Stationery store v.s Vivienne Westwood
Stationery store near my home
When I entered the stationery store, the owner who has known me since I was nine said "Hi! How's going recently?" with smile. It was the involvement politeness strategies to maintain my positive face, the desired to be liked. She used this strategy to show the concern of my visiting. During the shopping period, I looked around to find some suitable notebooks and pens. When she kept on asking my recent situation, I pretended that I did not hear to show that I want to maintain my negative face which I want to be given space. Afterward, another boy came and asked for photocopying. Therefore, she stopped asking me question and served that boy. While she was photocopying, I deliberately ask her question such as “ how much is that pen?”, “ How many different colors do this type of the pen has?”. At that moment, she felt embarrassed and asked me to wait for a moment. Indeed, what I did was a face threatening act which threatened her negative face. Because she would want having a space to serve the other customer instead of serving both of us at the same time.
Vivienne Westwood in Shatin New Plaza
While I entered the shop, the salesperson said “welcome” with a nice smile. However, she did not come near by and just left me walking around by my self. It showed that she used the Independence politeness strategy to maintain my negative face which I could enjoy my space and respected my freedom to walk around. After circulating for a while, I stood in front of a showcase which was displayed some wallets. A moment later, a salesperson came and asked “Miss, may I help you?”. It indicated that she used the involvement politeness strategy to maintain my positive face that she was paying attention to me. Then, “ Sure, I would like to have a look of this wallet” I answered, pointing to one of the wallet. While she put the wallet out from the showcase, she said “ this one has red color as well and it would be more suitable for a young lady to use the red one as the black looks mature”. While she offering me those advices, I did not pay attention to it deliberately and even with no facial expression respond. The salesperson looked like feeling upset and just being silent afterwards. In fact, what I did was a face threatening act which threatened her positive face. Because she want her advices would be taken or pay attention with.
Comparison of both situations
Stationery Store
Power (P) Nil Distance (D) D- Weight of Imposition (W) W-
Stationery store near my home
When I entered the stationery store, the owner who has known me since I was nine said "Hi! How's going recently?" with smile. It was the involvement politeness strategies to maintain my positive face, the desired to be liked. She used this strategy to show the concern of my visiting. During the shopping period, I looked around to find some suitable notebooks and pens. When she kept on asking my recent situation, I pretended that I did not hear to show that I want to maintain my negative face which I want to be given space. Afterward, another boy came and asked for photocopying. Therefore, she stopped asking me question and served that boy. While she was photocopying, I deliberately ask her question such as “ how much is that pen?”, “ How many different colors do this type of the pen has?”. At that moment, she felt embarrassed and asked me to wait for a moment. Indeed, what I did was a face threatening act which threatened her negative face. Because she would want having a space to serve the other customer instead of serving both of us at the same time.
Vivienne Westwood in Shatin New Plaza
While I entered the shop, the salesperson said “welcome” with a nice smile. However, she did not come near by and just left me walking around by my self. It showed that she used the Independence politeness strategy to maintain my negative face which I could enjoy my space and respected my freedom to walk around. After circulating for a while, I stood in front of a showcase which was displayed some wallets. A moment later, a salesperson came and asked “Miss, may I help you?”. It indicated that she used the involvement politeness strategy to maintain my positive face that she was paying attention to me. Then, “ Sure, I would like to have a look of this wallet” I answered, pointing to one of the wallet. While she put the wallet out from the showcase, she said “ this one has red color as well and it would be more suitable for a young lady to use the red one as the black looks mature”. While she offering me those advices, I did not pay attention to it deliberately and even with no facial expression respond. The salesperson looked like feeling upset and just being silent afterwards. In fact, what I did was a face threatening act which threatened her positive face. Because she want her advices would be taken or pay attention with.
Comparison of both situations
Stationery Store
Power (P) Nil Distance (D) D- Weight of Imposition (W) W-
Vivienne Westwood Shop
Power (P) Nil Distance (D) D+ Weight of Imposition (W) W-
Regarding the Power (P), the relationship between the salesperson and me should be equal (nil) in the two shops. However, for the distance (D), as I have known the owner of the stationery store for a long time, the distance of us (D-) is relatively closer then the salesperson in Vivienne Westwood shop (D+). In term of Weight of Imposition (W), for both of them, selling product is their job duty, so it would not be a serious matter for them(W-).
To conclude, as the only different of them is the distance relationship. Therefore, the owner of the stationery store used the involvement strategy and the salesperson would most likely use the independent strategy. However, besides those dimensions, there are still other factors would influence the choice of the politeness strategy, such as the image of the shop would like to project to their customers.
Connie, your experience in VW was quite good.The sale attendant used Independence politeness strategy and Involvement politeness strategy that keeping your positive and negative faces.Compare with my experience in Agnes b, the sale attendant didn't care about me even I wanted to buy things.
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