Abstract

The applicability of Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory, originally formulated for Western languages, is addressed by extending its utility to the Assamese linguistic and cultural context. Delving into the positive politeness framework, the study meticulously categorizes these strategies into fifteen subtypes. Through the analysis of thirteen Assamese stories, the research unveils a nuanced understanding of how speakers adeptly employ these strategies interchangeably to elicit favorable responses while preserving the positive face of the hearer. The research aims to identify instances of positive politeness as proposed by Brown and Levinson by analyzing dialogue data from thirteen selected stories in the collection “Burhi Aair Xadhu” by Laksminath Bezbaruah. This book, a compilation of oral tales by Bezbaruah, was first published in 1911. Numerous editions have been released over the years, and the version used for this research is the 2018 edition by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. The findings reveal that out of the fifteen sub-strategies for positive politeness proposed by Brown and Levinson, five were most frequently used in the characters’ conversations within the stories. Among these, one sub-strategy was particularly dominant. A quantitative analysis of all the data has been conducted to support these observations. The findings reveal a tactical approach among speakers, demonstrating a judicious alignment of politeness strategies with specific situational demands. Quantitative analysis further substantiates these insights, emphasizing the intentional nature of language use. The frequency of the fifteen sub-strategies within the sample stories not only validates their application but also illuminates the deliberate and thoughtful selection of words and sentences. This analysis underscores that communication is a nuanced process influenced by reasons, desires, and latent wants of human beings.