Politeness strategies in English as a second language: A case of secondary school teachers in Fort Portal Municipality

Abstract

This study aimed at finding out how non-native speakers of English conceptualize politeness and what politeness strategies they use in communication with each other in English. Being native speakers of another language, second language speakers apply strategies and norms used in their native language in the target language. The competence of second languagespeakers is usually measured against native speaker norms instead of focusing on how second language speakers succeed in communication between themselves and what norms they construct that ensure successful communication. The study employed a qualitative research approach adopting a descriptive survey research design using purposively selected schools from Fort Portal Municipality. The data was collected using naturally occurring conversations, semistructured interviews and focus group discussions. The results obtained show that second language speakers do not conform to conventional strategies in interaction with fellow nonnative speakers. Instead, they construct pragmatic norms using politeness strategies in communication between themselves even though the resultant inter-language reflects incompetence. The study also shows that conceptualization of politeness is dynamic, flexible and participants assign meanings to particular strategies. With respect to orientation to politeness, the study shows that both positive and negative politeness are present but second language speakers in Fort Portal Municipality tend to pursue positive politeness. The study concluded that the prevalence of the inter-language in the interaction of second language speakers is a hindrance to the achievement of target language pragmatic competence. The goal of curriculum developers and second language teachers should then be refocused on developing deeper language variety awareness and ability to negotiate differences between the different varieties.