SECTION THREE: WRITING AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY
Interaction Analysis..................................................................................................... (50 Marks]
According to Brown and Levinson {1987) politeness can be defined as "showing awareness
and consideration of another person's face" {pp. 311-312). Politeness means to know how
to be nice, tactful and modest to other people. People, therefore, avoid face threatening acts
with politeness strategies. For the linguist, politeness is concerned with the way that people
choose to speak and how their listeners react to what they say. In some conversation
situations, the principles of politeness can be violated and flouted. Review the entire dialogue
below in line with the Poltiness Principles as proposed by Geofrey Leech and compose an
expository essay. In each conversation situation, explain the relevance of each maxim. The
essay must be composed reviewing the dialogue in line with the following Leech's Politeness
Theory.
Ophthalmology-Cataract
A 63-year-old woman has come to the eye clinic complaining that she cannot see clearly. She
sees cloudy visuals. She has a condition called cataract. As her eyes were swollen, she was
admitted a week ago. The swollen eye has not made any improvement at all.
Patient: Good morning Doctor. My eyes cannot see clearly. I see cloudy visuals. It is swollen
and pain.fit!.
Doctor: Yes, good morning madam.
Patient: I am not madam; don't you see that I am too oldfor madam. You can call me grandma.
Doctor: Ok grandma. How are your eyes seeing?
Patient: The Nurse told me that I will be meeting the ophthalmologist today. I am glad.
Doctor: Have you used eyeglasses in your life?
Patient: I have never liked them because I live at the village all my life.
Doctor: Can you please face me so that I can examine your eyes. I will slawly shine in your
eyes with this light.
Patient: I cannot see you; can you please assist me to turn to you.
Doctor: My initial observation shows that you have cataract in both eyes. Both eyes are
infected.
Patient: Can you please give me a pair of spectacles Doctor?
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