Analysis of face threatening acts on the faces of widows and widowers in funeral context

This study intended to identify the acts of speakers that threaten the faces of widows and widowers in funeral condolences. The study was guided by Penelope Brown and Levinson Stephen’s Politeness Theory and Ervin Goffman’s views on politeness which deals with face issues, face threatening actions and how to save the face from such actions. Population of the study was the speakers who gave condolences to widows and widowers in selected funerals. Descriptive research design guided this study. Purposive sampling was used to identify funerals and speakers. The study employed participant observation as a method of data collection. The study revealed that; despite the fact that speakers tried as much as possible not to threaten the faces of the widows and widowers, sometimes they used words that threatened them especially when they gave complaints, advice, orders and requests to them. The study concluded that if polite language when expressing condolences in a funeral context will be embraced, it will play a big role in respecting the other’s privacy and make mourning comfortable among the AbaGusii