A Contrastive Pragmatic Study on the Use of
Thanking Expressions in English and Indonesian Movies
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Gloria Lusianti Angelin
112010083
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
A Contrastive Pragmatic Study on the Use of
Thanking Expressions in English and Indonesian Movies
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Gloria Lusianti Angelin 112010083
Approved by:
Thesis Supervisor Thesis Examiner
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Approval Page _________________________________________________ i Copyright Statement_____________________________________________ ii Publication Agreement Declaration _________________________________ iii Table of Content________________________________________________ iv List of Tables __________________________________________________ v Abstract ______________________________________________________ 1 Introduction ___________________________________________________ 1 Previous Related Study ____________________________________ 3 Review of Literature_____________________________________________ 4 Speech Act ______________________________________________ 4 Politeness _______________________________________________ 6 The Study _____________________________________________________ 6 Context of the Study_______________________________________ 6 Data and Data Collection ___________________________________ 8 Data Analysis ____________________________________________ 9 Findings and Discussion__________________________________________ 10
LIST OF TABLE
Table 1.
Distribution of Thanking Strategies _________________________________ 9
Table 2.
Distribution of Thanking Strategies in English ________________________ 10
Table 3.
Distribution of Thanking Strategies in Indonesian______________________ 19
Table 4.
Thesis
A Contrastive Pragmatic Study on the Use of
Thanking Expressions in English and Indonesian Movies
Gloria Lusianti Angelin
English Department of Satya Wacana Christian University
Abstract
English as International language learnt by people around the world has become one subject in Indonesian curriculum. From year to years English curricula in Indonesia focuses on grammar and grammar translation, and miss on teaching pragmatic. Though Indonesian curriculum try to approach an active communicative English learning (Lie, 2007), but the test given in Ujian Nasional (National Exam) from the primary school is about passive English learning like reading and listening. Therefore, Indonesian English curricula lacks of pragmatics skill when speaking in English. This caveat motivates this study to find a contrastive pragmatic between English and Indonesian language in expressing thanks. The study is conducted to compare authentic English and Indonesian strategies in expressing thanks and find the pragmatics function behind implicit thanking expression. The data of this study is taken from English and Indonesian movies. The data is transcribed, and analyzed using Eisenstein and Bodman (1983, 1993) and Aijmer (1996) thanking strategies in Intachakra (2004). The results show that thanking expression in English language is likely to use more admiration of the act strategy than Indonesian, and Indonesian use more expressing indebtedness strategy more than English. Furthermore, in the study, the data shows how Indonesian thanking strategy is not only expressed by words, but also by gesture.
Key words: contrastive pragmatics, thanking strategies, speech act.
INTRODUCTION
English as international language is learned by people around the world,
including Indonesia. So far, foreign language learning in Indonesia still
emphasizes on language functions (Lie, 2007). Often expressions that show
certain functions are taught outside natural context. However, in reality of natural
settings speakers often use words that shift or have different pragmatic function
and force existence of one’s culture (Falasi, 2005).’ One weakness of teaching
language based on function is the absence of natural settings where the learner’s
expression does not fit the target language expression. It occurs because of the
culture differences between speaker language and target language.
Language is a reflection of one’s cultural reality (Kramsch, 2003); when
someone learns a foreign language, he probably does not reflect the culture of
foreign language he learns. He might mix his own culture with the target language
culture. This phenomenon might cause pragmatic errors (Schauer, 2006). This is
what might happen with Indonesian learners of English.
As an EFL learner, it is important to understand speech act and speech
event of our own language and the target language. A study by Korean EBS
(Educational Broadcasting System) found that western focus more on noun, and
eastern focus more on verb (Kim, 2008). Western country ask, “more tea?” to
offer tea with emphasis on noun tea, while eastern country ask, “drink more?”
with emphasis on verb drink. This example contrast two cultures with two
different expression strategies to achieve one action. From more tea and drink
more we can see the pragmatic function used inside the expression is to expressed
one identic condition. Therefore, this study is conducted to see how thanking
expressions is used by English and Indonesian, to contrast the differences between
English and Indonesian Expression.
