An Association Between Speech Rate and Politeness

Four preregistered studies (N = 369) demonstrate a relationship between speech rate and politeness: participants experienced slower (/faster) versions of a foreign-language message as more (/less) compatible with politeness (Study 1); intended to speak more slowly (/faster) to convey more (/less) politeness (Studies 2a and 2b); and read a pre-written message more slowly when intending to be more polite (Study 3). Findings show the association between speech rate and politeness is robust, does not depend on content, and does not even require comprehension. Drawing on established theories of politeness, we suggest that speech rate may reflect and regulate three factors that influence politeness: the status of the addressee, the imposition placed on the addressee by the message, and the social distance between speaker and addressee. We discuss implications vis-à-vis construal level theory, which suggests a relationship between psychological distance and speed via social distance.