Social Status and Politeness: Apology based on the Theory of 'Face'

Document Type : Research original ,Regular Article

Authors
Fatemeh Rezaee 1
Behzad Rahbar 2
Mohammad Reza Oroji 3
1 Department of Linguistics, educatinal science faculty. Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan
2 Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Persian Literature an Foreign Languages, Allameh Tabataba'i, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of Linguistics, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan
10.30465/ls.2022.41094.2052
Abstract
This study examins the effect of social status on politness in apologetic discourse based on politeness model of (Brown & Levinson 1987-1978). The research method was quantitative and qualitative and data collection was done by sending a questionnaire electronically to students. The Questionnaire (DCT) assessed apology strategies for 12 common mistakes in the community. Research participants included a limited number of students from Al-Zahra Campus, Elmi Karbordi University of Jihad and Khaneh kargar in Zanjan. Analyzing the collected responses of 44 female and 62 male students, the results showed that, people use more negative politeness strategy in expressing apology. Analyzing the effect of social status on using politeness strategies showed in all three positions of social status; Equally, higher position and lower position, people use more negative politeness strategy. The results also showed that the use of politeness strategies in compensating for mistakes depends on the type of mistake made and people use the best apology strategy that can compensate the mistake made. The results of the study did not show a significant difference between gender and the use of politeness strategy.
Keywords
Apology"
Social status"
face"
Negative politeness"
"
Positive politeness"

Subjects

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Language Studies
Volume 15, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 73-105

  • Receive Date 25 April 2022
  • Revise Date 06 July 2022
  • Accept Date 11 July 2022