POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN THE SELECTED SPEECHES OF UNDERGRADUATES OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE AND MADONNA UNIVERSITIES IN ANAMBRA STATE AND OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY IN OGUN STATE

Abstract

Politeness is very paramount in Language use because everyone has a self-image (face) to protect. The paper investigated the politeness strategies and the extent of impoliteness (Face- Threatening Acts) employed by selected students of NnamdiAzikwe University and Madonna University in Anambra State and Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State as well as the consequences of impoliteness found among them. The study employed Brown and Levinson's (1987) theory of Face as its analytical tool. The general objective of the study was to carry out an investigative study into the politeness strategies employed by selected students of the universities. Specifically, the study aimed at determining how university students have been able to employ politeness in their daily interactions, Again, the study aimed at unraveling politeness as a useful conflict resolution strategy. Data for the study were elicited via an obstructive observation obtained without the participant's knowledge. The data were analyzed qualitatively using the adopted theoretical framework. The findings revealed that these students break the rules of politeness strategies basically out of fear and pure ignorance. Again, it was found that culture influenced significantly the exhibition of politeness (impoliteness) strategies in dialogic communications. Thus it was concluded that for us to achieve a peaceful co­existence in our universities, interlocutors should try as much as possible to avoid face-threatening Acts (FTAs) in their daily discussions. The researcher hereby recommends that politeness strategy be introduced as part of the courses done in our secondary schools and higher institutions in Nigeria.