Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background. In today's globalized world, the study of communicative styles plays a crucial role in fostering cross-cultural understanding and engagement across various fields. As cultural boundaries become increasingly interconnected, examining different communicative practices helps to bridge gaps in understanding, promote more inclusive dialogue, and enhance cooperation in diverse contexts. Among these, American academic discourse is of particular significance as its conventions and norms shape the way knowledge is communicated and shared worldwide. Its impact extends far beyond English-speaking nations, influencing higher educational frameworks, research methodologies, and scientific cooperation in many countries. Methods. The study employs the descriptive method to examine the characteristics of the American communicative style. Discourse analysis is applied to analyze the research material to identify face-saving strategies, which refer to methods of preserving one's positive self-presentation during the communication process. Results. Drawing on P. Brown and S. Levinson's face theory, the study proves that saving both "positive" and "negative" faces is a defining characteristic of the American communicative style in the academe. The strategies can be seen as representations of cultural preferences for interaction, cooperation, and mutual respect in academic environments. Conclusions. American communicative style prioritizes saving both "positive" and "negative" faces, ensuring a balance between personal rapport and respect for individual autonomy. In academic discourse, "positive face" refers to the desire to be accepted, valued, and appreciated by others, which is achieved through addressing one another by name, using inclusive language, and expressing agreement. "Negative face" relates to the wish for autonomy and freedom from imposition. It is realized through using approximators, modal verbs, and impersonal phrases, which helps maintain distance and politeness.
Author: Iryna Shpeniuk
Institution: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410243394