MODALISED INTERROGATIVES AS POLITE DIRECTIVES
The directive force is overlaid onto the interrogative. Such directives are more polite precisely because as interrogatives they appear to give the addressee the option of refusing, as in the following examples:
1 Can you close the door?
2 Will you close the door?
3 Could you close the door?
4 Would you close the door?
5 Won’t you close the door?
6 Can’t you close the door?
7 Must you leave the door open?
8 Do you mind closing the door?
The modals in 3 and 4 Could you? and Would you? are most polite because by the use of oblique (‘past’) forms they create conceptual distance between themselves and the speech act. Furthermore, distance correlates with less social involvement. The speaker conveys the impression that closing the door is of no great personal benefit; this gives the hearer a wider margin for possible refusal. As in the imperative tag, can’t 6 is not polite as a request. Won’t 5 is not polite either, as it appears to question the hearer’s unwillingness to carry out the rather trivial act of closing the door. Such unwillingness to carry out simple actions that obviously need doing also violates cultural conventions of cooperation. By contrast, won’t you? as an offer or invitation (make yourself at home, won’t you) is polite because it expresses warmth and generosity, and presumes that the act benefits the addressee. Must 7 is ironical, implying that the hearer has an insurmountable urge to leave the door open.
