Pragmatics of Impoliteness in Construction Sites: A Case study of Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract

This article examined Pragmatics of Impoliteness in the construction sites: A case study of Mwanza region. The study based on Jonathan Culpeper’s impoliteness model (1996) and revised by Culpeper in 2005. Moreover, impoliteness strategies, reasons for using impoliteness, as well as responses for impoliteness in construction sites have been researched. The study is of the view that impoliteness strategies are applied in the construction sites so as to achieve certain goals. This is a qualitative study with the data gathered through observation, interview and focus group discussion. The data have been collected from the seven construction sites. The study concluded that all the five impoliteness strategies (Bald on record, positive, negative, mock or sarcasm impoliteness and withhold politeness) listed by Culpeper were used by the construction workers and there were reasons for using impoliteness strategies some of them were; to raise working morale, to entertain the workers and to provide simple and clear information and instruction.