Skip to main content

Sage Social Science Thesaurus

Search from vocabulary

Content language

Concept information

... > social science subjects > communication and media studies > communication studies > communication theory > interpersonal concepts > politeness theory
... > social science subjects > communication and media studies > communication studies > communication theory > psycho-cognitive orientations > politeness theory
... > social science subjects > communication and media studies > communication studies > communication theory > semiotic, linguistic, and discursive orientations > politeness theory
... > social science subjects > communication and media studies > communication studies > communication theory > social-interactional orientations > politeness theory

Preferred term

politeness theory  

Definition

  • Politeness theory explains how small variations in how we say things are linked to broader features of social relationships and social contexts. This helps us understand how individuals create and interpret messages and also offers an account for speech communities' use of language. [Source: Encyclopedia of Communication Theory; Politeness Theory]

Broader concept

Belongs to group

URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/politeness_theory

Download this concept:

RDF/XML TURTLE JSON-LD