Negative Face Strategy
Pattern
Hedges + indirectness + options — autonomy-respecting utterance
Definition
Language that respects the hearer's desire for autonomy, freedom from imposition, and not being constrained. Includes hedging, apologizing for impositions, using indirect requests, and giving the hearer options.
Examples
Example 1
'I was wondering if you might possibly have a moment to look at this, if it's not too much trouble.' — multiple hedges protect the hearer's autonomy.
AI Detection Note
AI sometimes over-applies negative face strategies, creating excessively hedged prose ('it might perhaps be worth considering'). The stacking of multiple hedges where one would suffice is a common AI pattern.
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