NEGATIVE POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN ENGLISH AND ARMENIAN CULTURES

Authors

  • Marine Yaghubyan Yerevan State University
  • Gayane Savoyan Yerevan State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46991/FLHE.2025.29.1.061

Keywords:

negative politeness, cross-cultural pragmatics, face-to-face communication, speech act, face-threatening acts, communicative act

Abstract

A variety of techniques, including language use, are required to convey social relationships between individuals in a polite manner. Being courteous can demonstrate respect, solve issues, and maintain social distance. There is a concept of politeness in every language and culture in the world. Cross-cultural communication often results in misunderstandings due to differing politeness norms and expectations. The fundamental mechanism of human relationships is revealed by positive and negative politeness, which is based on the opposing behaviors of communicants during the communication process: rapprochement and distance. The proportion of positive to negative politeness varies among people. Furthermore, we express politeness in language and behavior in different ways. The purpose of this study is to examine impoliteness strategies in Armenian and English cultures and determine how they relate to one another. Being polite involves both verbal and nonverbal cues. The social structure of the society in which the languages are used and the role models in their socially motivated behavior have a significant impact on an individual's ability to be versatile in multiple languages. The true maxims are predicated on basic pragmatic communications, which form the foundation for the intricacy of relationships. The study shows that both languages exhibit comparable patterns of strategic use. Linguistic differences, rather than cultural, account for some significant differences between languages.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-25

Issue

Section

Linguistics