What is (im)politeness?
Politeness- best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette; culturally defined
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Impoliteness- display of disrespect by not complying with the social norms or etiquette of a group or culture
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Jonathan Culpeper
According the Culpeper's article on (Im)politness, there are two approaches to politeness:
Social Norm and Pragmatic View
Social Norm and Pragmatic View
Social Norm
Prescriptive Social Norm
Experiential or Descriptive Social Norms
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Pragmatic View
"...how we employ communicative strategies to maintain or promote social harmony" (Culpeper, p.525)
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Impoliteness
- engaging in aggressive face work
- attack another's face
- "...not dependent on participants' actual intentions" (Culpeper, p.534)
- "...if you think someone intends to offend you, you are likely to take as an offensive attack" (Culpeper, p.534)
- rules out mock impoliteness
- swear words