2:6 You’ll never guess what Fred told me last night. This is right up
your street. [begins a narrative]
Watts, 2003:89 Before the speaker tells the story, he or she tries to get th
e hearer’s attention by saying
“You’ll never guess” This phrase makes the hearer interested in listening to his or her story. It shows that the speaker has saved
the hearer’s positive face because the speaker has made the hearer involved in the discussion. The hearer feels satisfied because he or she has been accepted
by the speaker and treated as a member of the same group.
4 Using in-group identity markers in speech
By applying in-group address forms in a conversation, the speaker can show solidarity and intimacy with the hearer.
The hearer’s positive face is saved as the speaker calls him or her as
“pal”, “buddy”, “sweetheart” or even his or her familiar nickname
“Kenny” instead of “Kennedy.” These identity markers strengthen the closeness between the speaker and the hearer.
A model of this strategy can be seen as follow. 2:7
Here’s my old mate Fred. How are you doing today, mate? Could
you give us a hand to get this car to start? Watts, 2003:89
The speaker employs positive politeness by using in-group identity markers strategy. The identity markers are
“Fred” as a familiar nickname and “mate” as another address form. The speaker uses these words to minimize
the threat as he or she is asking the hearer to help him or her. Therefore, the hearer’s positive face is saved because he has been treated as a member of the
same group.
5 Seeking agreement in safe topics
In expressing positive politeness, the speaker also can apply the strategy of seeking agreement in safe topics. It is a strategy that allows the
speaker to find a possibility in which he or she can agree with the hearer’s
statement in safe topics, for example talking about the weather or the beauty of a garden. This strategy can be found in this sentence:
2:8 I agree. Right. Manchester United played really badly last night, didn’t they? D’you reckon you could give me a cigarette?
Watts, 2003:89 The hearer tells about the evaluation of Manchester United
’s poor showing in the previous evening
. Then, the speaker tries to safe the hearer’s positive face by seeking an agreement from the hearer’s statement. The
speaker expresses his or her agreement by saying “I agree. Right.” By saying
this agreement, the speaker shows his or her cooperation with the hearer. Therefore, the speaker can minimize the threat when he or she asks a cigarette
to the hearer.
6 Avoiding disagreement
Avoiding disagreement is one way to safe the hearer’s positive face.
The speaker of this strategy may hide his or her disagreement by doing a white lie. As stated by Cutting 2002:40, a white lie is
“a lie with good intentions.” Besides, the speaker also can hide his or her disagreement by
pretending to agree through the use of hedges. Cutting 2002:42 gives some examples of hedges, for example
“if possible”, “sort of”, “in a way” and “I wonder”. The speaker can apply this strategy as in this example:
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