The Study of the Communicative Situation Effect on the Selection of Politeness Strategies in Birjandi High School Girl's Conversations

The Study of the Communicative Situation Effect on the Selection of Politeness Strategies in Birjandi High School Girls’ Conversations Received: 2011/01/01 Accepted: 2012/07/09 Abbas Ali Ahangar Batool Ashrafi Abstract Some differences are observed in the manner of using politeness strategies in different communicative situations in Birjand city high school girls'' conversations. The purpose of this research is to describe، analyze and compare the politeness strategies employed by some teenage girls in a corpus of conversations in three different situations: communication with the coevals، families (older sisters) and teachers and to show the amount of probable effects of communicative situation (the relationship between the speaker and addressee) on selecting the kinds of politeness strategies. To accomplish this end، first، the research data have been collected through direct observation (note-taking) and recording of the students'' conversations in situations mentioned. Then the data have been classified and analyzed. The results of this study show that all different kinds of strategies are used in three situations، but the amount of their use is different in different situations. Negative politeness is more commonly used than positive politeness in all situations. Among the negative politeness strategies، asking questions is the most and apologizing is the least of all in communication with coevals and family situations. Contrary to these situations، the indirect strategies are less، and deference is more than others in communication with teacher situation. Applying the bald on-record strategies (imperative forms) in communication with coevals is more than other strategies and situation; However، in communication with teachers، it has been observed less than other strategies and situations. Employing negative politeness in communication with teachers is more common in comparison with other strategies.