Communicative functions: Interacting with others

Adjusting our interactions with others

Introduction

When we interact with others, we build relationships with them. As we build relationships, we often try to adjust, soften or temper our point of view so that other people in the interaction are able to express their point of view as well. 

The most direct way to express our point of view is to be either positive or negative:

The water in the harbour is polluted, but the water in the swimming pools isn't polluted. The children like chocolate biscuits but they don't like MegaMonster.

Sometimes we don't want to express our point of view so directly and we adjust our language in the following ways:

	We take a position somewhere between positive and negative.  The harbour is often polluted and swimming pools are usually clean. The children might like chocolate biscuits, but the probably don't like MegaMonster.
	We attribute this point of view to someone else. MegaMonster thinks that the harbour is polluted and that swimming pools are clean.

For more information about responding to requests, see:

Text types: Particular Descriptions: Expressing feelings and opinions
Text types: Recounts: Expressing feelings and opinions
Text types: Stories: Building atmosphere and suspense
Grammar: Groups & phrases: Verb group: Adjusting interactions: modality: Overview