Politeness theory

• Who came up with the politeness theory?

  Brown and Levinson
• What are the two types of face?

  Positive and negative
• What is the positive face?

  An individual's desire to be liked and appreciated by others
• What is the negative face?

  An individual's desire to protect their personal rights
• Positive face: An individual's desire to be liked and appreciated by others
• Negative face: An individual's desire to protect their personal rights
• What does it mean to appeal to someone's positive face?

  Making the individual feel good about themselves
• What does it mean to appeal to someone's negative face?

  Making the individual feel they haven't been imposed on
• What is a face threatening act?

  When communication can damage a person's sense of face or affect the needs/desires of someone's positive and negative face
• What is the effect of positive face threatening acts on the listener?

  Can criticise or insult them
• What is the effect of positive face threatening acts on the speaker?

  Damaging
• What is the effect of negative face threatening acts on the listener?

  Restricts personal freedoms and pressurises the listener