Movie in classroom has become one of many important parts in EFL
curricula. The fact that movies provide the ‘real language’, use the authentic
reason why films are important in language teaching (Kusumarasdyati, 2004)
(Luo, 2004). It is clear that movies present language in a more natural way
(Ismaili, 2013). Therefore, movies provide adequate resources to learn pragmatic
functions, especially actions behind expressions.
This study aims to compare the use of linguistic expression of thank in
English and Indonesia, and see what pragmatic functions intended behind the
expression. This study is guided by the research question: What are the
differences between thank in English and Indonesian? This study will look
through the expression of ‘thank’ in both English and Indonesian and analyze
wether the use of ‘thank’ from both languages have differences.
The study of contrastive pragmatics is important, because the findings of
this study can be used to help students to improve their intercultural competence
and promote sociolinguistic competence in EFL learners (Billmyer, K. at all, 1989
and Billmyer, K., 1990). It will increase Non Native Speakers of English (NNSs)
awareness in the use of ‘thank’ in Indonesia and English. The result of this study
might also be used for the consideration of syllabus and material development, so
that the use of foreign language can be used in a more realistic culture.
Previous Related Study on Contrastive Pragmatic
Vaezi (2011) is comparing the Speech Act of Refusal by Iranian EFL
Learners and Persian Native Speakers. The study found out that Iranian EFL
learners are more frank. The Data were analyzed using speech act theory that is
Most previous comparative studies were on complaints between
Americans and Malaysian using speech act (Farnia at all 2010). There are also
different strategies to compare contrastive pragmatic by using; level of directness,
and linguistic politeness strategies Rinnert and Nogami’s (2006).
A comparative pragmatic study by Intachakra (2004) examines on how
Apologies and Thanks are expressed in English and Thai. The Data is analyzed by
using Speech Acts Theory, Conversational Routines, and Linguistic Politeness
Strategies. From the study, Intachakra found that there is a potential loss of
negative face when an offence occurs. This study found out that British become
more direct (by using IFID – Illocutionary Act Indicating Device) to show they
guilty feeling, while Thai people become less expressive to express apologies.
This contrastive study analyzed the use of thanks expression using speech
act theory and politeness theory. These thanks expression will be categorized into
groups that was used by Intachakra (2004).
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The present study is significantly compares the pragmatic behavior of
two cultures, Indonesian and English (American and British) of the use of Thanks.
Speech Act
Language has functions as an action and to perform an action (Holtgraves,
2002). These two function of language is known as speech act. Austin (1962)
divide speech act into three elements; 1. Locutionary Act, 2. Illocutionary Act,
meaningful linguistic expresion. The failure can happen because of miss
pronounce or miss spelling. The second one is illocutionary act which show the
purpose of a linguistic expression. The last one is perlocutionnary act that focus
on receiver assumption on a linguistic expression. The perlocutionary act refer to
what the receiver indentified of an linguistic expression, does the receiver
complete the purpose of an expression or no (Yule, 1996 & Holtgraves, 2002).
Illocutionary Points
John Searle (1969) in Farnia, Bucheit, & Salim (2010) states that hearers
do not always produce the effect that speaker wants, and Searle scrutinized the
Illocutionary act and divide it into five basic points that (Holtgraves, 2002).
These points are taken from the potential relation of linguistic expression between
word and world. These five points are; 1. Directives: It is use when the speaker
wants the listener to do something, example; requesting, ordering, suggesting:
Could you please bring my book? 2. Assertives / Representative (Intachakra,
2004) and (Farnia, Buchheit, & Salim, 2010): It is use to describe states or events
such a asserting, concluding, informing, predicting, and reporting: There will be
no class tomorrow. 3. Commissives: It is use when the spearker commits himself
to do something in the future, e.g. warning, promising, threatening, and
guaranteeing: I’ll come to your party. 4. Declaratives: A declarative has function
to change a state of affairs such as declaring war, performing a marriage, and
calling a base runner “out.”: You are now husband and wife. 5. Expressives: The
purpose is to express a speaker’s feeling and attitude such as thanking,
It is clear that thanks expression is part of illocutionary point of
expressive, where the expressions showed has purpose or action itself.
