How to Say NO Without Feeling Guilty

How do you say “no” without sounding rude, awkward, or like a total sociopath? In this video, I show you 100 different ways to refuse an invitation, all based on Brown and Levinson’s classic theory of politeness. Whether you want to soften the blow, make up an excuse, or just say no like a pro, this video illustrates the full range of indirectness, mitigation, and face-saving strategies humans use to protect relationships while saying no. From bald-on-record refusals to off-record hints, from deferential hedging to joking denials—this is communication science with a comedic twist. 👨‍🏫 I'm Bruce Lambert, a professor of communication and the creator of How Communication Works. I take the best theories in pragmatics, politeness, and social interaction and make them fun, funny, and totally useful for real life. 💡 Learn how to say no like a linguist—and laugh while doing it. 📚 Featuring: Brown & Levinson’s politeness strategies, indirect speech acts, and real-life application. 🔔 Subscribe for more communication science that makes you smarter (and more charming): HowCommunicationWorks.com #PolitenessTheory #BrownAndLevinson #HowToSayNo #CommunicationSkills #SocialSkills #FunnyRefusals #IndirectSpeech #Sociolinguistics #LinguisticsHumor #Pragmatics