The article explores how politeness is expressed in the Ibibio language through the use of two specific forms, Mbok and Aak. The researchers studied real-life conversations to see how these forms are used in different social situations. They found that Mbok is often used in casual settings, while Aak is used strategically to achieve a desired outcome. This shows that politeness in Ibibio culture goes beyond just being nice or avoiding offense, and can be a tool for achieving specific goals in interactions.