"How are you?"
Uttered millions of times every day, the phrase surely does come from a place of true concern sometimes, but as the anthropologist concludes, such phrases of polite speech simply serve to convey politeness. Other such verbal social niceties, like "may" instead of "can" or saying "please," might seem outdated and unnecessary, but they serve essential roles in society and communication. Polite speech is like a continuous and formalized version of a hug, helping to convey a relationship of care and high esteem effectively and meaningfully.
A school is one of the environments in which polite speech is most often conducted and first introduced. Addressing teachers by their last names, using polite expressions like "please" and "excuse me," and saying "thank you" are simply accepted and universally understood parts of the classroom. These polite niceties are instilled into us at a young age, and we never even think to question the practice.
Why do these classroom niceties matter? Although they might seem unnecessary, they exist for a reason: to convey a respectful teacher-student relationship that promotes learning, the very purpose of education. These relationships would probably develop without the use of polite speech, but polite speech serves as a medium through which each party can express admiration and respect effectively. Just like a hug or a handshake, these seemingly unnecessary phrases carry deep meaning that convey feelings more effectively than more explicit expressions.
Additionally, simple and short statements of respect are equally short-lived. Once uttered, they disappear and fade as the rest of the conversation dilutes the once mentioned sentiment. Polite speech, on the other hand, helps to implicitly and continuously express these sentiments, almost as if the respect is continuously weaved into and under the fabric of language. The entire conversation contains a respectful tone and conveys this message, rather than just for one simple statement.
Sure, explicitly sharing feelings of respect would be simpler, but it removes the effortful aspect of polite speech. The old aphorism "actions speak louder than words" certainly applies here. Using polite speech is more than just sharing words; instead, it's about putting effort into expressing such sentiments through a more complex medium. The speaking party was willing to go through the trouble of "translating" their thoughts into this respectful form. While simply saying "I respect you" is easy and simple to do, using polite speech requires effort and thus more strongly expresses this sentiment.
Therefore, polite speech is more than an outdated formality. It serves not only to express respect and admiration, but also does so in a meaningful and continuous manner. As we continue to develop as a society both culturally and technologically, polite speech becomes more and more important. Even when we become separated physically and are only brought together by the Internet, polite speech continues to strengthen and mature interpersonal bonds without requiring face-to-face contact or even spoken words.
Uttered millions of times every day, the phrase surely does come from a place of true concern sometimes, but as the anthropologist concludes, such phrases of polite speech simply serve to convey politeness. Other such verbal social niceties, like "may" instead of "can" or saying "please," might seem outdated and unnecessary, but they serve essential roles in society and communication. Polite speech is like a continuous and formalized version of a hug, helping to convey a relationship of care and high esteem effectively and meaningfully.
A school is one of the environments in which polite speech is most often conducted and first introduced. Addressing teachers by their last names, using polite expressions like "please" and "excuse me," and saying "thank you" are simply accepted and universally understood parts of the classroom. These polite niceties are instilled into us at a young age, and we never even think to question the practice.
Why do these classroom niceties matter? Although they might seem unnecessary, they exist for a reason: to convey a respectful teacher-student relationship that promotes learning, the very purpose of education. These relationships would probably develop without the use of polite speech, but polite speech serves as a medium through which each party can express admiration and respect effectively. Just like a hug or a handshake, these seemingly unnecessary phrases carry deep meaning that convey feelings more effectively than more explicit expressions.
Additionally, simple and short statements of respect are equally short-lived. Once uttered, they disappear and fade as the rest of the conversation dilutes the once mentioned sentiment. Polite speech, on the other hand, helps to implicitly and continuously express these sentiments, almost as if the respect is continuously weaved into and under the fabric of language. The entire conversation contains a respectful tone and conveys this message, rather than just for one simple statement.
Sure, explicitly sharing feelings of respect would be simpler, but it removes the effortful aspect of polite speech. The old aphorism "actions speak louder than words" certainly applies here. Using polite speech is more than just sharing words; instead, it's about putting effort into expressing such sentiments through a more complex medium. The speaking party was willing to go through the trouble of "translating" their thoughts into this respectful form. While simply saying "I respect you" is easy and simple to do, using polite speech requires effort and thus more strongly expresses this sentiment.
Therefore, polite speech is more than an outdated formality. It serves not only to express respect and admiration, but also does so in a meaningful and continuous manner. As we continue to develop as a society both culturally and technologically, polite speech becomes more and more important. Even when we become separated physically and are only brought together by the Internet, polite speech continues to strengthen and mature interpersonal bonds without requiring face-to-face contact or even spoken words.
This post is going to be such a great connection to the piece we are going to read next! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteOkay, never mind...I changed what we are doing.
DeleteGreat post! I love the acronym you creates as it perfectly describes the reasoning behind the usage of polite words. Also, by relating polite speech to the classroom setting it is evident why it is necessary. Without polite wording, people would not be able to adequately show respect to one another but even though polite speech "is more than an outdated formality" as you said I think there should be more substantial conversation after it since it is simply impossible to build connections with only small talk. Overall love the evidence you referenced and brought to light!
ReplyDelete