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.
8 Joking to put the hearer at ease
The speaker of positive politeness can show solidarity and familiarity to the hearer by making a joke which will make the hearer feel relieve. The
speaker can also minimize the demand as in this sentence: 2:11 A:
Great summer we’re having. It’s only rained five times a week on average
.
B: Yeah, terrible, isn’t it?
A: Could I ask you for a favour?
Watts, 2003:89 In that conversation, the speaker is trying to amuse the hearer by
telling a joke about the season. A says that they are having a great summer which is only rained five times a week on average. It means that almost all
days of that summer are rained. Therefore, it should not be a great summer. The speaker makes a joke to minimize the demand when he or she is asking B
for a favour.
9 Asserting or presupposing knowledge of and concerning for hearer’s
wants
In applying this strategy, the speaker shows his or her solidarity by emphasizing that he or she knows personal information about the hearer. The
speaker also tries to fulfil what the hearer’s wants to show that the speaker is
cooperated with the hearer. By fulfill ing the hearer’s wants, the speaker can
safe the hearer’s positive face. An example of this strategy is presented below.
2:12 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 favour…
Watts, 2003:89
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