Understanding Petty Traders’ Use of Honorifics as a Persuasive Tool in Sales

Abstract

The widespread use of honorifics as a persuasive tool to achieve diverse communicative goals in Ghana has given rise to the necessity to investigate honorific expressions and their influence on sales performance among petty traders in Accra. Using an interpretive method, sampled shoppers and traders from Ghana’s centre of trade – Makola Market – were interviewed to better understand honorifics’ influence on sales. According to the study, honorifics have lost their purpose as a persuasive technique because their use no longer influences shoppers. However, they are still a politeness strategy for attracting the attention of potential shoppers.