Unmasking Face Threatening And Face Saving Acts Of Politicians: A Case Study Of Mwingi Region Politicians

Abstract

The study discussed the concept of Face Threatening Acts (FTAs) and Face Saving Acts (FSAs) exhibited by politicians from Mwingi Region as they campaigned in that region during elections.This study whose objectives were ; first, to interrogate the Face Threatening Acts and Face Saving Acts of the politicians exhibited by politicians from the Mwingi region. Second, to determine the extent to which the audience read the Face Threatening Acts in the speeches of politicians. Third, to explore Face saving strategies adopted by politicians .The methodology used to determine FTAs and FSAs was by the use of the researcher as he speaks the native language and with the aid of some informants. The study employed the Face Theory a subset of the Politeness Theory developed by Levinson and Brown (1987).It also partly touches Grice’s Cooperative Principle to fully decipher the intended meaning in the excerpts. The study used data gathered from excerpts extracted from actual speeches from political rallies and online sources given by the politicians in the native Kikamba and later freely translated and then an explanation given. The study helped the researchers identify those aspects that indicate FTAs and FSAs in the speeches. It also examined the various forms of FTAs and how the listeners perceive and interpret them. On the other hand the study found out the strategies of expressing FSAs by the politicians. This helps to safe the face of the audience and the opponents. The study recommends further study in different regions in Kenya. In spite of FTAs and FSAs being universally accepted concepts, the study recommends further research in different regions that have diverse populations as different cultures express politeness or lack of it in their own way.