Probing the Topic “Piety” in Nahjolbalaghe on the Basis of Politeness Principles

Interaction as a technical term in sociolinguistics equates to verbal relationship. Interaction comprehension requires paying attention to internal and external factors of verbal relation. Politeness is a strategy related to interaction in which face, face protecting acts and face threatening acts are being discussed about on the basis of certain principles. Thus face protecting acts in speech acts are investigated with regard to politeness principles. Present research is an attempt to analyze Imam Ali’s recommendations in Nahgolbalaghe about piety along with speech acts used in them on the basis of politeness principles. Investigations have revealed that direct speech acts are seen with high frequency which in its own turn shows correspondence between locutionary and illocutionary acts and frankness in Imam Ali’s words. The mentioned directness doesn’t threaten addressees’ face since politeness strategies, solidarity and short social distance cause addressees’ face not to be threatened.