Polite language is used to create social distance and to avoid offending, or appearing rude towards, others.Principle of Appropriateness; it depends on how much social distance exists between the interlocutors, the formality of the situation, how the power in the relationship is balanced, and, if a question is being asked, how imposing the request is to the person who is required to carry it out. It also relates to positive and negative face and how we behave in order to "save face". Society's changing social expectations en…
