Politeness

Michael Rosen takes a well-mannered look at politeness. Is it true that "thank you", "goodbye" and other traditional expressions of courtesy are dying out?

Cora Malinak is a trainer who helps people from other cultures to learn the unwritten rules of communicating politely in English. Geraldine D'Amico discusses French ideas on politeness, and the rules about using "tu" and "vous".

Blogger Sarah Ditum talks us through the "online disinhibition effect". Why is it that emails can seem ruder than other forms of communication?

And Michael talks to the eminent linguist and author Professor Deborah Tannen, who has spent many years studying the language of politeness, and believes that what seems like rudeness can in fact just be a different conversational style.

Producer Beth O'Dea.