Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 19، number In Volume 3، June 2026 ، issue Number 121

Analysis and Examination of Politeness Strategies from the Perspective of Brown and Levinson in the Ghazals of Omid Majd

Maryam Shafiei Taban (Author in Charge)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Politeness theory, one of the novel theories in linguistics, is of great importance in the field of discourse analysis and pragmatics. This theory, first formally proposed by Brown and Levinson, led to the publication of a book in 1987 that examines and analyzes various aspects of politeness strategies. In this research, based on Brown and Levinson"s politeness theory, we will analyze and evaluate the ghazals of Omid Majd, a contemporary ghazal poet, to analyze the beloved"s face, and the negative and positive politeness strategies in his ghazals.

METHODOLOGY: This research has been conducted based on a descriptive-analytical approach and an information gathering method through library studies of the collection "Hamrah Baran" from Omid Majd"s ghazal collection. To achieve accurate data and reliable evaluation, all instances were extracted, and the results were presented in the form of statistical analysis.

FINDINGS: The findings indicate that in Majd"s ghazals, a high volume of polite speech strategies are present in both direct and indirect forms. The poet has strived to effectively utilize these tools to elevate the beloved and avoid face-threatening acts.

CONCLUSION: In Majd"s ghazals, due to the position and status of the speaker (poet) and the respect he holds for his beloved and audience, the negative face has been taken into consideration. The poet has strongly avoided the positive (familiar) face, even in romantic conversations. All states, descriptions, whether in deprivation and separation or in expressions of complaint, are observable within the framework of the negative face in Majd"s speech, behavior, and narrative descriptions. Respectful requests, prayers, and expressions of affection, which are manifestations of positive politeness, are more frequently used in the ghazals of this contemporary poet.

Keyword
Omid Majd , Brown and Levinson , Literary Strategies , Contemporary Ghazal , Literary Theory