EBONYI JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
EJLLS Publication
EJLLS| Title: | Verbal hygiene: Politeness Device for Face Threatening Acts in Language Usage |
| Author(s): | Florence D. ANUONYE, Harrison C. OGUAMANAM & Queen ENEREMADU |
| Abstract: | Enthusiastically engaging in verbal hygiene and reflecting a change in linguistic usage is a worthwhile form of consciousness rising. Often times, language users undermine the manner and context of usage in their choice of words in communication. This paper, therefore, addresses the need for verbal hygiene and some politeness principle to avert face threatening acts. The theoretical framework is based on Deborah Cameron's verbal hygiene, Brown and Levinson's politeness theory on face; and Lech's politeness principles. Three conversational data are used for the analysis. The data were analyzed and discussed, with the observation and submission that verbal hygiene makes communication more effective and friendly. |
| Keywords: | Verbal Hygiene, politeness principles, face threatening acts, communication |
