ABSTRACT
Language has two functions: (i) to convey or exchange knowledge and information and (ii) to establish and maintain human relationships by expressing various social/interpersonal meanings involved in contexts such as speakers’ attitudes/feeling toward the addressee or referent (e.g., politeness, respect, intimacy, humility, formality, etc.), as well as social variables involved in interactions (e.g., age, seniority, rank, gender, education, background, etc.). The linguistic elements employed for the second function of language have been associated with the term “honorifics” or “linguistic politeness.”
