NORMY GRZECZNOŚCI A ZMIANY W PUBLICZNYCH ZACHOWANIACH (NIE TYLKO) JĘZYKOWYCH
Standards of politeness and changes in public (not only) language behaviour

Summary/Abstract: The paper takes up the issue of violating politeness standards in public speeches of politicians. Politeness strategies depend on the intentions of the sender and the circumstances accompanying a particular interaction. They are therefore determined by their purpose and rhetorical situation. An analysis of selected examples of public discourse demonstrates that intentional violations of the principles of politeness, notably regarding the approval and kindness for the partner, showing the desire to be in their company and increasing their self-esteem, serve two functions. Firstly, they are part of the politicians’ image strategy; secondly, they make the message more attractive and ensure politicians presence in the media. They can therefore be useful from the viewpoint of individual public actors. However, the negative consequence of breaking the rules of social politeness publicly involves loosening the standards and values governing people’s lives both as a community and as individuals. The limit of permitted behaviours has shifted and fewer things are considered shocking. And the lack of reference points means that there is no certainty as to what rules should be followed.

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