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Politeness as collective facework: the case of Swedish Jante Law

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posted on 2023-06-09, 11:41 authored by Susie ScottSusie Scott
Politeness rituals can be understood as socially facilitative, performative speech acts that operate at the meso-level of Goffmanian interaction order, translating macro-level cultural scripts into micro-social action. Whereas previous research has focused on individual face-saving, this article examines the implications of politeness for the group face of speech communities, demonstrating the concept of collective facework. Taking Swedish culture as an example, I observe a tension between two sets of rules: the Nordic code of Jante Law, which frowns upon boasting and encourages humility, and the values of honesty and conversational directness. This is dramaturgically resolved through polite forms of talk, such as strategic reticence and sanctioning verbal domination. These interaction rituals perform collective facework to address negative and positive collective face needs.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Studies in Symbolic Interaction

ISSN

0163-2396

Publisher

Emerald

Volume

56

Page range

189-209

Department affiliated with

  • Sociology and Criminology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-01-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-01-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-01-19

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