May I have This Dance

Dave: When you come over Friday, I can show you the videos of our last family vacation.

• Positive Politeness:

• Dave: When you come over Friday, I can show you the videos of our last family vacation.
• Sue: Oh, I really look forward to seeing them. It’s so wonderful when we get to spend time like that with our families, isn’t it? I’ll bring the popcorn!

Negative politeness attends to the hearer’s desire to have freedom of action unhindered.

• Negative Politeness

• Negative politeness attends to the hearer’s desire to have freedom of action unhindered.

Hedging (You could do that)

• Negative Politeness:

• Hedging (You could do that)
• Showing pessimism (These problems are hard to solve)
• Minimizing imposition (Just change that number)
• Using modals (I think that is right)
• Apologizing (I’m sorry—let’s do that one again)

Dave: I’m thinking of giving up my job in sales and training to become an astronaut

• Negative Politeness

• Dave: I’m thinking of giving up my job in sales and training to become an astronaut
• Sue: You know, Dave, I think you would need to have some kind of scientific qualifications and aeronautical experience, but your background is in retail, so I’m just not sure you ought to do that. You might want to check this idea out before you give up your job.

By visiting the learning center, students leave themselves vulnerable to imposition by allowing tutors to help determine the direction of their class work and study habits.

• Learning Center as Face-Threatening Act:

• By visiting the learning center, students leave themselves vulnerable to imposition by allowing tutors to help determine the direction of their class work and study habits.
• Students leave themselves open to criticism of their work, and by extension, their learning skills.