Author(s): Emmanuella Ekwelle Esunge Ewane

Abstract: This study set out to explore politeness use during interactions in women associations from the South West and North West Regions of Cameroon in order to reveal their functions in groups’ dynamics. The study employed a qualitative collective case study design, blended with Brown and Levinson’s (1987) Face-Saving Politeness Theory and Bales’ (1957; 1999) IPA framework to explore politeness use and it functions in two categories of predominantly women associations, comprising Biwon Self Reliance and Farmers and Traders’ Union (BSRFTU), Cameroon Gatsby Foundation (CGF), One Hand Cannot Tie a Bundle (OHCTB)- Development-Based associations, Catholic Women’s Association (CWA) and Christian Women Fellowship (CWF)—Faith-Based associations. Through purposeful and random sampling techniques and with unstructured-open-ended interviews, non-participant observation and audio-recordings, 24 events which ranged from 24 minutes to 7 hours were analysed through the latent content analysis. The findings show that in an attempt to mitigate the intensity of the ‘face damages’ of communicative acts in the realisation of the problem-solving procedure of questions, attempted answers, negative reactions and positive reactions during meeting deliberations, members of BSRFTU, CGF, CWA, CWF and OCTB hedge them with politeness strategies. A total of 6,599 strategies of politeness accompanied thought units during interactions in these women associations. 4,796 of these politeness strategies, that is 72.7% were expressed in faith-based events and 1,803 of them, a percentage of 27.3, were used in development-based events. Of the five super strategies of politeness proposed by Brown and Levinson (1987), positive politeness (PP) was the most frequently employed super strategy in the activities of these women associations. It recorded an overall percentage of 70.3; that is 4,641 strategies used, with 3541 strategies (73.8%) used in faith-based associations and 1100 strategies (60%) used in development-based associations. However, while off record politeness was also preferred in development-based associations’ events, negative politeness and bald on record were higher in faith-based associations. Don’t Do the FTA was very minimal in the two categories of associations. The majority of these politeness strategies accompanied attempted answers thought units- 2,293 strategies, that is 34.7%. 1,942 strategies, that is 29.4% accompanied positive reactions thought units, and 1,410 strategies (21.4%.) were used during negative reactions thought units. This use of politeness demonstrates that communication for members of these women groups does not only revolve around discussing issues. It also entails connecting with one another. This use of politeness during group’s events in Anglophone Cameroon women associations’ interactions reveals significant traits of women’s interaction ethics: the use of collaborative and cooperative talk to create and maintain relationships, the avoidance of criticisms or making it gentle if it could not be avoided, the avoidance of outdoing others, or putting others down, and the tendency of paying attention to others and to relationships.

Keywords: Politeness, Communication Practices, Groups’ Dynamics, Anglophone Cameroon, Women Associations

Article Info: Received: 03 Jan 2025; Received in revised form: 07 Feb 2026; Accepted: 10 Feb 2026; Available online: 15 Feb 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.111.48