarrassment or discomfort during conversations.
Power Distance: Power distance is a cultural dimension that reflects the extent to which less powerful members of society defer to and accept the unequal distribution of power within social and organizational hierarchies. It influences communication styles, authority dynamics, and the way individuals perceive their roles in interactions, especially in contexts involving politeness and face-saving strategies.
Status markers: Status markers are linguistic and non-linguistic cues that indicate a person's social position or identity within a specific context. These markers can include language choices, forms of address, and other behaviors that reflect and reinforce social hierarchies. Understanding status markers is crucial for navigating social interactions, particularly in situations where politeness and face-saving strategies come into play.
Stephen Levinson: Stephen Levinson is a prominent linguist known for his work on pragmatics, particularly in relation to language use and politeness. His research has significantly contributed to the understanding of how speakers manage social relationships through language, emphasizing the concepts of 'face' and politeness strategies in communication. Levinson's work connects deeply with the ways in which people navigate social interactions while preserving their own and others' self-esteem.