> ... is a sophisticated system of ritual politeness that emphasizes deference, modesty, and indirectness.

I'm Irish and think we have a similar culture of indirectness and politeness...

In the countryside anyway we're rarely very blunt... everything indirect...

  "You'll have a cup of tea Mary?"
  "Ah no.. sure I'm only after a drop"
  "Ah go on... you will"
  "Not at all, I'm grand"
  "Go on, go on, go on you will" etc (as in Father Ted)