Politeness as a Nonverbal Communication Behavior: An Investigation into Driving Habits in Asia

Abstract

Politeness is mainly investigated in verbal and written communicative encounters. This study novelistically examines politeness and politic behavior as a nonverbal communicative event concerning driving habits in Asia. Politeness is investigated based on four variables that are the country of origin, gender, age, and level of education. The novel framework is based on Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory. This study revealed that Asian drivers use deference, hedges, and indirectness to minimize imposition while driving. The study showed that Hong Konger, Singaporean and Malaysian drivers are the most polite in Asia. This study also revealed that Hong Konger female drivers and Malaysian male drivers are the most polite in Asia concerning giving signals before changing lanes. It also revealed that Malaysian female drivers and Singaporean male drivers are the most polite in Asia concerning following traffic signs and speed limits. The study also found that Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Indian, Filippo, and Singaporean male drivers are more polite than their female counterparts with respect to following signs, while Hong Konger, Singaporean, and Taiwanese female drivers are more polite than their male counterparts pertaining to giving signals before changing lanes. It is also apparent that Malaysian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Pakistani, and Filipino male drivers are more polite than their female counterparts pertaining to giving signals before changing lanes. This study also established that old drivers are more polite than young drivers and old female drivers are more polite than old male drivers. In reference to the level of education, the study revealed a positive correlation between politic driving behavior and high level of education. Interestingly, highly educated male drivers are more polite than highly educated female drivers in Asia.