摘要
Politeness is a social phenomenon, a means to achieve good interpersonal relationships, and a norm imposed by social conventions. Politeness is universal, that is, it can be observed as a phenomenon in all cultures. It is resorted to by speakers of different languages as a means to an end, and it is recognized as a norm in all societies. Despite its universality, the actual manifestations of politeness, the ways to realize politeness, and the standards differ in different cultures. Politeness is, to some extent, culture-specific.
