INTERPERSONAL STYLE AND POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN LEGAL DISCOURSE

This article explores the role of interpersonal style and politeness strategies in legal discourse, particularly within courtroom interactions, witness examinations, and judicial opinions. It focuses on how participants in legal settings, such as judges, lawyers, and witnesses, navigate formality, power relations, and face-saving strategies through language. Drawing on Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory and forensic discourse analysis, the study investigates the strategic use of indirectness, hedging, mitigation, and honorifics. The paper also examines cross-cultural differences in legal politeness, shedding light on the potential for pragmatic misunderstanding in multilingual legal environments. By analysing real court transcripts and legal interviews, the article highlights how politeness not only reflects hierarchical relations but also affects the perception of credibility and fairness in legal proceedings.