Leo Hickey is a Research Professor at the University of Salford, where he was Professor of Spanish for several years. His work centres mainly on Spanish linguistics, stylistics, pragmatics and translation theory. Miranda Stewart is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Strathclyde. Her interests include interactional pragmatics and the negotiation of face in dialogue interpreting.

The study of politeness has undergone an explosion of interest since the late 1980s, involving an examination of language and languages in many societies. The present volume aims to contribute to current knowledge and understanding of the subject by giving a broad picture of politeness across twenty-two European countries, addressing the essential debates at the heart of politeness studies. Each chapter attempts to provide an empirical snapshot, based on sound theoretical principles, of the issues and practices in its own society. 

Some of the contributors engage directly with critical thinking on politeness theory, using data from their languages and cultures to advance theoretical frameworks, while others highlight the forms politeness takes in particular cultural contexts, analysing how individuals interact with each other in ways intended to achieve their communicative goals.

The volume treats questions such as whether a given society favours positive politeness or negative politeness, the use of formal or informal pronouns of address, small-talk, conventional politeness formulas and how politeness practices change over time.

Introduction - L Hickey and M Stewart
WESTERN EUROPE
1. Germany: Politeness in Germany? - J House (University of Hamburg)
2. France: How to Buy Bread Politely - C. Kerbrat-Orecchioni (Lumière University)
3. Belgium: Face, Distance and Sincerity in Service-exchange Rituals - E Danblon (Université Libre de Bruxelles), B. de Clerck (University of Ghent) and J-P. van Noppen (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
4. Luxemburg: Greetings from Foreign Parts - J. Kramer (University of Trier)
5. Netherlands: Indirect Requests - R. le Pair (University of Nijmegen)
6. Austria: Politeness and Impoliteness - S. Haumann, U. Koch and K. Sornig (University of Graz)
7. Switzerland: Between Respect and Acceptance - G Manno (University of Zurich)
8. Britain "It's only a suggestion..." - M. Stewart
9. Ireland: "...in Ireland, it's done without being said" - J. L. Kallen (Trinity College, Dublin).
NORTHERN EUROPE
10. Norway: How Can You be Polite and Sincere? - T Fretheim (University of Trondheim)
11. Denmark: Getting to the Point - E Fredsted (University of Flensburg)
12. Sweden: Parliamentary Forms of Address - C Ilie (Örebro University)
13. Finland: Evasion at all Costs - V Yli-Vakkuri (University of Turku)
EASTERN EUROPE
14. Estonia: A Matter-of-fact Style - L Keevallik (Tartu University)
15. Poland: From "Titlemania" to Grammaticalised Honorifics - R Huszcza (Warsaw University)
16. Hungary: Uncertainty in a Changing Society - L Bencze (Apor Vilmos Catholic College, Zsámbék)
17 The Czech Republic: Distance Levels, Management and Intercultural Contact - J Neustupný (Obirin University, Tokyo) and J Nekvapil (Charles University, Prague)
SOUTHERN EUROPE
18. Politeness in Greece: The Politeness of Involvement - M Sifianou and E Antonopoulou (University of Athens)
19. Cyprus: A Coffee or a Small Coffee? - M Terkourafi (British School at Athens and University of Cambridge)
20. Italy: Polite Requests - G Held (University of Salzburg)
21. Portugal: How to Address Others - M H Araújo Carreira (Université de Paris)
22. Spain: Thanks but No "Thanks" - L Hickey