Politeness
People use politeness in order to help preserve each other’s face needs
(Brown & Levinson, 1987). It is something that the speaker, especially adult, does
to mitigate potential Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) of the receiver. Face is ones
self image that most adult tries to protect, especialy in formal world. As a worker,
sometimes adult has to save not only his face, but his job, his company or just
being polite for the a good relation purpose. In their book, Brown and Levinson
explain that there are two kinds of face; positive and Negative. This politeness
analysis is used to see that the speaker and hearer wants, identities and image are
accepted. The thank expression can be one instrument to help people save their
face. By saying or showing the expression of thanks, the object will feel more
received by the sayers.
THE STUDY
Context of the Study
This study is contrasting pragmatic functions of ‘thank’ expression in
English and in Indonesian as collected from English and Indonesian movies. Four
movies are selected based on variety of speech events that are used in the movies.
Two of them are Indonesian movies, entitled Jokowi and Mudik Lebaran. The
other two movies are English movies, entitled Closer and Devil Wears Prada.
born, until he became the Governor of Jakarta. The speech events that appeared in
this movie happened between parents and children, Jokowi and beggars, husband
and wife, employer and employee, teacher and student, debt collector and debtors,
among neighbours, friends, and strangers.
The other Indonesian movie entitled Mudik Lebaran focuses more on
formal issue, work life. The story tells about a villager named Gunadi (the main
character on the movie) who finds a job in Jakarta to pay for his marriage. This
movie displays speech events between parent and children, fiance and fiancee,
employer and employee, bos and driver, Human Resources Development (HRD)
employee and applicants, among strangers, and a written message that is read by
voice over.
The first chosen English movie is Closer. It tells a story about how people
can make a close relation to strangers, and then become strangers again. The
movie speech events focus on social life, where we can find out professional
conversations between a striptiser and customer, husband and wife, among
strangers and partners.
The second English movie is Devils wear Prada. The story is about Andrea
(the subject in the movie) who survives with a job that she doesn’t like. The
speech events in the movie happen between bos and employee, boyfriend and
girlfriend, father and daughter, and conversations that happen in group of friends,
Data and Data Collection
Data
The data is taken from the conversations in the four selected movies. The
expressions of ‘thank’ in various speech events in Indonesian and English are
extracted and transcribed. The data are both explicit and implicit expressions of
thank.
Data Collection
The four movies were transcribed, observed, and analyzed. The ‘thank’
expression is taken from various events in the movies. The steps of the Data
Collection include;
First, choose four movies that representing expressions in Indonesian and
English (American and English) culture. These movies are chosen based on the
various events contained in the movies. Second, Find the speech event. The
speech events that chosen are those that potentially shows the expression of
thanks. Third, Find the thanks expression from the data transcription. In every
situation that shows possibility of the subject on the movies to say thank you was
noticed, and when the thank conversation appeared, the conversations are
transcribed to be analyzed. Fourth, categorized the speech event expressions into
moves. Moves is a group of monolog or dialog in one topic (Cutting, 2002).
Moves can be devided into one, two or more than two expression. The last one,
the action that delivered in expression must be seen. Sometimes text is
Data Analysis
From the moves gathered, the expressions are divided into groups of
thanking strategies (Intachakra, 2004) There are five groups used, A (an explicit
expression of gratitude), B (an account or acknowledgement of favour), C (an
expression of admiration), D ( an indication of unneccessity of favour), E (a
promise of repayment).
In this study a new group is added. The group F consist of thanks
expression that use to maintain and promote social harmony (Culpeper, 2009). As
a pragmatic phenomenon, politeness is not stated in the form or the words
themselves, but in the function (Cutting, 2002), here in group F the use of thank is
not showing the advantage of the speaker or compensating for debts (Intachakra,
2004). All categories are summarized in the table 1. For the sake of data validity,
the rater is employed.
Table 1. Distribution of Thanking Strategies
Thanking Strategies
A. An explicit expression of gratitude A1. Use of Performative
A2. Offer of gratitude A3. Expressing indebtedness
B. An account or acknowledgement of favour C. An Expression of admiratin
C1. Admiration of the act C2. Admiration of the addressee
D. An indication of unneccessity or favour E. A promise of repayment
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
In this study there are six super-strategy and five sub-strategy found for
categorizing the expression of thank. The definition of super-strategy and
sub-strategy in English and Indonesian are the same. The differences lies on the
distribution in the categories. Below are the definition of those strategies and
examples from both languages.
