We can say it more clearly as: I respect your right to…

In showing power-politeness we use forms of speech such as, Mr., Mrs, please, sir, etc.

We need to save our face by saving the face of everyone we talk to so we need to manage our behavior, both verbally and non-verbally, very carefully.

This does not mean that our speech will be the same the world over, even if we ignore differences in vocabulary and grammar.

Each society recognizes its own norms for saving face, so our face-work consists in recognizing these norms and applying them effectively.

Solidarity and power

The most obvious ways we show solidarity and power are how we refer to each other.

T/V PRONOUNS

Let’s talk about using the T/V pronouns first. The T/V pronouns are the tu and vous forms in French, that is the familiar tu and the polite and plural form vous. Now, most of the literature on T/V pronouns centers around the French, but obviously, we know Russian and Ukrainian both have these pronouns as well.

In fact, in most cases the French, Russian, Ukrainian, Latin, German, Italian, Swedish, and Greek, T/V pronouns all work in the same way. This is for a very interesting reason—their history of use is the same. It is an interesting history that traces back to the 4^th century A.D. and the splitting of the Roman Empire. If you are interested I have a short article about it that you can read.

English also had a distinction between a T and V pronoun at one time. In English we used “thou” for the familiar form and “ye” or “you” as the polite term, obviously we now only use “you” which overtime took over the usage of thou as well. The history of this would be an interesting research paper.

But to continue, in general, people use the T form to mark solidarity and the V form to mark power relationships. This should come as no surprise. You use it all the time. The interesting part of all this is how and when people decide to use one form over the other.

ASK STUDENTS:

For example:

• When you meet someone for the first time which form do you use?

• How do you know when to switch to the T form?

• Which form do you use with a colleague at work, maybe a fellow teacher when you first meet them?

• What about people who are older than you?

A similar situation exists for what you call someone using his or her name.

NAMES

This way of showing solidarity and power is an especially obvious one in English and Russian.

ASK THE CLASS: What form of a persons name do you use when you first meet them?

How do you introduce someone, in Russian and in English?

Polite names:

Let’s start at the beginning.

If you do not know someone’s name, you use the polite form of address “Sir” or “Miss” for an older woman “Mam.” Or, if you know what they do for a living, Doctor, Professor, Colonel, Mr. President, etc.

For example:

“Excuse me Sir, I think you dropped your keys.”

In an English introduction, in formal settings, for example for business purposes, we usually use the most polite form of a name with a title, and often include the first name:

So you have:

“Mr. Robert Jones, meet Ms. Helen Boswell.”

From this point on the two people will refer to each other using only their last names, Mr. Jones and Ms. Boswell in all formal communications. This may change, however, as the two people get to know each other, and one of them gives the other person a cue that it is okay if they wish, to become more informal—this is a switch to a more solidarity based relationship. A cue might be:

“Oh, call me Robert.” (or “Oh, call me Helen.”)

Or, it may be subtler. Perhaps one of them writes the other a letter and signs it Robert—this often happens in e-mail correspondence. The other person may then address them by their first name in the next letter.

The most obvious example of a power relationship using polite forms is the relationship between teacher and student.

Students use the polite form of their teacher’s names to acknowledge a certain giving up of power to the teacher. They allow the teacher to be in charge and thus, they allow the teacher to have a certain amount of power over them. The teacher does after all have the power to grade your work! The teacher uses first names in the same way, to show a difference in the level of knowledge and power between student and teacher—it is an interesting relationship. I’m sure there is enough here for a sociolinguistics paper.

CHINA

Moreover, a whole society undergoing social change is also likely to show that change in the way people address each other. One such society is modern China. The Communist Party of China has promoted the use of “comrade” to replace all other titles of power, such as the titles of address for “boss”, i.e. the equivalents of “director”, “manager”, “chief”, and honorific titles such as the equivalent of “mister.” The party wants to put everyone on an equal footing through encouraging the use of an address form that implies no social or economic differences and unites all politically. Comrade is a term intended to invoke solidarity.

FIRST NAMES AND NICKNAMES (PET NAMES)

The most obvious names that show solidarity are the use of first names and pet or nicknames.

First names

When you are on a first name basis with someone, while it can often be for the sake of convenience, it is also a sign that you feel some level of familiarity with them. In fact, it is really the first step to beginning any kind of closer relationship.

Nicknames or Pet names

Nicknames or pet names, show a particularly high level of solidarity. When you allow someone to call you by a “special” name you are acknowledging a special level of solidarity. If you do not have that level of solidarity, using a pet name can be considered extremely rude.

Would you let the person next to you call you, Moya Malenkaya Ribka?

Family role based names

A person also has a role-based name within his or her family. That name in English may be father or son, mother or daughter, grandmother, grandfather, husband, wife, cousin, aunt, etc. Each name has a level of power and or solidarity that is part of that name within the family structure. Older brother usually has more power than younger sister. Dad usually has more power than son. Brother has more solidarity than cousin, depending on the culture.

Interestingly, these role names can be switched around as well. For example among Porte Ricans living in New York, U.S.A, an interesting variation is that parents often times refer to their children as momma and papa—what does this mean socially? It is just now being studied.

NUER

• In Nuer society, again our tribal people from Sudan, a person can have several names:

• A personal name or birth name, given by the parents

• A second name, given by the maternal grandparents

• A social name, when a child becomes an adult

• A clan name used only in wedding ceremonies and initiations.

• An “Ox” name chosen by the person to suggest some triumph in war or sport or hunting and used by friends.

All of these names are used at different times by different people.

Now what about in an English speaking society? I will use myself as an example.

ENGLISH SOCIETY: ME

• I have the same family names as you do: I am a brother, in particular an older brother, a son, a grandson, and a cousin so far.

• I am Mr. Ferry to you and to my other classes.

• My first name is Todd, which is what my friends, acquaintances and some colleagues can call me.

• My middle name is Michael, which is my baptismal name that I received when I was baptized in the Catholic tradition.

• When I was confirmed, also part of the Catholic tradition, I chose the name “Jerome.”

• Sometimes my friend’s call me by various nicknames I am not willing to share.

Each of these names suggests a different social relationship I have with the people who use them.

POLITENESS IN LANUAGE [FORMAL LANGUAGE]

Now, let’s move on to politeness in language.

Finally we show power and solidarity in our choice of politeness in language. You do not use a low level or more colloquial form of speaking with your boss or your teacher. If you remember the term “REGISTER” from two lectures ago, this is basically what we are talking about here.

Would you say to your boss:

“Good afternoon, Sir. Your secretary informed me that you wanted to speak to me about a new client and possibly some additional work.” [Formal]

Or

“Hi there. Did you ask to see me? I heard we got a new client. That’s great.” [Normal]

Or

“Yo man, what’s happening? The chick who keeps you straight said you got somethin’ cookin’ and you want me on board. Cool. No problemo. Give me the lowdown.” [Very informal]

That of course is an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

Moreover, there are certain forms we use expressly to be polite to people who have a higher level of power and with whom we share less solidarity.

For example:

Would you mind…

or

Is it/would it be possible…

Some languages have highly developed systems of low and high registers used to speak to different people with whom you have power and solidarity relationships. For example, in Javanese culture, it is almost impossible to say anything to anyone without directly stating in the language you use their and your social positions. In this case YOU MUST state your difference in solidarity in your language—This is not necessarily the case in English and again, it is one instance that is considered proof for the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.