Taking our lead from Spencer-Oatey’s analysis (2000b) (see also Spencer-Oatey & Jiang, 2003), it seems the two groups may be displaying different preferences for an ‘optimum’ level of consensus, in which consensual discussion is more intimately related to the maintenance of rapport amongst BW speakers than it is amongst BWA speaker, who instead rely on a heavier and wider use of devices associated with solidarity and positive politeness to signal rapport.