The use of 'voting for yourself' on the popular TV show 'The Traitors' has sparked debate. Linguists and viewers alike are exploring why contestants choose this phrasing, suggesting it stems from a desire to soften criticism and avoid direct confrontation, reflecting a cultural instinct to protect face and maintain politeness.
live chats in the last few weeks.What’s the point of saying ‘I’m voting for yourself’?While I share their frustration, both Anconitano and Sprowl agree it serves the same purpose ― it makes the accusation feel less like an attack.“It sounds more reflective and less personal, almost as if the speaker is inviting the listener to step back and look at the situation with a bit of detachment.”
Sprowl agrees, adding: “‘Yourself’ can make the feedback feel more collaborative and less like a direct critique, which can help preserve the emotional tone of the conversation.”Stressing that the choice is far from “random”, Anconitano continued: “This reflects our instinct to protect both our own and others’ ‘face’ – the social dignity we all navigate in interactions.
Basically, it’s a mixture of formalised distance, a reluctance to confront one another directly, and gold ol’ manners. So, very British.“Misusing reflexive pronouns as an attempt to add formality has been common in the UK for decades ,” opinedthinks the “softener” theory might be true, but still gets on their nerves: “It was funny when Harry did it last series because it was a softener he subconsciously used because he was lying. But Faithfuls are using it now,” they wrote.
Pop Culture The Traitors Voting Etiquette Linguistics British Culture
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