Politeness Strategies in Political Discourse: A Study through the Lens of Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory

Abstract

This study explores politeness strategies in the political discourse of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., using Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory (1987) as a framework.  A descriptive-qualitative approach analyzed three speeches from February 2025, revealing a sophisticated blend of strategies.  The findings demonstrate the strategic use of Bald On-Record, Negative Politeness, Positive Politeness, and Off-Record strategies, showcasing a calculated balance between assertiveness and respect to achieve various communicative goals (persuasion, rapport-building, and image management). The research highlights the importance of considering context in analyzing politeness strategies, extending existing literature by demonstrating the complex relationship of these strategies in contemporary political communication and offering avenues for future research into cross-cultural variations and audience reception.