Dániel Z. Kádár is Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Huddersfield. Michael Haugh is an Associate Professor in Linguistics and International English at Griffith University.

'Understanding Politeness provides an innovative, integrative understanding of politeness as an evaluative social practice. It is destined to become the standard paradigm for teaching students and for studying these complex phenomena.' Robert B. Arundale, Professor Emeritus of Communication, University of Alaska Fairbanks

• 1. Introduction; Part I. Theoretical Framework: 2. The roots of politeness research; 3. Recent developments in politeness research; 4. Politeness as social practice; 5. Understandings of politeness; Part II. Politeness and Time: 6. Politeness in interaction; 7. Politeness, convention and rituality; 8. Politeness and history; Part III. Politeness and Social Space: From Mind to Society: 9. Politeness and metapragmatics; 10. Politeness, cognition and emotion; 11. Culture, identity and politeness; 12. Conclusion.

Dániel Z. Kádár is Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Huddersfield. Michael Haugh is an Associate Professor in Linguistics and International English at Griffith University.

'Understanding Politeness provides an innovative, integrative understanding of politeness as an evaluative social practice. It is destined to become the standard paradigm for teaching students and for studying these complex phenomena.' Robert B. Arundale, Professor Emeritus of Communication, University of Alaska Fairbanks

• 1. Introduction; Part I. Theoretical Framework: 2. The roots of politeness research; 3. Recent developments in politeness research; 4. Politeness as social practice; 5. Understandings of politeness; Part II. Politeness and Time: 6. Politeness in interaction; 7. Politeness, convention and rituality; 8. Politeness and history; Part III. Politeness and Social Space: From Mind to Society: 9. Politeness and metapragmatics; 10. Politeness, cognition and emotion; 11. Culture, identity and politeness; 12. Conclusion.