Abstract The study combines Brown and Levinson’s (1987) work on politeness techniques and Tannen’s (1981, 1993) work on indirectness and power-solidarity dynamics to extend research on workplace discourse. I examine how two female Russian-speaking chairs (one of Russian and another of Kazakh origin) differently perform face-threatening acts (FTAs) of criticisms and directives during teacher meetings at a community college in Kazakhstan. Specifically, the Russian chair employs fewer politeness techniques (e. g., hedging with “please”), issuing criticisms and orders with no mitigation, thereby foregrounding the power asymmetry within the group. The lack of mitigation surfaces through explicit usage of pronouns (“I” vs. “you”); action verbs inflected for the 2nd person plural and imperative mood; words with a negative and moral connotation; and phonological modifications for emphasis. Differently, the Kazakh chair utilizes a larger number of politeness techniques, including hedging (e. g., “please”, “unfortunately”), impersonalizing negative actions (through indefinite pronouns and agentless verbs), and manipulating of tense and space. Thus, she performs indirect FTAs that highlight the solidarity aspect of group relations. I relate these findings to studies of management leadership in post-Soviet states that have revealed the tendency of Kazakh managers to use a nurturing leadership style.

中文翻译：

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通过间接性平衡权力和团结：俄罗斯和哈萨克斯坦会议主席的案例研究

摘要该研究结合了Brown和Levinson（1987）的礼貌技巧研究和Tannen（1981，1993）的间接性和权力-团结动力研究，以扩展对工作场所话语的研究。我研究了在哈萨克斯坦一所社区大学举行的教师会议期间，两位讲俄语的女性主持人（一位来自俄罗斯，另一位来自哈萨克族）如何不同程度地进行批评和指示的面部威胁行为（FTA）。具体地，俄罗斯主席使用较少的礼貌技术（例如，用“请”进行对冲），在不减轻影响的情况下发出批评和命令，从而凸显了该组内的权力不对称。通过显式使用代词（“我”与“您”）来减轻风险的不足；为第二人称复数和命令式语气变化的动作动词；带有负面和道德含义的词；和语音修饰以强调。与此不同，哈萨克椅子运用了大量礼貌技巧，包括套期保值（例如“请”，“不幸”），假装消极行为（通过不定代词和无主体动词）以及操纵时态和空间。因此，她执行间接FTA来突出群体关系的团结方面。我将这些发现与后苏联国家的管理领导力研究联系起来，这些研究揭示了哈萨克人管理者倾向于采用培养领导风格的趋势。她执行间接FTA，以突出群体关系的团结方面。我将这些发现与后苏联国家的管理领导力研究联系起来，这些研究揭示了哈萨克人管理者倾向于采用培养领导风格的趋势。她执行间接FTA，以突出群体关系的团结方面。我将这些发现与后苏联国家的管理领导力研究联系起来，这些研究揭示了哈萨克人管理者倾向于采用培养领导风格的趋势。