When the strategic displacement of the main topic of discussion is used as a face-saving technique: Evidence from Jordanian Arabic BILAL A. AL-ADAILEH Abstract This study aims to demonstrate and analyze the behaviours of two Jordan- ian persons employing different positive politeness strategies in a face- threatening situation. The discussion explicitly centres on the fact that the directionality of politeness could be realized and encoded in the individuals’ linguistic choices. The present paper primarily addresses the strategy of displacing the main topic of discussion on the part of Jordanian interlocu- tors exhibiting a positive politeness direction, in an apology-calling situa- tion, as a way to protect the speaker’s face. The discussion is based on the analysis of an exchange between two acquaintances of mine. The main point raised is that though the two neighbours are displaying politeness behaviours that may appear to be in tension - with one considering his addressee’s as well as his own face (neighbour 1) and the other being primarily concerned with his own face (neighbour 2) through his disinclina- tion to get involved in a lengthy conversation and through the displacement of the main topic of discussion - the two neighbours’ behaviours are never- theless orienting to an over-arching relational goal of maintaining the rela- tionship. This is also to suggest that intracultural differences should be addressed before moving on to discuss cross-cultural differences. Keywords: Displacement, relational work, disagreement, positive polite- ness, face, and apology. 1. Face and politeness: Historical perspective From a pragmatic perspective, the concept of face has been thoroughly explored by many scholars with the aim of investigating its significant role in social interactions. In relation to this, Goffman (1967: 5) claims that within social encounters each participant is assumed to adopt a “line” of behaviour which functions as a social identity by which the Journal of Politeness Research 7 (2011), 239-257 1612-5681/11/007-0239 DOI 10.1515/JPLR.2011.012  Walter de Gruyter Brought to you by | Lulea University of Technology Authenticated | 130.240.43.43 Download Date | 9/22/13 1:51 PM