PAPER

POLITENESS

Arranged by:
Amelia (2020203888203041)
Nur Fadhilah Bahar (2020203888203050)

Written to Fulfill the Assignment of the Discourse Analysis

Magdahalena Support Lecturer M.Hum

ENGLISH EDUCATION PROGRAM

TARBIYAH FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC INSTITUTE
PAREPARE

2023
 PREFACE

Assalamu’alaikum warahamatullahi wabarakatu

First of all, the writer would like to express our best regard to God Allah Swt. the lord of

this world, the master of judgment day, and the creator of this universe who has been giving us

beautiful life, long life, so the writers for finishing this paper entitled Politeness in English

Education Program of Tarbiyah Faculty of State Islamic Institute of Parepare. Secondly,

shalawat and salam to the prophet Muhammad Saw. who replaced flag paganism with flags of

Islam on this earth and brought us from uneducational people to educational person.

This paper is not merely the writer's work because it has been improved by several

people around the writer who advise and guide by providing comments and suggestions to

improve it. The writers realize that in writing there are some mistakes.

Parepare, 12 Juneth 2023 Group 9, -

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
A. Background
Politeness discourse analysis is a field of study that explores the use of language in polite
interactions and examines how politeness is achieved, negotiated, and understood within specific
discourse contexts. It involves analyzing linguistic strategies, speech acts, conversational
patterns, and the underlying social dynamics that shape polite discourse. Politeness discourse
analysis draws upon theories and frameworks from sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and discourse
analysis to uncover the intricate ways in which politeness is enacted through language.
Politeness is described as a social norm, or a set of prescriptive social 'rules'. Many
linguists have aimed to research politeness, including Brown and Levinson (1987), who
developed their 'face theory' based on the principles of our desire to be liked and to not be
imposed upon.
Politeness is the expression of the speaker’s intention to mitigate face threats carried by
certain face-threatening acts toward another (Mills, 2003, p.6). Being polite therefore consists of
attempting to be safe for another. Politeness theory states that some speech acts threaten other’s
facial needs. First formulated in 1987 by Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson, politeness
theory has since expanded academia’s perception of politeness (Mills, 2003). This text has
influenced almost all of the theoretical and analytical work in this field (Mills,2003, p.57).
B. Formulation Of Problem
1. What is politeness?
2. What is negative politeness?
3. What is positive politeness?
4. What is the maxim of politeness?
5. What is the social basis of conversational principles?

C. Purpose
To find out what it is negative politeness, positive politeness, the maxim of politeness,
the social basis of conversational principles.

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 CHAPTER II

DISCUSS

1. Politeness
Crystal (1997: 297) believes that politeness, in Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics, is a term
that signifies linguistic features associated with norms of social behavior, in relation to
notions like courtesy, rapport, deference and distance. Such features involve the usage of
specific discourse markers (please), suitable tones of voice, and tolerable forms of address (e.g.
The choice of intimate v. distant pronouns, or of first v. last names).
Gleason & Ratner (1998:286)perceive that politeness means acting so as to take care of
the feelings of others and involves both those actions associated with positive face (the wish to
be approved of) and negative face (the wish to be free from the imposition, unimpeded, or left
alone).
Lakoff (1990: 34) defines politeness as ''a system of interpersonal relations designed to
facilitate interaction by minimizing the potential for conflict and confrontation inherent in all
human interchange ''

2. Negative Politeness
According to Brown and Levinson (1987) negative politeness is “the heart of respect
behavior” and it is “more specific and focused”. Negative politeness consists of: be
conventionally indirect; question, hedge; be pessimistic; minimize the imposition; give
deference; apologize; impersonalize speaker and hearer state the FTAs as an instance of a
general rule’ nominalize and go on record as not incurring a debt or as not indebting hearer.
For example:
a) Question, Hedge
“Could I borrow your vacuum cleaner for just an hour?”
b) Apologize
“I’m sorry to bother you.”

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3. Positive Politeness
Positive politeness strategy is usually seen in groups of friends, or where people
know each other fairly well. Brown and Levinson (1987) state that positive politeness
strategy attempts to attend the hearer’s interest, wants, and goods. Positive politeness
strategies consist of: notice, attend to hearer; exaggerate; intensify interest to the hearer; use
in-group identity marker; seek agreement; avoid disagreement; presuppose/ rise / assert
common ground; joke; conveying that the speaker and the hearer are cooperators; assert or
presuppose speaker’s knowledge of and concerns for hearer’s wants; offer, promise; be
optimistic; include both speaker and hearer in the activity; give or ask for reason; assume or
assert reciprocity: fulfilling hearer’s wants; and give gifts to the hearer.
For example:
a) be optimistic; include both speaker and hearer in the activity
“Amel, I need the vacuum cleaner right away!”

