A SOCIOPRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN ENGLISH: THE CASE OF REQUESTS AND REFUSALS

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the sociopragmatic features of politeness in English speech acts, focusing specifically on requests and refusals from both linguistic and social perspectives. Politeness plays a fundamental role in human interaction, as it helps manage interpersonal relationships and minimizes potential conflict between speakers. The study examines how these speech acts are performed through various linguistic strategies, such as indirectness, mitigation, and the use of specific modal verbs and hedging devices. Special attention is paid to how social variables, including power dynamics and social distance, influence the way speakers choose to ask for favors or decline invitations. The research also explores the concept of "face" and how English speakers balance their communicative goals with the need to respect their interlocutor’s autonomy. By analyzing examples from real-life conversations and academic contexts, the article aims to show how pragmatic competence is essential for avoiding misunderstandings. The findings of this study may be useful for linguistics students, language teachers, and researchers who are interested in pragmatics and the cultural nuances of English communication.