The Politeness Phenomenon

Exploring the concept of politeness, this seminar paper delves into its historical roots and evolving definitions, tracing its significance from the sixteenth century to contemporary linguistics. It highlights the relationship between politeness and social hierarchy, emphasizing that it is not an absolute term but rather influenced by context and culture. The paper summarizes various interpretations and key research approaches to linguistic politeness, reflecting its prominence as a topic of study in English language and literature over the past three decades.