Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject Communications - Language, grade: 1.7, University of Würzburg (Neuphilologisches Institut), course: English in Canada, language: English, abstract: “Is Our Politeness Holding us Back” (Souvaliotis 2011)? This very title indicates a major concern about language. The author is thinking about Canada ...

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject Communications - Specialized communication, grade: 1.7, University of Würzburg (Neuphilologisches Institut), course: English in Canada, language: English, abstract: “Is Our Politeness Holding us Back” (Souvaliotis 2011)? This very title indicates a major concern about language. The author is thinking about Canada which is stereotypically said to be the politest countries in the world. Or, like the novelist Bissoondath put it in: “We are a country of good heart, a country on the whole of courage and goodwill […]” (2006: 25). Souvaliotis continues and analyzes that Canadians voice their “concerns so gently packaged and tightly buried in their talk that most listeners would naturally smile” (2011).Scientifically, this prejudice seems to be incredible, which is why this paper needs to be written. The title and research question, hence, can be stated as “Canadian Politeness – A never-ending stereotype or just the truth about the friendliest country?” and should outline whether Canadians are more polite than others and if so, why. The hypothesis states in fact a more kindly and friendly way of speaking, though, it just occurs in a sense of habit and not manner.