Implementation of negative politeness strategies in directive speech acts with modal verbs (in German)

Irina N. Protopopova and Nadezhda A. Sytina
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Irina N. Protopopova: Volgograd State University
Nadezhda A. Sytina: Volgograd State University

Russian Social and Humanitarian Studies, 2026, vol. 18, issue 1, 138–155

Abstract: Background. The article deals with the politeness category, which can be understood as a communicative or communicative‑pragmatic category. Researching strategies of negative politeness as a systematic event is relevant and crucial because it is related to the balance between the respectful attitude to a speaker and freedom to choose linguistic means. The choice of a certain strategy determines the effectiveness of communication. Purpose. To study the politeness category, taking into account the communicative situation and communicative strategies, and to find out the characteristics of the implementation of negative politeness strategies in directive speech acts in the German language. Object. Directive speech acts. Subject. Modal verbs, as well as the verb lassen as part of directive speech acts. Materials and methods. The authors use the method of definitional analysis to define the contents of the concepts relevant to the work, the method of contextual analysis to identify and study the ways of expressing politeness in German culture, and the method of statistical analysis to interpret the obtained quantitative data. The research material comprises works by German authors containing polite directive acts. Results. The study determines that the category of modality is a relevant means to express the principle of politeness in the German language. The strategies of “negative politeness” in directive speech acts are described, and the ways of mitigating categorical directives are characterized. The authors find that the use of negative politeness strategies reflects the significance of private space, independence, and non‑interference.

Keywords: negative politeness; directive speech act; modal verbs; pragmatics; communicative strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cxm:russhs:18:1:2026:138-155

DOI: 10.12731/3033-5981-2026-18-1-561

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