Ivanova S.V. “Sorry, But I Have to Say”: Criticism Trapped by Politeness in the Genre of a Theatre Internet Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu2.2025.4.6

Svetlana V. Ivanova

Doctor of Sciences (Philology), Professor, Department of the English Language in the Sphere of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0127-9934

Abstract. The study is focused on the interaction of criticism and politeness in critical theatre reviews posted on social networks. The sample includes more than 1,000 posts published in a theater lovers group on the VKontakte social network. The concept of polite criticism is introduced in the article. This type of criticism is implemented in the text in several directions. It is established that politeness can bring about modification of the communicative goal, alterations in the genre script, including the omission of aspects that provoke criticism, changes in the narrative strategy, when a critical judgment is placed in the middle of the text, where the severity of criticism is less pungent. The article also describes cases when the object of criticism is shifted by foregrounding the author as the one being criticized, as well as by taking criticism beyond the object that is criticized, i.e. to the level of the situation. It also shows that the situation under consideration can be represented in an abridged format. In linguistic terms, preference is given to lexical and grammatical units that reduce the critical tone of the statement. Logically, concession and contrast are engaged for the criticism to be outplayed by something praiseworthy. Polite criticism results in expressing a critical judgment on the border of bona-fide and non-bona-fide communication.

Key words: politeness, criticism, theatre review, internet review, non-bona-fide communication.

Citation. Ivanova S.V. "Sorry, But I Have to Say": Criticism Trapped by Politeness in the Genre of a Theatre Internet Review. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 2. Yazykoznanie [Science Journal of Volgograd State University. Linguistics], 2025, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 66-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/ jvolsu2.2025.4.6

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