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definition (
1990
: 85): “A social agent
A
has power over another social agent
B
if and only if A strategically constrains B's action environment,” thus in every
interaction we have a process of allocating power. Thus the output hypothesis
is that verbal aggression and impoliteness can be
6
expressions of non-dialogic
communicative behavior aimed at gaining power, forcing a certain interactional
dynamics by rejecting the other and denying him/her conversational rights. Non-
dialogic behavior means a refusal to negotiate, and the exercising of power or even
violence to affirm one's goals. Such antidialogic behavior is realized in a multimodal
way: through verbal and nonverbal behavior, prosody, facial expression, and gesture.
Given the above considerations, we can think of a conflict as an interactional
process characterized by certain stages: a preparatory phase (onset phase), a
culminating phase (stroke) which can be further structured in chains, and a
retraction/solution phase (offset phase).
7
ONSET_K
0
!
DEVELOPMENT_K
1
!
STROKE_K
N
"
DEVELOPMENT_K
!
OFFSET
.
RETRACTION
=
SOLUTION
/
_K
!
L
0
From an initial balance situation which is corrupted by conflict and is characterized
by a struggle (tension) we come, in the last of the phases to a new balance, which
is a redefinition of communicative balance (it can be negotiation, communicative
standstill, the use of physical violence, etc.):
INITIAL BALANCE
::::::::::::
TENSION
::::::::::::
NEW BALANCE
Within these stages, interactants seek to construct their faces according to the
possibilities given by the other and by the situation
8
:
FACE A
1
=
B
1
::::
FACE A
2
=
B
2
::::
FACE A
N
=
B
N
This can be clearly seen in the analysis of the empirical material presented and
analyzed below in our pilot study.
6
Of course there are other explanations for the use of impoliteness, for example, asymmetries in
communicative competence, but in this chapter we will focus on the use of impoliteness provoked
by an attempt to gain power.
7
For the choice of this terminology see Sager (
2005
). See also Müller (
1998
) and Friecke (
2007
).
8
See also Simmel (
1972
). Simmel consieders a conflict to be even a chance for the development
of social harmony. In his opinion, a conflict involves always a possibility of solving and a mutual
will to solve it. In this sense, the stage before managing a conflict is one that actually divides the
conflictive parties. As soon as conflict management begins, the first step towards cooperation is
made.
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