Dissensão e trabalho de Face: uma análise do “não” sob a perspectiva pragmática

Abstract

This research investigates the linguistic-pragmatic strategies used to express dissent in situations of refusal and discomfort, with a focus on the difficulty of verbalizing “no” in potentially conflictive interactions, such as cases of harassment. Grounded in Brown and Levinson’s (1987) Politeness Theory and Meireles’ (1999) studies, the work analyzes how speakers construct dissenting responses—whether direct or indirect—in order to preserve social face and avoid interactional breakdowns. Data were collected through a questionnaire applied to 11 students from the undergraduate Letters program at the State University of Ponta Grossa (UEPG), featuring eight hypothetical scenarios based on the context of the “No Means No” campaign. The responses reveal a predominance of mitigated refusals, omissions, and topic shifts, highlighting the tension between assertiveness and the preservation of social image. The analysis shows that the act of denying is not limited to explicit negation but is also conveyed through indirect strategies aimed at softening the dissent. The findings reinforce the importance of understanding how language functions in the negotiation of boundaries, power, and identity in sensitive communicative contexts.