IMPOLITENESS IN STAFF–CLIENT INTERACTION: A STUDY OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE AWKA, NIGERIA

Abstract

We all have expectations of how we desire to be addressed or talked to by people we meet in our daily activities. This study of impoliteness therefore is the study of the way in which these expectations are not met. Being linguistically impolite involves breaking of free flow of communication especially in public offices like such under study. The study examines the level of impoliteness inherent in staff-client interaction at the personnel unit of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Centre Awka, Nigeria. The study adopts qualitative method using tape recording, personal notes and observation as tools for data collection. The data collected were analysed to answer the study questions using Brown and Levinson’s (1987) face-saving view and Culpeper’s (1996) Impoliteness theories. The findings reveal that the staff interactions with their clients were characterized by Face Threatening Acts (FTA). Also, the treatment received by clients does not match with the need for establishing those units under study. The study concludes that there is need for orientation on language use among staff-clients in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Centre, Awka.