ABSTRACT
The analysis in the different chapters of this book has demonstrated some of the many and varied ways in which power and politeness are inextricably intertwined in every workplace interaction. Despite their very different transactional or business objectives, commercial organisations, factories and government departments all use talk as one means of achieving them. And in the process of talking people cannot avoid involvement with the dimensions of power and politeness. Every interaction at work involves an individual in the performance of their professional status and authority relative to others, and equally the dynamic nature of any interaction entails constant negotiation of social distance or solidarity. In other words, we have tried to illustrate in the preceding chapters some of the complex means that workers use to ‘do’ power and politeness in their workplace talk.
