The Centre provides a focal point for research and pedagogy in liguistic politeness. Linguistic politness in an important tool by means of which human relationships are formed, maintained and renegotitated. Its study becomes pivotal in the analysis of intercultural and cross-cultural interactions, due to culture-specific differences in the perception of what counts as 'polite' and 'impolite'. Our interpretation of 'culture' is not limited to a national culture in a narrow sense, but it includes the (sub-)culture of networks that constitute a given society. Due to this interpretation, we are interested in the complexities of linguistic politeness (and related phenonema), and we pursue this interest by adopting a discursive approach to authentic naturally-occuring data. 

Our areas of specific expertise include the following: politeness theories, face theories, intercultural and cross-cultural politeness research, relational rituals, historical im/politness, politness and laughter, politeness and language education.