Thanking Strategies in English
There were two English movies analyzed, and 74 expressions of thanks
were found. These thanking strategies are classified based on Eisenstein and
Bodman (1983, 1993) and Aijmer (1996) in Intachakra (2004). The results are
summarized in table 2.
Table 2. Distribution of Thanking Strategies in English
Thanking Strategies Occurence Percentage
A. An explicit expression of gratitude
A1. Use performative 3 5 %
A2. Offer of gratitude 26 41 %
A3. Expressing indebtedness 11 17 %
B. An account or acknowledgement of favour 4 6 %
C. An expression of admiration C1. Admiration of the act 10 16 %
C2. Admiration of the addressee 2 3 %
D. An indication of unneccessity 2 3 %
E. A promise of repayment 2 3 %
F. As politeness strategy 4 6 %
Super-strategy A
This category consist of explicit expression of thanks. This expression can
be either direct or indirect. The expression can be seen from the grammatical
indicators. The super-strategy A is divided into three sub-categories.
sub-strategy A1
Sub-strategy A1 focuses on the use of performative verb thanks, that
usually appears in formal speech events (Intachakra, 2004). A sentence is
categorized as A1 when a first-person subject explicitly declares the thanks
expression using speech act verb like, I would like to say thank you, I appreciate.
An example is taken from Closer, disc 1, minute 40. The scene is in
Anna’s photography exhibition. She stands on the exit door to say thanks to the
visitors.
Example 1:
Some people are leaving Anna’s exhibition
Anna : Thank you so much. I appreciate you coming. I'll call you tomorrow. I’ll see you next week.
Man : Thanks!
Woman : Thank you very much.
The conversation above happened in a formal situatiation where the
speaker appreciates visitors who came to to see what Anna had made. This action
is similar with a speech where someone say one expression of thanks and the
message is received by many people. In this situation, Anna declares one strategy
sub-strategy A2
An ‘offer of gratitude’ device describes this category. Usually the
sub-strategy A2 is used when giving respond to compliment, when getting a simple
help and information, and receiving something (Intachakra, Contrastive
Pragmatics and Language Teaching: Apologies and Thanks in English and Thai,
2004). The explicit expression shown would be like thank or thank you. An
emphasize on thanks like thank you very much is included to this category. This is
the most common thank expression that often appears in both languages, English
and Indonesia.
The use of A2 example is taken from Closer, disc 1, minute 10. Anna is
giving compliment to Daniel about his book.
Example 2:
Anna : I like your book Daniel : Thanks
The example above is a simple thanks expression that commonly appears
in daily conversation. There is no feeling of indebtedness shows in this
conversation. The speaker is being thankfull for the compliment given.
sub-strategy A3
Category of A3 is an expression of indebtedness. The thank expression
intended in this category has deeper meaning than A2 (Intachakra, 2004).
The example is taken from the movie Devils Wear Prada, disc 1, minute
26. This conversation happpens between a father and a daughter. The daughter
just got a job. She does not have money to pay for renting an apartment. The
Example 3:
Dad : Here (he gives money to his daughter)
Andrea : What’s this?
Dad : I don’t want you to get behind your rent. Andrea : Dad, how, did you?
Dad : Shhh
Andrea : I’ll kill mom. Thank you.
Dad : Uh, huh.
Andrea does not expect she will get money from her father. This action is
much deeper than the expression shows in A2 because the money Andrea received
is a large mount that she can not pay back with anything at that time. The
expression of I’ll kill mom is not a literal expression. If we see it from the
perlocutionary perspective, it is a thankful expression to her mother, expressed in
joke. Andrea’s father understand that Andrea will not kill her mother because she
receives his money. It can be seen from Andrea’s father reaction. He replies with
uh, huh which is a positive agreement expression. It means he does not see any
problem from what her daughter says.
The data also shows how the A3 thanks expression can be expressed
indirrectly to the hearer. It can be delivered to God or to the unknown entity, as
shown in example 4 and 5
The example is taking from Devils Wear Prada, disc 2, minute 5. The
speech event is on a meeting. Miranda, the director, needs a good idea, but no one
has.
