Impoliteness in Hospitals: A Study of Five Government Hospitals in Anioma, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Impoliteness is the selection and use of linguistic acts which are considered inappropriate, uncivil and rude. Nevertheless, it is an important discourse in language studies. This paper therefore, examines impoliteness in General Out-Patient department (GOPD) in five government–owned hospital in Anioma, Delta state. The aim is to investigate the popular patients’ claim that hospital personnel at the GOPD are extremely impolite and also to examine how patients respond to impoliteness. Questionnaire was used to elicit data from patients. Premising the study on Culpeper (1996) impoliteness theory, Bousefield (2008) impoliteness response classification was adopted as theoretical insight. The paper utilizes simple percentage method that was computed by the authors to analyze data from 240 patients and the results were presented in tables and graphs. The study finds that hospital personnel at the registry are not as extremely impolite as claimed by patient. The study also finds that patient use offensive and defensive counter responses mostly when they perceive that personnel in medical record department (GOPD) are impolite to them.