Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Downgrade

Definition: 

A downgrade is a move that weakens or mitigates a previous utterance in order to make it more acceptable.

Examples: 

(English)

  • Adding an offer of assistance to a request in order to make it more acceptable
  • Suggesting ways a request could be easily accomplished in order to make it more acceptable
See Also: 
Source: 
164–165, 177

Glossary Hierarchy