Face and address terms: A case of some wedding invitation cards
Keywords:
Address terms, culture, face-threatening acts, Ghana, power, wedding invitation cardsAbstract
This study investigated whether or not self-address terms used on wedding invitation cards in Sunyani, Ghana, can be considered as face-threatening. Eelen’s (2014) critique of politeness theory served as the conceptual lenses for the study. Using a longitudinal study approach and a snowballing data collection procedure, 442 wedding invitations cards were collected within a twelve-month period. Findings reveal five categories of self-address terms used on wedding invitation cards, namely, religious, academic, professional, honorific and affectionate. Moreover, while some respondents submit that it is necessary for couples to use their titles as address terms on their wedding invitation cards and that doing so is not face-threatening, other respondents argue that the use of such address terms is tantamount to flaunting one’s accomplishments and is definitely a face-threatening act that must be avoided. Largely, respondents within the University of Energy and Natural Resources community have the former view while those outside the University community hold the latter view. The implication of this study, therefore, is that context matters and affects the meaning that is assigned to address terms and such contexts must be taken into consideration should couples choose to use self-address terms on their wedding invitation cards.
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