Questions and Answers
What does Politeness Theory explain?
What are the assumptions of Politeness Theory?
Individuals are concerned with maintaining face, humans are rational and goal-oriented regarding face, and some behaviors are fundamentally face-threatening.
What is 'face' in the context of Politeness Theory?
One's desired self-image.
What is 'positive face'?
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What is 'negative face'?
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What are face-threatening acts?
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What is the purpose of facework?
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What does preventive facework involve?
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What is corrective facework?
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Which of the following are ways to threaten someone's face?
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What is avoidance in the context of face-threatening acts?
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What does 'off-record' communication entail?
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What is negative politeness?
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What is positive politeness?
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What is bald on record?
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What factors influence what facework strategy to use?
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Study Notes
Politeness Theory Overview
- Politeness Theory examines how individuals manage face in social interactions, especially during potentially embarrassing situations.
- It focuses on maintaining and protecting both one’s own and others’ identities through communication strategies.
Key Assumptions
- Maintaining face is a universal concern for all individuals.
- People act rationally and with goals in mind when considering face.
- Certain behaviors can inherently threaten face and provoke discomfort.
Concept of Face
- Face refers to an individual's desired self-image and public persona in social contexts.
Positive Face
- Positive face reflects the need for being liked, appreciated, and admired by select individuals.
Negative Face
- Negative face encapsulates the desire for personal freedom, acting without external constraints or interference.
Face Threatening Acts (FTAs)
- FTAs include actions such as apologies, compliments, criticisms, requests, and threats that can jeopardize one's face.
Facework Strategies
- Facework involves specific messages that mitigate or counteract the effects of FTAs.
Preventive Facework
- Preventive facework strategies include avoiding sensitive topics, changing the subject, or pretension to ignore an FTA to prevent embarrassment.
Corrective Facework
- Corrective facework consists of messages aimed at restoring face after an FTA occurs, such as humor, apologies, and explanations.
Strategies for Threatening Face
- Common strategies include:
- Avoidance
- Off-record communication
- Negative politeness
- Positive politeness
- Bald on record
Avoidance
- Avoidance involves not communicating in ways that could embarrass or jeopardize someone’s face.
Off-record
- Off-record communication hints at face-threatening topics indirectly, leaving room for personal interpretation.
Negative Politeness
- This strategy considers the other's negative face needs and often includes apologies to enhance freedom.
Positive Politeness
- Positive politeness focuses on fulfilling the receiver’s need for approval and affections, often via compliments or flattery.
Bald on Record
- Bald on record communication disregards the other’s face, directly committing an FTA without protective measures.
Factors Influencing Politeness Strategies
- Decision on what politeness strategy to use depends on factors such as wealth, title, power dynamics between individuals, and the potential risk of offending someone.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of Politeness Theory through interactive flashcards. Understand how individuals manage face, identity, and politeness strategies in social interactions. Ideal for students or anyone looking to enhance their communication skills.