The collection features 13 original papers that explore the evolution of linguistic politeness research, building on foundational work from 1992. The updated introductory section highlights the ongoing relevance and impact of these articles, emphasizing their significance in shaping future studies in the field as it advances into the 21st century.
During the last fifteen years, existing models of linguistic politeness have generated a huge amount of empirical research. Using a wide range of data from real-life speech situations, this new introduction to politeness breaks away from the limitations of current models and argues that the proper object of study in politeness theory must be commonsense notions of what politeness and impoliteness are. From this, Watts argues, a more appropriate model, one based on Bourdieu's concept of social practice, is developed.
The book explores the evolution of language through an interdisciplinary lens, integrating insights from linguistics, archaeology, molecular biology, and other fields. It seeks to align human evolutionary studies with contemporary linguistic theories, crafting a plausible narrative of the emergence and development of human language. The approach emphasizes adaptability, remaining receptive to advancements in both linguistic and non-linguistic research, fostering a comprehensive understanding of language's historical context.