The politeness principle
The politeness principle is a series of maxims, which Geoff Leech has proposed as a way of explaining how politeness operates in conversational exchanges. Leech defines politeness as forms of behaviour that establish and maintain comity. That is the ability of participants in a social interaction to engage in interaction in an atmosphere of relative harmony. In stating his maxims Leech uses his own terms for two kinds of illocutionary acts. He calls representatives “assertives”, and calls directives “impositives”.
Leech's maxims
Tact maxim
(in directives [impositives] and commissives): minimise cost to other; [maximise benefit to other]
Generosity maxim
(in directives and commissives): minimise benefit to self; [maximise cost to self]
Approbation maxim
(in expressives and representatives [assertives]): minimise dispraise of other; [maximise praise of other]
Modesty maxim
(in expressives and representatives): minimise praise of self; [maximise dispraise of self]
Agreement maxim
(in representatives): minimise disagreement between self and other; [maximise agreement between self and other]
Sympathy maxim
(in representatives): minimise antipathy between self and other; [maximise sympathy between self and other]
