Maxims, Faces, and Politeness

By Janpha Thadphoothon

Contents Outline

• Chapter I: The 4 Conversational Maxims
• Chapter II: Why Do People Flout Maxims?
• Chapter III: The Notion of Face (Positive vs. Negative)
• Chapter IV: Politeness Strategies (Brown & Levinson)
• Chapter V: Classroom Activity & Exercises

Chapter I

The Four Maxims

Communication relies on shared principles that allow participants to make sense of one another. Gricean principles categorize these into four primary maxims:

1. Quantity

Give the right amount of information—neither too much nor too little.

2. Quality

Tell the truth. Do not say what you believe to be false or lack adequate evidence for.

3. Relation

Be relevant. Make your contributions directly connected to the ongoing discourse.

4. Manner

Be clear, orderly, and logical. Avoid ambiguity and unnecessary obscurity.

Chapter II

Flouting of Maxims

In real-world communication, speakers frequently choose not to adhere strictly to these principles. Why do people flout maxims?

• Flouting Quantity: Sometimes we intentionally provide too little or too much detail to hint at something unstated or obscure facts.
• Flouting Quality: Sometimes speakers lie, use sarcasm, or exaggerate rather than stating the literal truth.
• Flouting Relation: Speakers may evade a direct question, change the subject, or provide non-answers to avoid conflict.
• Flouting Manner: People occasionally mix up the chronological or logical order to soften an impact or create humor.

"Politeness often requires flouting: giving compliments can violate Quality (not being completely truthful), while polite indirect requests often violate Quantity and Manner."

Chapter III

Positive Face and Negative Face

Everybody has a "face"—a public self-image that can be supported or threatened in interaction:

Positive Face

The desire to be liked, admired, approved of, and accepted (e.g., wanting validation or "likes").

Face-Threatening Act (FTA)

"I bought a new bag." (Can provoke comparison or loss of approval).

Negative Face

The desire for autonomy, freedom of action, and not being imposed upon or constrained.

Face-Threatening Act (FTA)

"Do not smoke here." (Directly restricts personal liberty).

Chapter IV

Politeness Strategies

Formulated by Brown and Levinson (1978), politeness strategies are methods used to save the hearer's face when Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) are inevitable:

1. Bald On-Record

A direct, concise, and unambiguous way of saying things without minimizing the imposition (e.g., following conversational maxims directly).

Example: "Do it!"

2. Positive Politeness

A strategy aimed at making the hearer feel a sense of closeness, solidarity, and belonging.

• Attend to hearer's interests, needs, and wants: "You look sad. Can I do anything?"
• Use identity/solidarity markers: "Hey, mate, can you lend me a dollar?"
• Include both speaker and hearer: "If we help each other, I guess we'll sink or swim together." / "We should work harder."
• Offer/Promise: "If you wash the dishes, I'll vacuum the floor."
• Giving compliments: "What a nice watch you have!"

3. Negative Politeness

A way to interact with the hearer in a respectful, non-imposing manner.

• Be indirect / use polite requests: "Could you please close the door?"
• Use hedges and questions: "Perhaps he might have taken it, maybe."
• Minimize imposition: "It's not too much out of your way, just a couple of blocks."
• Be pessimistic / apologetic: "So I suppose some help is out of the question, then?"
• Obviating structures and questions: "Would you know where Oxford Street is?"

4. Off-Record (Indirect)

Language that removes direct responsibility from the speaker, leaving interpretation open to the hearer.

Example: "It's a bit too warm here in this room, don't you think?"
(Instead of directly commanding: "Go and switch on the air-con!")

Chapter V

Practical Application

📝 Classroom Roleplay Task

Instructions:

• Form a group of three.
• Context: A manager is tasked with firing an employee.
• Task: Act out the dialogue employing all 4 politeness strategies (Bald on-record, Positive politeness, Negative politeness, and Off-record).
• Preparation Time: 10 minutes before presenting to the class.

Summary: Maxims (4 Principles) • Flouting of Maxims • Positive & Negative Face • Politeness Strategies

Adapted from course materials by Janpha Thadphoothon.

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