Politeness


The aim of politeness is to maintain a civil society





1.

The system of politeness is based on individual people, not one person being in charge of another, 

	ranked at a higher level than another, etc.



2. It's not polite to:
	
	Physically threaten or intimidate another person

	Say offensive things to another person

	Push a person out of the way

	Spread rumours or comments about a person

	Damage or mis-use facilities
	


3. It's polite to

	Move out of the way if a person is trying to get past you



4. Generally a person would only speak to another person if they were already known to each other, or 

	had been introduced (generally self-introduction in the modern world).


	a.

	e.g.

		members of the same family (father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, uncle etc.)

		work colleages from working at the same location

		friends that have become known to each otherat some time in the past


	b. Conversations happen between the customer/client and the staff member at


		Reception desks of hotels, commercial organisations, government departments etc.

		Tables in restaurants and waiters, waitresses


	c. Introducing one's-self involves giving one's own name. After this the two people are known to each other.

		e.g. saying one's own name at the start of a telephone call.


	d. If needing to speak to a stranger, the words generally commece with 'excuse me'.




5. Telephone calls generally commence with the person calling giving their name, and the organisation that they 

	are calling in relation to if relevant.


	'Hello, my name's John Jones, I'm calling from Melbourne University'.

	and then explaining the reason for the call.



The rules of formality are to prevent excessive energy loss after battle, working, etc.






Sorry		Said after accidently bumping into a person

Excuse me	Said before speaking to a stranger

Hi		Greeting to a friend

Hello		Greeting to a stranger or in a more normal situation



None of these four words have any meanings other than for the situations specified