4. The Maxim of Politeness

The maxim of politeness refers to a set of underlying principles or guidelines that govern
polite discourse. These principles, proposed by various scholars, include politeness maxims such
as tact, generosity, approbation, modesty, agreement, and sympathy. They serve as guiding
principles for selecting and implementing politeness strategies in different communicative
situations.
A very general formulation of Leech’s Politeness Principle is as follows:

 Minimize (other things being equal) the expression of impolite beliefs.

 Maximize (other things being equal) the expression of polite beliefs.

Leech’s Politeness Principle is described as a set of maxims that speakers assume are
following:

 Tact Maxim
Minimize cost to other [maximize benefit to other]
 Generosity Maxim
Minimize benefit to self [maximize cost to self]
You must come and have dinner with us.

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 *We must come and have dinner with you.
 Approbation Maxim
Minimize dispraise of other [maximize praise of other]
Dhilah performance was outstanding
*Dhilah performance was not so good as it might have been.
 Modesty Maxim
Minimize praise of self [maximize dispraise of self]
How stupid of me!
*How clever of me!
 Agreement Maxim
Minimize disagreement between self and other [maximize agreement between self and
other]
Amel : It is an interesting Vocation, wasn’t it?
Dhilah : Yes, definitely.
Dhilah: *No, it was very uninteresting.
 Sympathy Maxim
Minimize antipathy between self and other [maximize sympathy between self and other]
I’m terribly sorry to hear that your grandfather died.
*I’m terribly pleased to hear that your grandfather died.

5. The Social Basis Of Conversational Principles

The conflict between the cooperative and politeness principles can be explained in terms
of the two major purposes of human interaction:
 act efficiently with other people
 to create/maintain social relationships
There are situations and relationships where one of these purposes is more dominant and
the other is of little significance.
e.g.
1. paramedics trying to get to an injured person on the site of an accident shouts at the
gathered crowd:
‘Out of the way!’

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 2. A passer-by who arrives at the scene tries to look at the injured person through the crowd
with little success, so he shouts:
‘Out of the way!’

Brown and Levinson (1978) having studied the politeness phenomena in a number of
languages and cultures suggest that the origin of politeness principles are the same in all societies
All societies have principles to ensure that social relations are maintained
However, what is acceptable/tolerant in one society may be very different from another
e.g.
 the length of silent pauses during conversations
 acceptance/refusal of offers
 reactions to compliments

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 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, politeness discourse analysis is a valuable field of study that sheds light on
the use of language in polite interactions. Through the analysis of negative politeness, positive
politeness, the maxim of politeness, and the social basis of conversational principles, we gain
insights into the intricate ways in which politeness is enacted and understood in discourse.

Negative politeness strategies aim to mitigate face threats and preserve others' autonomy,
while positive politeness strategies aim to establish solidarity and enhance social bonds. The
maxim of politeness provides underlying principles that guide the selection and implementation
of politeness strategies. The social basis of conversational principles highlights the influence of
power dynamics, social roles, cultural expectations, and contextual factors on politeness in
discourse.

Understanding politeness discourse analysis is valuable for effective communication and

intercultural understanding. It equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate
politeness expectations, adapt communication styles, and promote positive social interactions.
Further research in this field can contribute to the development of strategies that foster inclusive
and respectful communication across diverse contexts and cultures.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, Penelope and Stephen C. Levinson. Politeness: some Universal in Language Usage.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.1987
POLITENESS: LINGUISTIC STUDY, Iman Kareem Mansoor, College of Science for Women
University of Baghdad Baghdad, Iraq. International Journal of Research in social Sciences and
Humanities (IJRSSH) 2018, Vol. No. 8, Issue No. IV, Oct-Dec
https://www.scribd.com/document/580110397/Leech-Politeness-Principles
https://sites.google.com/a/sheffield.ac.uk/aal2013/branches/pragmatics/example-research-face-
theory-and-politeness
https://repository.uinjkt.ac.id/dspace/bitstream/123456789/3182/1/91729-MUHAMMAD
%20IHSAN%20FAUZI-FAH.pdf

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