Paper Sociolinguistics (1st Group).docx

An Analysis of Politeness across Gender in Apologizing among University Student

Authors :

Irma Nopianti

NPM : 8820316012

Fauziah Fujiyanti

NPM : 8820316009

Puspa Setra Binangkit

NPM : 8820316022

Triska Nur Wulandari

NPM : 8820316034

English Education Study Program Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Suryakancana University [email protected]

1.1 Abstract The paper is analyzing sociolinguistically the politeness across gender in apologizing among University Student by using the DCT method for analyzing the case, and due to this research, the writer is analyzing about politeness strategies, gender and face as something that common in daily conversation. After analyzing the data, it is able to be concluded that male and female have different way in giving expression in apologizing. This issue is our main research. Key words : politeness strategies, gender, face.

1.2 Introduction The mighty one creates an extraordinary perfect creature among the other creatures that is called human. Human being has a highly developed brain since Adam who is the first mankind came to the earth. When he was born, God gave him three potential gifts of life in order to live on; they were physical needs, instincts and mind. Mind as one of three potential gifts that human has, makes human different from other creatures, with this gift makes mankind is able to have rationality in living their lives. Human is also social creatures, it means that they cannot live all alone because human need other to communicate. In communication, sometimes they are making some mistakes and to be polite usually they are asking apologize for the mistakes that they have made. Male and female have different politeness level in apologizing.

1.3 Theoretical Framework 1.3.1

Politeness Politeness is having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people. Basically it is treating people with

respect. There are many reasons why politeness is important in life but one of them is that if you are polite, you are more likely to achieve your objectives and get what you want, and people are more likely to take you seriously and deal with you in a good way. As the 19th century American writer Joss Billings said that politeness is better than logic. You can often persuade when you cannot convince.

1.3.2

Gender Gender is defined by FAO as ‘the relations between men and women, both perceptual and material. Gender is not determined biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or men, but is constructed socially. It is a central organizing principle of societies, and often governs the processes of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution’ (FAO,

1997).

Despite

this

definition,

gender

is

often

misunderstood as being the promotion of women only. However, as we see from the FAO definition, gender issues focus on women and on the relationship between men and women, their roles, access to and control over resources, division of labour, interests and needs. Gender relations affect household security, family wellbeing, planning, production and many other aspects of life (BravoBaumann, 2000).

1.3.3

Face The public self-image one wishes to claim about the ‘social persona’. The linguists Stephen Levinson and Penelope Brown were the first to sub-divide an individual's public self-image into positive and negative face (concept) . This distinction is based on Erving Goffman's definition of face. Levinson and Brown distinguish two levels of face based on an individual's basic needs

as a social being ( negative face ) and an individual's personal desires ( positive face ). In order to protect one's own and the adressee's face, one has to take care of both levels. Positive and negative face are defined as the two components of an individual's public self-image (face (concept) ). Both positive and negative face describe the different levels of face needs.

1.3.3.1 Negative face Negative face describes the basic personal rights of an individual, including his/ her personal freedom as well as freedom of action. One's negative face is a neglection of all factors which represent a threat towards individual rights. One popular example is the freedom of speech, which includes one's need not to be interrupted by others while speaking.

1.3.3.2 Positive face The positive face is defined as the individual desire of a person that his/ her personality is appreciated by others. Furthermore, this includes the way a person wants to be perceived by his/ her social group. One example for positive face is the appreciation of individual achievements. According to this definition, a painter would, for instance, desire other people's appreciation of his/ her paintings.

1.3.4

Three variables of The weightof a face-threatening act 

Power refers to perceived power dynamic between speaker and hearer. As a speaker, is targeted hearer a superior, subordinate, or at about social level?



Distance refers to yhe amount of social distance between speaker and hearer. As a speaker is targeted hearer a close friend or a distant colleague.



Rank refers to the cultural ranking of the subject – the degree of sensitivity of the topic within a particular culture.

1.4 Methods 

Participants : The first grade of English education study program students, we are involving 5 females and 5 males



Site : in Suryakancana University



Instrument : DCT (Discourse Completion Test)



Date : December 8, 2017

1.5 Finding and Discussion 1.5.1

Finding

Situation 1 When you broke your female close friend’s ruler accidentally, what would you say to your friend? P

: -

R

: -

D

: -

100 80 60

Negative Face

40

Positive Face

20 0 Male

Female

Situation 2 When you broke your male close friend’s ruler accidentally, what would you say to your friend? P

:-

R

:-

D

:-

100 80 60

Negative Face

40

Positive Face

20 0 Male

Female

Situation 3 When your friend asks your help to lend him some money to pay his school fee because his money is not enough but you cannot help him, what would you say to him? P

:-

R

:+

D

:+

100 80 60

Negative Face

40

Positive Face

20 0

Male Female

Situation 4 When you accidentally step on stranger’s foot in the bus, what would you say to apologize? P

: +

R

: -

D

: +

120 100 80

Negative Face

60

Positive Face

40 20 0

Male Female

Situation 5 When you borrow Mr. Helmie’s book and then you are losing it, what would you say to apologize? P

:+

R

:+

D

:+

100 80 60

Negative Face

40

Positive Face

20 0

Male Female

Finding

Male

Female

using positive face politeness strategies in apologizing.

56%

48%

using negative face politeness strategies in apologizing.

44%

52%

1.5.2 Discussion 1. What politeness strategies are used by male? 2. What politeness strategies are used by female? To answer our research questions above, we can conclude that : 1. Males are more using positive face when they are expressing apologize than females. 2. Females are more using negative face when they are expressing apologize than males.

1.6References http://www.glottopedia.org/index.php/Positive_and_negative_face http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5608e/y5608e01.htm http://www.academia.edu/5612569/JURNAL_HELMIE_1 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-politeness-why-should-we-politesusan-hursey https://www.universalclass.com/articles/business/communication/studies/p oliteness-theory.htm