Language + Power: Theory

Erving Goffman: “The presentation of self in everyday life.”

Goffman observed that face had to do with the ‘positive social value’ that we like to maintain in social interactions. Linguistic studies of face focus on the way in which we use language to acknowledge the fact that people have face ‘needs’. 

Brown and Levinson’s model (1987) claims to provide a universal account of how face-work operates. Suggests there are 2 distinct types of face ‘positive’ and ‘negative’. Positive face reflects our desire to be accepted and liked by others. Negative face reflects our wish to have the freedom to do what we want and to have independence.

Face threatening acts (FTA’s): insults, expressions of disapproval which can harm the addressee’s positive face. Requests can also be face-threatening.

If some actions might be interpreted as a threat to another’s face, the speaker can say something to lessen the possible threat- face saving act (FSA). 

On and off record:

• On record: “give me a pen,” “Lend me your pen,” Mitigating devices to soften the demands: ‘would you,’ ‘please,’ etc…

• Off record: “Uh, I forgot my pen,” “Hemm, I forgot where I put my pen.” These statements can be ignored.