Politeness Theory:

By brown and lavinson:

Brown and levinson proposed Politeness theory in 1987. According to Brown and Levinson (1987),
politeness is the way to convey the utterance as polite as possible which in this case is needed to
minimize conflict with others.

Face:

The term face has been established in the late 1960s by the American sociologist Erving Goffman. Brown
and levinson added this concept of face to their politeness theory.

It is defined by Goffman as an image of the self which depends on both the rules and values of a
particular society and the situation the social interaction is embedded in. It hence mirrors the way a
person wants to be perceived by others in his surrounding space.

In the maintaining face, every person has two aims;

Saving their own face

Saving other’s face

Types of faces:

Positive face:

It refers to our need to be accepted and like by others and our need to feel that our social group share
common goals.

Negative face:

It refers to our right of independence of action and our need not to be imposed on by others.

Politeness principle

The principle whose purpose is to consider other’s feelings and establish level of mutual comfort.

FTA:

A face threatening act is an act that inherently damages the face of the addressee or the speaker by
acting in opposition to the wants and desires of the other.

 Face threatening acts can be verbal (using words/language), paraverbal (conveyed in the characteristics

of speech such as tone, inflection, etc.), or non-verbal (facial expression, etc.). 

Negative FTA:

Those face threatening acts which threaten negative face.

Positive FTA:

Those FTAs which threaten the positive face of interlocutors.

FTAs Threatening the Hearer’s Face
Positive Face
FTAs threaten the hearer’s self-image.a
It includes;
Disapproval

Criticism

Complaints

Accusations

Contradictions

Disagreements etc., 

Negative Face
FTAs restricting the hearer’s personal freedom include;
(i) acts predicating a future act of the hearer, e.g.
orders/requests
suggestions/advice
reminding
threats/warnings/dares
(ii) acts predicating a future act of the speaker towards the hearer, e.g.
offers/promises
(iii) acts expressing a desire of the speaker towards the hearer or his/her goods, e.g. compliments
expressions of emotions.
FTAs Threatening the Speaker’s Face
Positive Face
FTAs threatening the speaker’s self-image include;
Apologies
Acceptance of a compliment
Breakdown of physical/emotional control
Self-humiliation
Confession etc.
Negative Face
FTAs threatening the speaker’s personal freedom include;
Expression of thanks
Acceptance of thanks/offers/compliments
Apologies
Excuses etc.