PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSING LINGUISTIC POLITENESS IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

The article studies the peculiarities of the functioning of English, German and Russian passive constructions in the aspect of the theory of linguistic politeness and their role in intercultural communication. The article provides a brief overview of the theories of politeness existing in linguistic science, examines the role of politeness in intercultural communication. The authors prove that passive constructions are one of the most convenient and effective linguistic means of harmonizing interpersonal relations and creating a common emotionally polite atmosphere. The authors conclude that passive constructions are one of the means of creating two types of polite interaction between communication participants: positive (+) and negative (–). In the case of benevolent and neutral relationships between communicants, the use of passive constructions serves to generate a polite non-categorical statement. In these communication situations, the addressee uses a passive form to mitigate reproach or criticism. If the basis of communication is the negative attitude of the author towards the addressee, then the passive, which allows not to explicate the speaker, makes it possible either to hide this attitude, or vice versa, to emphasize.