Positive & Negative Politeness Cultures

2. Positive&NegativePoliteness Cultures A presentation by Rosie McAndrew

3. POSITIVE NEGATIVE POLITENESS Cultures VALUE Solidarity, closeness, sharing Distance, separateness, privacy Respectthe other person’sbasic need notto be imposed on Respect the other person’s basic need to be involvedand relied on SO REQUESTS, IMPERATIVES, INVITATIONS tend to be very direct, tend to be indirect; withlots of softeners

4. You are on a train; a stranger asks you to close the window. Which of the following would you feel most comfortable with? To you, does the first sound: a) friendly, direct, straightforward? Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive? And does the second sound: I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate? b) patronising, hypocritical?

5. In apositivepoliteness culture, the first sounds: a) friendly, direct, straightforward. Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive. I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate. b) patronising, hypocritical.

6. In apositivepoliteness culture, the first sounds: a) friendly, direct, straightforward. Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive. I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate. b) patronising, hypocritical.

7. In apositivepoliteness culture, the first sounds: a) friendly, direct, straightforward. Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive. I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate? b) patronising, hypocritical?

8. In apositivepoliteness culture, the first sounds: a) friendly, direct, straightforward. Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive. In anegativepoliteness culture, the second sounds: I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate? b) patronising, hypocritical?

9. In apositivepoliteness culture, the first sounds: a) friendly, direct, straightforward. Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive. In anegativepoliteness culture, the second sounds: I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate. b) patronising, hypocritical.

10. In apositivepoliteness culture, the first sounds: a) friendly, direct, straightforward. Can you shut the window? b) rude, presumptuous, aggressive. In anegativepoliteness culture, the second sounds: I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? a) respectful, considerate. b) patronising, hypocritical.

11. Can you shut the window? I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window?

12. Can you shut the window? I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window?

13. I was wondering if you would mind shutting the window? Can you shut the window? Would you mind shutting the window? You couldn’t shut the window, could you? Could you possibly shut the window? Whichever form we use, we are concerned with protecting ourown or the other person’s positive or negative ‘face’ - the need to be involved and relied on, or the need not to be imposed on.

14. Look at these sentences: Repeat, please. You’re wrong Let me speak That wasn’t clear You’ve misunderstood me Which culture do you think they belong to?

15. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story Match each one with 2 versions on the right:

17. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

18. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

19. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

20. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

21. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

22. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

23. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

24. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

25. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

26. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

27. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

28. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

29. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

30. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

31. Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story Now, what is the key difference between these three?

32. And between these? Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

33. And between these? Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

34. And between these? Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

35. And between these? Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant. Could I just say something here? Repeat, please. I’d just like to come in here, if I may You’re wrong Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that Let me speak I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that That wasn’t clear Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear You’ve misunderstood me I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

36. Now, let’s examine all the more ‘Negative Politeness’ forms:

37. Well, that wasn’tquitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story Can you identify the ‘softeners’ in this group?

38. Well, that wasn’tquitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

39. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

40. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

41. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

42. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

43. Well, that wasn’tquitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

44. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

45. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

46. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

47. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

48. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

49. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’t make myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story

50. Well, that wasn’t quitewhat I meant. Could I just say something here? I’d just like to come in here, if I may Could you say that again, please? I didn’t quite grasp that I didn’t quite catch that There may be another way of looking at that Perhaps I didn’tmake myself quite clear I’m not quite sure what you mean I’m not sure that’s the whole story