Impoliteness and Conversational Joking: On Relational Politics

Abstract

In this article the attempt is made to conceptualize politeness as a processual interaction phenomenon whose power to define social relationships is observable in humorous exchanges. Politeness and face-work are differentiated ; I distinguish between marked positive and negative politeness and other forms of relational work. On the basis of conversational data I show specific socially indicative potentials of humorous communication. Humor can definitely be used to cushion face-threats and to communicate polite non-imposition or polite approval. However, good friends are especially likely to overstep the boundaries of politeness. In most models of politeness humorous activities are counted as forms of positive politeness, which is equated with familiarity and solidarity. Humorous communication in fact plays a role in the conversational constitution of familiarity and informality - but familiarity and informality should not be confused with politeness. Despite clear impoliteness, many humorous provocations (teasing, ribbing, making fun of someone, pulling someone's leg) still have a relationship-affirming character. An internal differentiation among the activities listed by Brown and Levinson under the rubric of positive politeness enables us to go beyond the two-step model of distance (off record, negative politeness) and solidarity (positive politeness)