Can I ask you a question?
B. Factors Affecting Tim and Mary’s Politeness in Speaking
This section is the discussion of the factors which affect Tim and Mary‟s politeness in speaking. The analysis was using politeness factors theory introduced by Spolsky (1998). According to Spolsky (1998), language style, register and domain, slang and solidarity, and language and gender are factors which affect people in speaking politeness. In this research, the factors affecting Tim and Mary‟s politeness in speaking in About Time movie were language style, register and domain, and solidarity. The following are the discussion of each factor.
Figure 4.2 The Frequency of Politeness Factors
According to figure 4.2, the factors affecting Tim and Mary‟s politeness in speaking in About Time movie were language style, register and domain, and solidarity. Figure 4.2 showed that there are 21% frequencies of language style, 41% frequencies of register and domain, and 38% frequencies of solidarity. The following is the explanation of the three factors.
a. Language Style
The utterances from Tim and Mary were formal and informal expressions.
According to Spolsky (1998), “the more formal the situation, the more attention we pay to our language and so the more we are likely to conform to the favoured and educated norms of our society” (p. 32). Speakers tend to use formal language when they speak to hearer who has more power than the speaker, older people or stranger. Spolsky (1998) states that people can consciously choose how to use language by applying formal or informal expressions to people that they address.
38%
41%
21%
Language Style Register and Domain Solidarity
Table 4.6 Language Style by Tim and Mary
NO. UTTERANCE
1. Tim: As it's your last night, can I ask you a question?
2. Tim: Would it be very wrong if I asked you for your number?
3. Tim: Would you...
4. Tim: But I just wondered if I could walk round with you for a while because my sister Kit Kat is about to leave... I'm about to be quite lonely.
5. Mary: Um... Would you like to walk me to my car?
6. Tim: Could you give me one second?
7. Tim: Could you just stall them?
8. Tim: Could you help me with this, please?
9. Tim: Mary, would you like to marry me?
10. Tim: Take away, please!
11. Tim: Will you excuse me for a sec?
Table 4.6 showed that there were 11 utterances which were affected by language style. The use of formal language in About Time movie was mostly used after Tim met Mary. They usually used formal language since they were not really close. The following is the discussion of language style.
[26] Tim : Would it be very wrong if I asked you for your number?
In utterance [26], Tim applied the formal language when he asked for Mary`s number. It was the first time they met. As a result they had to apply formal language. Tim calmly said, “Would it be very wrong if I asked you for your number?”. The utterance “Would it be very wrong” represents formality since people usually directly say “What is your number?” in informal conversation.
[27]Mary : Um... Would you like to walk me to my car?
The utterance [27] happened when Tim and Mary were having dinner.
Mary wanted to go home and she asked Tim to accompany her to her car. Since
Mary had known Tim for a few minute, she used formal expression. The utterance
“Would you like” represents the formal expression instead of saying, “Do you want”. The use of formal language in this case was because Mary and Tim still had a great distance.
The findings showed that Tim and Mary applied formal language in their utterances. The use of formal language in this movie was mainly because Tim and Mary were talking to a stranger. Further, formal language style is considered as Negative Politeness strategy based on Brown and Levinson‟ politeness theory (1987).
b. Register and Domain
Spolsky (1998) emphasizes that people with particular occupation may create terms for new concepts. People who work at hospital will be different from people who work at market in terms of language. Each occupation will develop terms which may not be familiar for people who do not work in the same place.
According to Spolsky (1998), register is a variety of language to be used in a specific situation and with particular roles and situation involved. Besides, domain is named usually for a place or an activity in it. Spolsky (1998) states that social situations involved register and domain which determine politeness in speaking.
Two common domains are home and work.
Table 4.7 Register and Domain by Tim and Mary
NO. UTTERANCE FACTOR
REGISTER DOMAIN
1. Tim: Right, sorry. Sorry. I’ve got an important
announcement to make.
boring and lumpy, but that wasn't actually boring and lumpy, that one? register and domain. As a family, Tim and Mary would engage in the conversation with the same topic related to the family activities. The domain in the About Time movie was mostly home. The role-relationship included parents and son, parents and daughter, brother and sister, and husband and wife. Family activities were the main topic of the conversation. The following is the discussion of register and domain.
[28]Tim : Right, sorry. Sorry. I’ve got an important announcement to make.
The utterance [28] happened when Tim explained to his family member about the wedding. All family members were in home. Tim interrupted the discussion. In order to soften the interruption, he apologized to them. Since all hearers were the family members, the topic of the conversation or the register was
related to the family activities. Tim informed that soon he and Mary would get married.
[29]Mary : We have to decide tonight.
In the utterance [29], Mary asked Tim to discuss about their wedding. The utterance [29] was affected by both register and domain. The register was the wedding and the domain was home. The wedding and home engaged the conversation. As a family, the conversation by Tim and Mary were mostly related to family activities. Besides, the domain in About Time was mostly in home. The role-relationship included parents and son, parents and daughter, brother and sister, and husband and wife.
c. Solidarity
Spolsky (1998) explains that solidarity has a major impact on language.
People tend to show group solidarity to others by applying the same language use, such as word choice. Solidarity is used as special kinds of intimate or in-group speech. In other words, solidarity is aimed to intimate the relationship among the speaker and the hearer. The example of solidarity is shown in compliments.
The importance of language in establishing social identity is also shown in the case of slang. Slang is a kind of jargon marked by its rejections of formal rules and its marked use to claim solidarity. Slang regularly transgresses other social norms, making free use of taboo expressions.
Table 4.8 Solidarity by Tim and Mary
NO. UTTERANCE
1. Tim: The fringe is perfect. Fringe is the best bit.
2. Tim: No. You're much prettier. It’s a nice fringe, by the way.
3. Tim: You two are such a lovely couple.
4. Mary: I agree with you completely.
5. Tim: What's happened? You're the best person in the world. You're top equal with my wife.
6. Tim: You look amazing.
Table 4.8 showed that there were 6 utterances which were affected by solidarity. The example of solidarity in About Time movie were mostly shown to give compliments. The following is the discussion of solidarity.
[30] Tim : You look amazing.
Solidarity was represented by Tim when he gave a compliment to Mary about her appearance. In utterance [30], he gave a compliment to Mary by saying,
“You look amazing.” He wanted to comfort and encourage his wife because she would have an important meeting. As a result, Tim could support Mary by indirectly saying that she was ready for the meeting.
[31] Tim : No. You're much prettier. It’s a nice fringe, by the way.
Another example of showing solidarity was done by Tim. In utterance [31], Tim praised Mary‟s appearance when he met Mary for the first time. The utterance “You're much prettier” was used to make Mary feel good and also minimize the distance among them. His compliment implied that Tim actually really liked Mary.
Solidarity has the intention to intimate the speaker and the hearer. In other words, solidarity could minimize the distance. Further, solidarity is considered as Positive Politeness strategy based on the theory of Brown and Levinson (1987).
From the discussion above, it is thought that research question (1) and research question (2) had been answered. The types of politeness strategies found in Tim and Mary‟s utterances in About Time movie were bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, and off record strategy. Furthermore, the factors affecting Tim and Mary‟s politeness in speaking were language and style, register and domain, and solidarity. The types of politeness strategies and the factors affecting Tim and Mary‟s politeness were related. Tim and Mary in About Time movie were affected by three factors when they revealed the four types of politeness strategies.
60 CHAPTER V