Examining first-order localised politeness

In this paper, I examine perceived (im)politeness practices in a specific geographical location and argue that not only do patterns and practices need to be understood in relation to particular understandings and attitudes but also in terms of participants’ objectives. By examining impoliteness practices in a Mexican context, I argue that not only are interactants impolite in locally effective ways but may also hold individually differing and often conflicting views regarding the acceptability of engaging in a specific instance of impolite behaviour. Given the strong preference for positive politeness strategies in Mexican social encounters (Curcó 1998, 2007, 2011), I argue that verbal and non-verbal positive impoliteness strategies are often used to exclude interactants from social groups through short-term group-coordinated strategies such as hacer la ley de hielo (to give someone the silent treatment) and fregar (to verbally annoy) and through more long-lasting measures such as no dirigir la palabra (not to be on speaking terms) or hacer la burla (to make fun of). By conducting semi-structured interviews in Guadalajara, Mexico, I identified how participants saw themselves employing a range of positive impoliteness strategies and examined how such strategies reflect interpersonal choices such as having fun or censuring others’ behaviour.