IELTS Speaking Part 1 Politeness

What does politeness mean to you, and why do you think it is important in society?

 Politeness is a good social attribute that we can pursue. It is also very good for our health and our friends in our society. 

A calm mind can lead to many good relationships, and politeness is a good way to show respect to elders and others. For that reason, politeness is very important. And I pursue this habit in my day-to-day life. 

How do cultural differences influence the perception and expression of politeness? 

Cultural differences influence the perception and expression of politeness because, in certain cultures, it is important to be polite, and people talk to each other in a light tone. For example, in South India, people have a very light tone when they talk to each other; they do not use loud voices. 

On the contrary, in certain cultures, you’re close to each other if you talk loudly. We can take the example of North India, especially people from Punjab and Haryana, who love to talk loud. So, this is how the cultural differences influence the expression of politeness. 

Can you describe a situation where you observed someone displaying exceptional politeness?

 Okay, I haven’t met any such situation, but as I remember, there was one similar incident that happened to me when I was in India; I met my friend, he’s, he’s basically from a Jain community. He requested that I meet with his guru. So when I met him, he was like, she was a lady, and she’s like, too, too polite like I couldn’t understand, how can he like a person can be such quiet. So, she was very polite, and the way she talked was very polite with a very sweet voice. 

So, that’s the only person I have met who exhibited extreme politeness. 

In what ways do you think technology has changed the way people communicate politely, both positively and negatively? 

If I talk about positive development, it’s basically from the person who is like an introvert. Some people are very bad at convincing their likes, ideas, or gratitude towards people face to face, but with the help of technology, they can talk on the phone and show politeness. They can enhance the conversation with the help of emojis to put their emotions. And if I talk about the negative one, people are getting too addicted. 

Some people spend a lot of time on mobile phones, which affects their politeness. Some people have to talk very loudly when there’s a poor connection. There are many similar conditions under which they lose their politeness.

 Do you believe that politeness is innate? Or is it something that can be taught and learned? 

I believe patience is a virtue that is both innate and can be cultivated with practice. Sometimes, because of circumstances, many people have this inborn talent and tend to exhibit patience in their daily lives. On the contrary, some people acquire this habit from their life experiences, which leads them to exhibit patience. Doing your tasks impatiently leads to bad results.

What role does politeness play in professional environments, such as the workplace or business interactions? 

Well, politeness is very important at the workplace because by politely talking, we can build good relationships with the people at our workplace. My manager adopts the same attributes because he talks to us politely whenever he needs our support. It’s a daunting task for someone to say no to him. 

And if I talk about the business purpose, it’s a good attribute to crack the deals. Many people use this attribute, this habit, in their deals, as they talk very politely. So, it’s really helpful to their business.

How do age and social status affect expectations of politeness in different cultures?

 So, there are many changes in the politeness of ages and the social, social status. For example, a person with a good salary and reputation cannot get any politeness from them because, with their social status and jobs, they have to be loud and strict, such as the army man and the police officer. 

So we cannot get any politeness from them. And if I talk about age, older people tend to lose control quickly. Similarly, we can see this in adulthood, like in our teenage.

So yes, that age factor, like differentiate politeness. 

Have you ever encountered situations where your being overly polite may have been perceived negatively?  

Yes, like it, it happens all the time. I work in a factory as a team leader and have to lead six team members, and most of the time, I behave strictly. 

But sometimes, I give them leverage. And I politely talk to them.

But sometimes they take it for granted. And, like, they start disobeying my orders. And then I have to, like, loud my voice, and I have to, like, put my politeness aside. 

 What measures can individuals and communities take to promote a culture of politeness and mutual respect in everyday interactions? 

 In my culture, like in India, politeness is learned through parents. 

At an early age, our parents teach us how to respect elders. Whenever you meet, you need to touch their feet; it’s a good way of showing extra gratitude to them. It’s also a good way of showing respect towards them. Also, it leads to politeness. If we talk loudly in public, it’s a bad sign in my community.