Example 4:
Miranda : What about Testino? Where are we on that?
Nigel : Zac Posers doing some very sculptural suits. So I suggested that, uh, Testino shoot them at the Noguchi Garden.
This expression categorized as A3 because of the indebtedness feeling.
Miranda wished someone will come up with a good idea, and she got it from
Nigel. If we see through this conversation, Miranda should be thankful to Nigel
because his idea, but she expressed her thanks to God.
An example is taken from Closer, disc 1, minute 5. A cab driver hit Alice.
She was unconscious for several minutes.
Example 5:
Cab driver : Thank fuck! I thought I'd killed her.
The cab driver was fortunate not to kill Alice and found out that Alice was
still alive. He shows his indebtedness to the unknown entity by saying thanks
fuck.
Super-Strategy B
This category is distinguished by illocutionary intent rather than
grammatical indicators (Intachakra, Contrastive Pragmatics and Language
Teaching: Apologies and Thanks in English and Thai, 2004). The feeling of
gratefullness sometimes is not shown from the unterance, but from the positive
effect that is expressed, like save the change, please come again.
The example of conversation bellow is taken from Closer, disc 2, minute
16.
Example 6:
Dan pays for drinks.
Dan : Save the change.
The expression save the change has deeper meaning from just an order.
Usually costumers gives more money to a waiter or a bartender (in this movie the
object is a bartender), who give good service, as thanks expression.
Super-Strategy C
Based on Aijmer (1993) in Inthacakra (2004), this category covers
compliments and another positive response from the speaker to the hearer’s
prospective. This strategy is broken down into two sub-strategies.
sub-strategy C1
The category of C1 consists of the act worthy of appreciation (e.g. I’m
really impressed by…, it’s beautiful, you have done well). An explicit thanking
statement can be used to strenghten the thanks expression (Intachakra, 2004)
The example is taken from movie Closer, disc 1, minute 06. The
conversation happens between two strangers. They just knew each other for one
day, and they have not known the names of each other yet.
Example 7:
Daniel pointing things to Alice.
Daniel : A red bus. Policeman, or bobby, observe the distinctive helmet. St. Paul's Cathedral. Please note the famous dome.
Alice : (laugh) This is a truly magnificent tour. Daniel : It's the London the tourists never get to see.
In the movie, Daniel is a local man, while Alice is a tourist. Daniel tries to
help Alice to be familiar with the town. He introduces his town to Alice. The
sub-strategy C2
This sub-strategy is similar with the previous category, C1. However, what
makes this sub-category different from the previous one is that the speaker does
not give compliment, but good wishes instead (Intachakra, Contrastive Pragmatics
and Language Teaching: Apologies and Thanks in English and Thai, 2004). This
good wishes include, good luck, God bless, and all the best.
The example is taken from movie Closer, disc 1, minute 18. Daniel is a
writer, and Anna is a photographer. Daniel is going to make a photograph of
himself for his book. He goes to Anna to help him take a photograph of himself.
Example 8:
Dan asks for a leave. Anna had just finished taking Dan’s photos for his book.
Daniel : Thank you! Good luck with your exhibition!
Anna : Good luck with your book!
After taking Daniel’s picture, Daniel wished Anna a good luck before
leaving. This shows how Daniel feels grateful for what Anna did to him, and he
wishes a good thing for her as he got before. This thanks expression is strengthen
by the explicit thanks expression, thank you, before the good luck.
Super‐Strategy D
The super-strategy D is an indirect thank expression by saying sentence
like, you shouldn’t have to do that, I didn’t expect. The purpose is not to make the
hearer do something difficult or do things that might troublesome.
An example from the data is taken from the movie Devils wear Prada,
disc 1, minute 15. Andrea works in fashion magazine. Unlike the other workers,
Andrea is not stylish at all. Her boss thinks that she looks ugly. One of her friends,
Example 9:
Nigel gives Andrea a pair of shoes
Nigel : I guessed an eight and a half.
Andrea : Um, uh, that's very nice of you, but I don't think I need these.
Miranda hired me. She knows what I look like.
Nigel : Do you?
