Introduction

In Chapter 3 we introduced the distinction between first-order politeness and second-order politeness. A first-order perspective on politeness is generally thought to encompass the understandings of participants or lay users of language. A second-order perspective, in contrast, is thought to encompass a theoretical approach to politeness. However, while the first-order/second-order distinction has been useful in politeness research in stimulating a move to greater diversity in the ways in which we study politeness, this two-way distinction nevertheless masks a number of very different kinds of understandings. It has also been claimed that there are ‘first-order’ as opposed to ‘second-order’ approaches to politeness. We reject this kind of simplistic opposition. We suggest that not only does this set up an unproductive tension in the field, it is also a view that neglects the fact that any approach to politeness necessarily draws from multiple loci of understanding.

Let us consider for a moment the following interaction from the comedy Seinfeld. In example (1) Jerry has just noticed an unusual pen belonging to Jack, who is one of the neighbours in the retirement village where Jerry's parents live.