"I will change it for you now": the pragmatics of threat in boss-apprentice conversations in abuja, nigeria

Abstract

In professional settings, language serves as a powerful tool for asserting authority and ensuring compliance. In Nigerian workplaces, the phrase “I will change it for you now” or its Pidgin version “I go change am for you” often functions as more than a correction—it reinforces hierarchy, asserts control, and implies potential escalation. This study explores such expressions as face-threatening acts (FTAs), revealing complex power dynamics in boss-apprentice interactions. Using Brown and Levinson’s (1987) Politeness Theory, it analyzes how these utterances threaten apprentices’ positive face (desire for approval) and negative face (desire for autonomy). The qualitative case study involved five boss-apprentice pairs in structured work environments. Data were collected through audio recordings, semi-structured interviews, and observation of non-verbal cues. Thematic analysis was employed, with credibility ensured via triangulation, member checking, and peer review. Ethical standards including informed consent, anonymity, and voluntary participation were upheld. The study highlights the need for culturally respectful communication in mentorship.