Abstract: Compared to two-party communication， one important characteristic of multiparty communication is the possibility of coalition formation. The data analyses show that at the micro level of a single turn of verbal communication， three types of coalition are likely to emerge in a multiparty context， namely， coalition of relationship， coalition of utility and coalition of contradiction. The coalition of relationship is featured by face alliance in which members share the gains and losses of face， and face threats or enhancements performed at one single member may be extended to the others. The coalition of utility is constructed to gain power dominance， whose utilities are generally redistributable between its members. In the coalition of contradiction， the members interests are in conflict， i.e. the face enhancement to one member will bring about the face threat to the other member， and vice versa.

Key words: multiparty communication, politeness, coalition of relationship, coalition of utility, coalition of contradiction