What role do speech acts play in politeness theory?

In politeness theory, speech acts are central to understanding how individuals manage social relationships and maintain face (a concept referring to a person’s self-image in a conversation). Developed by sociolinguists Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson, the theory distinguishes between two primary types of politeness strategies: positive politeness and negative politeness. Speech acts—such as requests, offers, apologies, compliments, and refusals—are the tools people use to execute these strategies and navigate social norms.

Here’s how speech acts relate to politeness theory:

1. Face-threatening Acts (FTAs): Many speech acts are inherently face-threatening, meaning they can potentially damage either the speaker’s or the listener’s “face.” For example, a direct request can threaten the listener’s negative face (the desire to be free from imposition), while a command might threaten their positive face (the desire for approval and appreciation). Politeness strategies are employed to mitigate this threat.
2. Positive Politeness: This strategy is used to preserve the listener’s positive face (their self-image and need for approval). Speech acts that express camaraderie, solidarity, or affection (e.g., “Would you mind helping me, please?” or “I really appreciate your help”) are examples of positive politeness, as they seek to reinforce shared identity and closeness.
3. Negative Politeness: This strategy is aimed at preserving the listener’s negative face (their need for autonomy and freedom from imposition). Speech acts that mitigate the impact of a request, such as hedging or apologizing (e.g., “Sorry to bother you, but could you…”), serve to avoid encroaching on the listener’s space.
4. Indirectness and Mitigation: One way speech acts are often made more polite is through indirectness. Instead of a direct request (e.g., “Give me that book”), someone might use a softer, more indirect speech act (e.g., “Could you possibly give me that book?”). Indirect speech acts help to reduce the threat to the listener’s face.
5. Strategies to Avoid FTAs: People often use strategies like downgrading (e.g., “I’m not sure if you can, but…”) or pre-emptive politeness (e.g., “I know you’re busy, but…”) to soften their speech acts and avoid creating discomfort or social awkwardness.