| dc.description.abstract | This project presents the result of a linguistic study on the impolite language used by
matatu conductors. The study is conducted within the framework of Politeness Theory
with focus being on Culpeper‟s Impoliteness Strategies (1996) borrowed from Politeness
Theory (1987). Impoliteness strategies are the strategies used by the speaker to attack the
positive and negative face of the hearer. These strategies include the Bald on Record
Impoliteness, Positive Impoliteness, Negative Impoliteness, Off Record Impoliteness and
Withhold Impoliteness. This research has endeavoured to answer the following questions:
Which are the impolite speech acts that embody impolite language used by the
conductors? What strategies of impoliteness are used by Matatu conductors? What
motivating factors cause impoliteness? This research is conducted using the qualitative
method while the data source for this research is „naturally occurring‟ conversation
between conductors and passengers that contain impolite strategies. The data is collected
using purposive sampling after which the data is analyzed into the five impolite strategies
based on the theory. The research concludes that there are five strategies of impoliteness
used in matatu conductor‟s discourse. Out of the five strategies, there are two dominant
strategies namely negative impoliteness and positive impoliteness. Furthermore, the
result reveals that a combination of two strategies can be used, such as positive
impoliteness and bald on record impoliteness to intensify the illocutionary act and
impoliteness. Finally, the findings revealed that power and social distance are the main
motivating factors that cause impoliteness | en_US |
