Background

We are two students attending a writing class at Michigan State University that focuses on the American ethnic and racial experience. We are examining theories of politeness and questioning if there is more to Brown & Levinson's idea of face. We have also been introduced to ebonics, or the African American speech community. We are considering cultural influences of collectivistic societies on what is perceived as polite. In class, we have interviewed African American women on their reaction to Rachel Jentel's testimony and are examining first-order impoliteness.