Analyzing politeness strategies utilized in the office of the vice president budget hearings : a pragmatic study / Desiree F. Derecho, Christina Sophie B. Nobleza, and Jannah Veronica Villaflor

Undergraduate Theses (ABELS) - English Language Studies. Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, 2025.

Includes bibliographical references.

The foundation of effective interaction relies on politeness strategies since language acts as a persuasive tool during political communication to negotiate while managing public image. While previous studies have examined politeness in various institutional contexts, limited attention has been given to how these strategies function within Philippine congressional discourse-especially in budget hearings involving top officials. This study aims to analyze the politeness strategies used in selected Senate budget hearings concerning the Office of the Vice President (OVP), specifically during Vice President Sara Duterte's 2025 budget deliberations. Using a descriptive qualitative research design grounded in pragmatic discourse analysis, the study examined four publicly available hearing videos to identify and interpret politeness strategies based on Brown and Levinson's framework. The study underscores the importance of understanding politeness as a tool for effective discourse in governance The discourse revealed how language functions both as a tool for accountability and a reflection of power dynamics. Participants shifted strategies depending on their communicative goals-whether to press for transparency, defend institutional decisions, or manage public perception. Ultimately, this analysis highlights how politeness is not simply about being "nice," but about navigating power, responsibility, and face within political institutions.