Jim, you’re really good at solving computer problems. I wonder if

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:

2:9 Well, in a way, I suppose you’re sort of right. But look at it like

this. Why don’t you…? Watts, 2003:89 The use of hedges in the sentence shows that the speaker is pretending to agree with the hearer. The speaker is hiding his or her disagreement to safe the hearer’s positive face. He or she chooses to say “I suppose you’re sort of right. But.. .” rather than “I don’t agree with you”. Therefore, the speaker makes the hearer feel good because the hearer thinks that his or her opinion is not wrong. 7 Presupposing, raising, asserting common ground Another positive politeness strategy is presupposing, raising, asserting common ground. This can be done by sharing same interests, beliefs and opinions between the interlocutors. The speaker in this strategy makes a small talk that includes the hearer into the discussion. He or she usually uses pronoun “we” to include the hearer into the conversation, for instance:

2:10 People like me and you, Bill, don’t like being pushed around like

that, do we? Why don’t you go and complain? Watts, 2003:89 This sentence shows that the speaker is trying to ask Bill to go and complain. He or she makes a small talk that includes Bill into the discussion by the use of pronoun “we”. This expression emphasizes that the speaker and the hearer have a common goal. Therefore, the speaker can minimize the threat when he or she asks Bill to go and complain.