ABSTRACT
Linguistic politeness is culturally based. This chapter begins by considering the range of functions that language may serve, and the variety of ways in which the 'same' message may be expressed. It illustrates how considerations of politeness influence the choice between different address forms, and discusses the social dimensions which influence what is considered polite in different situations and communities. The chapter provides examples of differences in the way different communities express particular speech functions. The phatic function is equally important from a sociolinguistic perspective. Phatic communication conveys an affective or social message rather than a referential one. There are a number of ways of categorising the functions of speech. The chapter provides a list that has proved a useful one in sociolinguistic research. The only imperatives used 'upwards' were greeted with laughter, and regarded as humorous because they so clearly flouted this sociolinguistic rule. A successful outcome may be considered a real sociolinguistic accomplishment.