The explicit thanks expression is not found in this conversation. this
conversation does not show you shouldn’t have to do that, I didn’t expect
expression, but it says I didn’t need these, which means Nigel better takes the
shoes back. The thank expression also shows from the compliment, that’s the very
nice of you. This expression is not categorized as C1, but D because Andrea
shows the rejection. She does not want to put Nigel in trouble by giving her
beautiful shoes.
Super-Strategy E
This category shows the speaker’s feeling of debtness by saying promises
repayment of the hearer kindness in the future.
The example is taking from movie Devils Wear Prada, disc 1, minute 39.
The story is about Miranda asked Andrea to take a sketch from a famous designer.
Example 10:
James : Uh, here we go. It's a sketch of Miranda's dress for the benefit. Also the centerpiece of my spring collection. Top secret stuff.
Andrea : I'll guard it with my life.
James : Please do.
Usually after getting something from someone, a speaker will say thank
you. In this case, instead saying thank you to James, Andrea gives him promise to
Super-Strategy F
The use of this category is not to show the feeling of indebtedness. The
grammatical indicators show the thanks expression, but the expression conveys
different meaning behind the utterance. This category is usually used in formal
situation to manage a good relation between the speaker and the hearer. The thank
expression can be either explicit or implicit, using grammatical order or
illocutionary act.
A clear example is taken from the movie Devils Wear Prada, disc 2,
minute 10. Miranda does not like Jacquelin. She did not expect to see Jacquelin in
her magazine party, but suddenly Jacquelin comes and greet her.
Example 11:
Andrea : Isn’t that Jacquelin Follet from French Runway?
Emily : Oh my God! Miranda hates her. She was supposed to arrive after Miranda left.
...
Miranda : Wonderful. We are so happy that you are able to come to our gathering.
Jacquelin : Of course. I plan my whole year for this. Miranda : Well, we are so grateful that you do.
From the conversation between Andrea and Emily, it is clear that Miranda
does not want Jacquelin to come to her benefit party, but when Jacquelin came,
Miranda greeted her and sayid how happy and grateful she was to see Jacquelin.
This is one of Politeness strategy. This conversation shows how Miranda only
tried to maintain a good relationship with Jacquelin, instead of performing
gratitude.
Thanking Strategies in Indonesian
The thanking expression in Indonesia consist of 65 datas. The same
taxonomy used to clasify the English data set was used for Indonesian examples.
Indonesia is known as a multiculture country. Around 700 living language
are spoken in Indonesia. Indonesian citizen use Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian
language) as lingua franca, and also Bahasa Jawa (Javanesse Language) that is
commonly used by most of Indonesian people. One of the two movies,
entitled Jokowi is using two languages as its media of conversation, Bahasa
Indonesia and Bahasa Jawa.The second one is Mudik Lebaran with minor usage
of Bahasa Jawa.
Table 3. Distribution of Thanking Strategies in Indonesian
Thanking Strategies Occurence Percentage
A. An explicit expression of gratitude
A1. Use performative 1 1 %
A2. Offer of gratitude 27 41 %
A3. Expressing indebtedness 18 27 %
B. An account or acknowledgement of favour 4 6 %
C. An expression of admiration C1. Admiration of the act 4 6 %
C2. Admiration of the addressee 4 6 %
D. An indication of unneccessity 2 3 %
E. A promise of repayment 5 8 %
F. As politeness strategy 1 2 %
Total : 66 100 %
Super-Strategy A
The super strategy A in Indonesian language is similar with the English
one. From the data collected, there are 36 expressions, 1 datum is categorized as
in these data is various. Indonesian movies show the thanks expression in many
strategies. Speaker may say makasi, wich is a short word from terima kasih and
sometimes expressed it using Javanese language like, matur nuwun (thank you),
suwun (short word from matur nuwun), matur sembah nuwun (thank you and
praise), and alhamdulilah (thank God). The alhamdulilah is an Arabic expression
of thank use to thank God.
sub-strategy A1
The example taken from Mudik Lebaran, disc 1, minute 47. The story is
about Wulan who helped by Gunadi. Wulan wants to pay back to Gunadi by
taking him to vacation while Gunadi is working as a driver.
Example 12:
Gunadi : Lan, maksud kamu apa sih, nyulik aku sampe dua kali?
