Topic 12 - Meaning between the lines (Session B) > Politeness and impoliteness > Task D

Politeness and impoliteness

Task D - Scales of politeness / impoliteness

Politeness and impoliteness clearly involve choices, both linguistic (how you say something) and non-linguistic (whether or not you decide to help/hinder someone or praise/criticise/show interest in them).

Below are a number of different expressions that could be used in an attempt to achieve the same effect (i.e. by interfering with the negative face wants of someone who smokes cigarettes – or in other words to perform a Face-Threatening Act [FTA] towards them).

First, arrange the expressions into what you think is the correct order in terms of politeness / impoliteness by dragging them and dropping them into the scale below and comparing your ordering with what we think. This exercise should have the positive benefit of being more aware of how to be more greasy when you need to!

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