This groundbreaking exploration navigates the reader through the fascinating area of politeness.

Dániel Z. Kádár is Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Huddersfield.

1. Introduction; Part I. Theoretical Framework: 2. The roots of politeness research; 3. Recent developments in politeness research; 4. Politeness as social practice; 5. Understandings of politeness; Part II. Politeness and Time: 6. Politeness in interaction; 7. Politeness, convention and rituality; 8. Politeness and history; Part III. Politeness and Social Space: From Mind to Society: 9. Politeness and metapragmatics; 10. Politeness, cognition and emotion; 11. Culture, identity and politeness; 12. Conclusion.