Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Notes on the Contributors vii
4. Introduction 1
5. Western Europe
6. Politeness in Germany: Politeness in GERMANY? 13
7. Politeness in France: How To Buy Bread Politely 29
8. Politeness in Belgium: Face,Distance and Sincerity in Service-exchange Rituals 45
9. Politeness in Luxemburg: Greetings from Foreign Parts 58
10. Politeness in The Netherlands: Indirect Requests 66
11. Politeness in Austria: Politeness and Impoliteness 82
12. Politeness in Switzerland: Between Respect and Acceptance 100
13. Politeness in Britain: ‘It’s Only a Suggestion…’ 116
14. Politeness in Ireland: ‘In Ireland, It’s Done Without Being Said’ 130
15. Northern Europe
16. Politeness in Norway: How Can You Be Polite and Sincere? 145
17. Politeness in Denmark: Getting to the Point 159
18. Politeness in Sweden: Parliamentary Forms of Address 174
19. Politeness in Finland: Evasion at All Costs 189
20. Eastern Europe
21. Politeness in Estonia: A Matter of Fact Style 203
22. Politeness in Poland: From ‘Titlemania’ to Grammaticalised Honorifics 218
23. Politeness in Hungary: Uncertainty in a Changing Society 234
24. Politeness in the Czech Republic: Distance, Levels of Expression, Management and Intercultural Contact 247
25. Southern Europe
26. Politeness in Greece: The Politeness of Involvement 263
27. Politeness in Cyprus: A Coffee or a Small Coffee? 277
28. Politeness in Italy: The Art of Self-Representation in Requests 292
29. Politeness in Portugal: How to Address Others 306
30. Politeness in Spain: Thanks But No ‘Thanks’ 317
31. Index 331