[Lan, what do you want from kidnapping me for the second time?] Wulan : Gue mau berterima kasih, karena lu da nolongin gue waktu itu
[ I want to thak you, because you have helped me last time.]
Gunadi : Aku kan ga pamrih, kok.
[I wasn’t expecting anything in return.]
Wulan : Tapi kan lu ga bisa ngelarang orang buat berterima kasih.
[But you can not stop people from thanking.] Gunadi : Ya bilang terima kasih aja. Cukup to.
[Just say thank you. That’s enough.]
Here Wulan does not say thank you directly. She uses the declarative
sentence, I want to thank you
sub-strategy A2
An example is taken from movie Mudik Lebaran, disc 1, minute 38.
Example 13:
Martono : Nah, di sini Gunadi kerjanya sekarang.
[So, this is where Gunadi works now.] Wulan : Besar juga. Ruangannya di mana?
[What a huge place. In which room?]
[Huh, room. Find the parking lot. Get in, and turn left, there are many cars, Gunadi will be there.]
Wulan : Thanks ya!
A simple thanks expression is delivered for receiving information and
direction.
sub-strategy A3
An example is taken from Jokowi, disc 1, minute 17. The story is about a
man, named Notohamidjoyo, he does not have a house to live. He, his wife, and
his new born son were just kicked out from his rent house because he could not
pay the rent. Unexpectedly, he met a man who wanted to lent him his house.
Example 14
Pria 1 : Ya adanya seperti ini, mas. Kalau mas mau.
[This all I have, sir. If you want it.]
Noto : Nda papa. Ini sudah lebih dari cukup, mas. Matur sembah nuwun!
[It’s fine. It’s more than enough. Thank you and praise.]
Pria 1 : Saya tinggal ya mas, ya.
[I’ll leave you.] Noto : Monggo.
Please??
One unique difference between English and Indonesian thanking strategy
is on gesture. Indonesian movie shows how thank you is not expressed literally,
but also physically. When the help is huge, the data shows that Indonesian movies
use physical response after the thanks expression word.
The scene is in Joko’s grandparents house. Joko’s parents are poor. They
could not pay for Joko’s college, and Joko’s grandfather helped him. his
Grandfather gives him money and wise words before Joko left.
Example 15:
Mbah : Yah, pokoknya madep, mantep, ngarep. Itu saja pesan si mbah.
Joko : (sungkem) Sembah nuwun, mbah.
[(Joko bows under granpa’s knee.) Thanks and praise, sir]
Super-Strategy B
This category focuses more on illocutionary point rather than grammatical
indicators. This thank expression is use to thanking a good behavior. What the
hearer get from a speaker is a good respond from their action.
An example is taken from movie Mudik Lebaran, disc 1, minute 35. The
scene is at a parking area in a richman house. The richman’s wife gave tips to
their driver for the service.
Example 16:
Bu Is : Oya, ini ada tip buat kamu! (memberikan uang)
[Here, I have tip for you! (gives money)]
She gives the money Gunadi : makasih, bu!
[Thank you, madam!]
This example is similar with example E-B (1). The thank expression does
not show explicitly, but by giving more money to worker.
sub-strategy C1
This category deals with all the expression of thank that is added with
compliment. The expression appeared in Indonesian movie’s conversation are
like, bagus lho, pak! (that’s beautiful, sir!), apik banget e mas (that’s really
beautiful, mas).
An example is taken from movie Jokowi, disc 1, minute 32.
Example 17:
Joko : Mbah, unjukane.
(Grandpa, here is your drink!)
Mbah : Eh, pinter cucuku, bisa nganter kopinya si mbah.
[Oh, how smart is my grandson, he is able to bring his grandpa’s coffee]
Instead of saying thank you, Joko’s grandfather gives a compliment to his
grandson. He is grateful for his grandson who is able to bring him drink.
sub-strategy C2
The example is taken from Jokowi, disc 2, minute 8.
Example 18:
Pengemis : Nyuwun mas, nyuwun paring.
[Please gives me some money, brother.]
Joko :Sekedap mas (ke penjual kaset). Niki, mbah (memberikan sedekah pada pengemis).
[Wait a moment, brother! (to the caset saler). Here, grandma (he gives money to the beggar).]
Pengemis : Matur sembah nuwun ngih, mas.
