Politeness Strategies in Teacher-Student Conversations in the University of Ilorin
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Date
2018
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Faculty of Arts, Federal University Lafiya, Nasarawa State
Abstract
Politeness is a universal phenomenon which serves as a means of avoiding conflict and promoting smooth communication among interlocutors in the face of complex interactions in the society. This paper therefore examines how politeness operates within the university milieu amongst interlocutors composed of teachers and students. A total of thirty oral discourses were selected between the interlocutors from various strategic locations in the University of Ilorin. Leaning on Brown and Levinson’s Face-threatening acts, Leech’s politeness principle maxims and Thomas’s politeness strategies, the thirty identified conversations were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to reveal amongst other findings, that face-threatening acts, which underlie impoliteness are frequently used in the conversations. The asymmetric relationships between the interlocutors result in the frequent use of these face-threatening acts, mainly bald on record which is mostly used by the lecturers towards the students. The paper concludes that the increase in the upholding of politeness principle maxims by both interlocutors, especially the lecturers will go a long way to enhance smooth interactions and maintenance of harmonious relationships among discourse participants. In addition, the appreciation of individual self-worth in the university environment will be significantly enhanced if these politeness principle maxims are upheld.
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Keywords
Politeness principles, Politeness strategies, Power relationship, University of Ilorin