Politeness Strategies Employed by Chuka University Students in their Social Media Discourse

Abstract

This article sheds light on the politeness strategies employed by Chuka University students in their social media discourse using WhatsApp interaction platform. The four broad categories of politeness strategies (Positive politeness, Negative politeness, Bald on record and Off- record strategies) as spelt by Brown and Levison in their Politeness Theory were analysed using the data collected from the university students conversations via their WhatsApp platforms. This study employed a qualitative research technique and a descriptive research design. It utilized the snowball and purposive sampling procedures. Upon the collection of the data, content analysis was done in order to analyse the politeness strategies inherent in the discourse. The study revealed that university students strive to maintain cordial relationships by use of positive politeness, and they normally avoid imposing on each other by use of negative politeness strategies. Sometimes students use Off-record strategies in order to avoid being accused of committing a Face Threatening Act (FTA), which is likely to ruin their relationships.