<i>Sassy Sasha?</i>: The intersectionality of (im)politeness and sociolinguistics

Abstract This article focuses on intersections of race, gender, class, and (im)politeness within the African American speech community (AASC). Although general linguistic theorizing aims at universalizing (im)politeness, ultimately identifying common components human systems worldwide, perspectives have not been interjected that broader theorizing. Thus, I examine from perspective Americans with a focus females’ nonlinguistic behaviors. A plethora work examines, challenges, refutes stereotypical gender. explore facets stereotypical, particularly as applied to Black females aim broadening understandings based cultural variation. Specifically, sassy social construct when women in U.S. contexts, especially two women’s online assessments performativity by Sasha Obama, vehicle for allowing voices experiences enter into theory-making. The analysis is interpretative idiographic. bloggers’ words meanings suggest AASC resides sociolinguistics, pragmatics. As result analysis, could pay attention embodiedness polite impolite This, part, constitutes sociolinguistics (im)politeness.