Beleefdheid in Afrikaans: ’n sosiolinguistiese perspektief

Abstract

Politeness in Afrikaans: a sociolinguistic perspective
This article argues that because the phenomenon of linguistic politeness is embedded in a particular linguistic community, linguistic politeness should in the first instance be studied from sociolinguistic and pragmatic perspectives. Using Afrikaans examples, different types of linguistic politeness are identified. The identified politeness types are discussed with special reference to conversational politeness, directives, complaints and honorifics. It is also argued that the specific choice of lexical items and ‘in group’ variants can be regarded as a form of linguistic politeness. A feminist perspective on politeness clearly illustrates that linguistic politeness is an everchanging, dynamic concept which is closely linked to both interpersonal and societal associations which prevail at a specific point in time.