POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN THE INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE OBAMA

Abstract

The current paper aims at studying the strategies of positive and negative politeness, as well as at observing the compliance with these strategies in the interview of the radio host Tom Joyner with Michelle Obama. The goal is to compare the employment of positive and negative politeness strategies by the interviewers and the interviewee via conversational analysis, correlating the choice of the strategies with the desired effect that the participants of the interview planned to achieve. Theoretically, the overview of several concepts, such as face, face-threatening acts and the types of politeness is performed. Empirically, the quantitative research shows that positive politeness strategies are used more often than negative politeness strategies, both by the interviewers and interviewee. The goal of the interlocutors is to have a friendly atmosphere, but it was done for different purposes. The interviewers used positive politeness strategies in order to make the interview more successful and lively, as any person would feel comfortable and open if the atmosphere is amicable. However, the choice of positive politeness strategies by Michelle Obama can be explained by her wish to have a positive and friendly image, which can influence the audience, who are also possible voters. Michelle Obama’s choice of strategies is believed to serve for intensifying interest and sympathy of the listeners, as well as for the purposes of unifying her audience. The paper highlights the pragmatic power of language, stressing the role that it plays in politics via creating a friendly image that would have a positive effect on the audience, thus helping to reveal the ‘hidden’ information, which influences our minds and opinions.