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

20 something S and H know, but then S is showing another way to view the things without evoking disagreement. In the example above, S is using hedging opinion to avoid disagreement. It is used to soften criticism or complaints toward H. using the hedging opinion, S does not frontally say that H is wrong. Avoid disagreement as a positive politeness strategy safe the positive face of H before S presents or shows another fact that is contradictory. g Presuppose, raise, and assert common ground Presuppose, raise and assert common ground is another way to do positive politeness strategy. Raising the common ground can minimize the threat to H‟s positive face. The example of this strategy is in the sentence: S: People like me and you, Bill, don’t like being pushed around like that, do we? Why don’t you go and complain? The example above contains declaration of common ground that H will surely agree. It results in minimizing the threat to the H‟s positive face. In the example above, S is giving a common ground that both of S and H Bill do not like being pushed around bolded sentence , and S pushes Bill to complain italicized sentence. No one likes to be pushed around. It is the common ground or the same opinion that shared by each S and H. by saying the same thing shared by S and H, S is minimizin g the threat to H‟s positive face. By saying the same common ground S has a bigger chance to impose his thought to H S wants H to go complaining about something. 21 h A joke to put the hearer at ease A jo ke is always the best way to minimize threat to H‟s positive face. It is one strategy of positive politeness. The example of using a joke as a positive politeness strategy is in the sentence:

S: Great summer we’re having. It’s only rained five times a week on

average . H: Yeah, terrible, isn‟t it? S: Could I ask you for a favor? The example above contains a joke as a positive politeness strategy. By imposing a joke on conversation, S creates easiness toward H. It creates intimacy between them and reduce the distance. Therefore, joke is always the best way to minimize the threat to the H‟s positive face. In the conversation, the joke used to diminish the social distance between S and H is the bolded sentence. Raining five times a week during summer is considered a joke. It can be a joke because S and H shared the same background knowledge that in summer rain rarely happens, so it is a joke when S says that in summer the rain falls five times a week. A joke is minimizing H‟s positive face and it is the time for S to say his real purposes toward H. i Assert or presuppose knowledge of and concern for hearer‟s wants Another way of doing positive politeness in by asserting or presupposing knowledge of and concerns for hearer‟s wants. It is effective to minimize the threat to H. the example of this kind of politeness strategy is in the sentence:

S: I know you like marshmallows, so I’ve brought you home a whole box of them.

I wonder if I could ask you for a favor . . .