Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject Sociology - Communication, grade: 1,7, University of Erfurt, language: English, abstract: Considering the term "polite" seems to be straightforward in our way of thinking today. However, to get to the bottom of politeness is not as easy as it appears at a first glance. The topic by itself and the principles beyond politeness are quite complex. To determine a general definition of politeness is desperately sophisticated. Politeness includes a great amount of subareas and distinct characteristics among a broad range of countries and cultures....