Sensitising students to the existence of sociocultural peculiarities of expressing politeness in the foreign language lessons

Abstract

The paper considers possibilities of sensitising students to sociocultural peculiarities of expressing politeness in the foreign language lessons. According to the theory proposed by Penelope Brown and Stephen C. Levinson, politeness is based on the key human needs to maintain personal dignity and protect personal space. This allows us to talk about politeness as a universal category. However, universal ways of expressing politeness that are applicable to different cultures do not exist. In fact, comparative research shows that each culture has a specific set of verbal and nonverbal tools for expressing politeness. The results of this research proves that the category should be discussed in the foreign language lessons in the institutions of higher education. It is crucial that students understand that politeness is a complex system of nationally specific strategies that are aimed at harmonious communication without any conflicts. Therefore we have to draw students’ attention not only to grammatical means for expressing politeness in the native and foreign languages, but to demonstrate influence of linguocultural and sociocultural factors on realization of politeness during the cross-cultural communication. Furthermore, we have to show how differences in interpretation of means for expressing politeness by representatives of different cultures cause misunderstandings in communication. Tools for sensitising students to manifests of politeness categories in the cross-cultural communication are formulated. These tools are incorporated in corresponding exercises. The aim of the suggested exercises is not to introduce politeness rules of the cultures of the foreign languages that are learned by students, because these rules do not exist. The goal of these exercises is to sharpen students’ sensibility to the influence of sociocultural and linguocultural factors on expressing politeness in cross-cultural communication. The mere awareness of the fact that there constantly exists the possibility of occurrence of misunderstandings in cross-cultural communication which are related to differences in the interpretation of the models of polite behaviour in different cultures guarantees successful resolution of such situations by students in the future.