| dc.description.abstract | This thesis examines the role of linguistic politeness in role languages, stereotypical speech styles associated with specific character types in fiction. The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on both role language theory and politeness theory. Central to the approach is an integration of Brown and Levinson’s theoretical framework on language usage, which examines politeness based on the concept of face, face threatening acts and redressive action to mitigate the severity of Face threatening acts. As an extension impoliteness theory functions to describe antagonistic behaviour. The methodology was a qualitative content analysis, and for case studies dialogue from two manga series, “Ranma ½” and “One Piece” were examined. In general, I found the use of honorifics, low amount of intrinsic face threatening acts, and a high amount of polite redress or off-record politeness in the communicative tactics, as well as frequent use of honorifics can be used to code characters as more feminine or of higher class. The same linguistic elements could also be observed coding male characters as weak or cowardly. Conversely, the lack of honorifics and polite redress, bald-on-record politeness, or bald-on-record impoliteness tactics can be used to portray masculinity or strength. A high degree of active face attacks through impoliteness tactics, tended to indicate that the character was an antagonist in the structure of the story. Based on the findings of this thesis, I have concluded that politeness can function to indicate social aspects of a character, as well as their function in a story structure, in a comparable manner to other linguistic elements associated with role language speech styles. | eng |