Politeness Theory: Brown & Levinson

In pragmatics, Politeness Theory is a highly complex framework that explains how humans use language to navigate social harmony and avoid conflict. According to this theory, every time we speak, we risk offending someone, invading their space, or hurting their feelings. Therefore, politeness is a strategic, calculated linguistic tool. We choose our words carefully based on three sociological factors: the power dynamic between the speaker and the listener, the social distance between them, and the weight or severity of the request being made.