1. Are Filipinos Polite?

Explain your answer based on the Politeness Theory: Positive

Politeness and Negative Politeness.
Generally, Filipinos are known to be courteous and polite since it is in our culture to pay
respect to other people, even strangers. Filipino children are taught at a very young age to be
polite in every situation, especially when they are talking to someone ahead of their age.
Filipinos deeply acknowledge respect and politeness. We are known for using “po and opo” to
show respect when speaking and “mano” as an honoring gesture to an elderly. These values are
used in different circumstances like in the work environment where employees use titles to
address their supervisors, regardless of age. Based on the politeness theory, our group thinks that
Filipinos practice both positive and negative politeness. When it comes to positive politeness,
we, Filipinos tend to give compliments as admiration or acknowledgment of one’s action to
show approval. This will heighten the emotions of that person because he knows that he is being
observed. In return, we are motivated to give our best effort in everything that we do. On the
negative politeness, Filipinos are known to be sensitive when it comes to verbal communication
so we also tend to be cautious of our choice of words before saying it out loud. In that case, we
don’t assume unless stated so we always give them the freedom to do so based on their
willingness and decisions. Overall, yes, we, Filipinos, are polite because we were taught that
respect begets respect and it is culturally manifested for us to use it in different kinds of
situations.

2.  Choose one and give an example of a situation using: (a) Positive Politeness (b)
Negative Politeness (c) Positive and Negative Politeness
Positive and Negative Politeness

Our group came up with that we Filipinos practices both positive and negative politeness.

• Positive Politeness reflects as to how the speaker and listener establish friendliness and
camaraderie with each other. There are three ways as to how the speaker can accomplish
complementary and familiarity with the listener. First, the speaker should observe and attend to
the interests, wants, and needs of the listener. Second, the speaker should bear in his mind to
sympathize and give emphasis on his approval to the listener. Lastly, the speaker should be able
to connect and show great interest to the listener.

Example: Lorraine said, “Wow! You did a great job Jennie. You’ve passed the exam and I am
so proud of you!”.

This situation tends to show that Lorraine complimented Jennie for having good grades
and this shows positive politeness. The speaker observes what does the listener needs to hear and
was able to emphasize his approval to the accomplishment of the other person. The speaker
emphasizes complimentary and familiarity with the listener.
• Negative Politeness reflects the need of the hearer for freedom of action and imposition in
making the right choice for himself/ herself. There are ways as to how we can properly
demonstrate negative politeness. First, the speaker should be direct but it should be executed by
being conventionally indirect. Second, the speaker should use hedges because he shouldn’t
assume and presume. Hedges includes words like perhaps, might, can, or could. Lastly, the
speaker should not coerce and give his utmost effort not to impinge on the hearer.

Example 1: Suppose Chris wanted to offer Michelle another drink. He said, “I don't know
whether you'd like another drink..”

Example 2: Suppose Gianna and Gavin were classmates doing a project and they have a
different approach in doing it. Gianna said, “It is generally done this way, but of course
whatever you think that works best for you.”

In the first example, the offer is seen not as a question, but as an articulation of the
speaker and poses concerns regarding his willingness to determine the desires of the addressee.
The same goes for the second example, the speaker is letting the hearer to freely decide for
himself.

Group Submission by (MOL)

RIVERO, Gabrielle Ross

SANTOS, Tesslene Claire
SUMULONG, Maryrose
VELUZ, Cathleen