Relational work and interpersonal pragmatics

The field of politeness studies has developed considerably within the last decades and today we are faced with discussions on how to best approach this topic theoretically and methodologically, what its scope of investigation should be and how to best combine it with insights from other research traditions within interpersonal pragmatics (for overviews see Locher, 2012, 2013). This has advanced the field but it has also brought about the need to clarify positions in light of insecurities over terminology and research angle/interest. In this brief statement, I will first position my own understanding of the study of the relational side of language -- largely developed together with Richard J. Watts and Andreas Langlotz -- and react to a number of issues that were raised in connection with the notion of ‘relational work’ in Spencer-Oatey’s contribution to this special issue.