[Thank you and praise, son!]
Joko : Nggih, mbah
[Yes, grandma]
Pengemis : Mugo-mugo mas sekolah saget lancar dados lare pinter pun inggil nggih mas.
[I wish you luck with your school , become smarter, and be the number one.]
Joko : Ngih.Makasih, mbah.
[Yes, grandma. Thank you!]
The grandma does not only express an explicit thanks, but also gives Joko
prayers. She wishes good things for him because he is a kind man.
[I just bought a book. I’m going home.] Joko : Tak anter, yuk!
[Let me take you home!] Ana : Woalah, ra usah e, mas.
[You don’t need to do that, brother!]
Joko : Eee lha itung-itung nebus dosa le arep nabrak.
[Eee this to make amend from my sin for almost hitting you.] Ana : Ra usah mas. Lha ini malah ngerepotin.
[You don’t have to do that, brother. I don’t want to create troublesome.]
Joko : Ya ora! Aku sekalian mau ambil ongkos mebel nggo bapak. Yuk!
[No, you do not! I’m on my way to take my father’s money for muebel. Come on!]
Ana : Tenan iki mas? Matur nuwun ngih mas. [Are you serious? Thank you, brother!]
At first Ana does not want to receive Joko’s help by telling him, she will
create troublesome for him. After a little conversation she receives the help and
strengthen her thankful feeling by saying an explicit thanks.
Super-Strategy E
Joko : Gini lho, dik. Mmm aku belum pernah suka sama perempuan sebelum ini, dan aku opo yo… Aku suka sama dik Ana. Yo tapi kalo dik Ana nda suka ya ndak papa dik. Saya cuma menyampaikan saja.
[Here, sister. Hmm I never liked a woman like this, and I um… I like sister Ana. Um, but if you don’t like me, it’s fine. I just want to tell you that.]
Ana : Mas, matur nuwun ngih mas Joko sudah mau bicara jujur sama aku.
Lha ya aku lebih baik jujur sama mas Joko to.
[Brother, thak you for being honest. So, I need to do the same.
Joko : Ya nda papa. Memang harus jujur. Ngomong wae.
The thanking strategy here is by promising something good in the future.
Ana wants to thank Joko because he was being honest. She wants to pay him back
Super-Strategy F
This thank expression example as a strategy of politeness is taken from
Mudik Lebaran, disc 1, minute 3.
Example 21: ternyata desain corak yang saudara usulkan belum memenuhi standart perusahaan kami. Jadi otomatis lamaran anda belum bisa kami terima. (mengembalikan proposal)
[Anyway, son Gunadi. After consulting with the marketing department, it turned out that your proposal design patterns have not met the standard of our company. So, automatically your application can not be accepted.
Comparing The Thanking Strategies in English and Indonesian
From the comparison of the thanking strategies between English and
Indonesian, represented by table 4 below, we can see from the data that the use of
strategy A1, C1, and F in English is higher than in Indonesian. On the other hand,
the use of strategy A3, C2, and E in Indonesia is higher than in English.
Meanwhile, there are two strategies that are equal, they are A2 and B. Here I want
to focus on two strategies that are significantly different in use. These strategies
Table 4. Comparison of English and Indonesia Thanking Strategies
The use of Sub-Category A3 in English and in Indonesian Language
The significant different in use happens because of the language habit.
From the English data, there are 8% expression that use God’s name. In
Indonesian language, almost all activity have connection with God’s presence.
About 21 % thanks expression in Indonesian are addressed to God. An EBS
(Educational Broadcasting System) held by Korean Scholar shows that Eastern
culture tends to connect everything with each other, while Western culture is on
the contrary (Kim, 2008).
Example 22 bellow is taken from movie Jokowi, disc 2, minute 25.
Sujiatmi is Joko’s mother. She asked her son about his college life.
Example 22:
Sujiatmi : Piye kuliahmu? Lancar to?
(How is your college? Are you doing good?) Joko : Ya, alhandulilah lancar bu.
(Ya, thanks God, I’m doing well)
From the example above, we see that Joko is the doer, but when he answer
about his college life, he connected the answer with God, and so does the mother.
She is not thanking his son for the good things happening in her son’s life, but she
is thanking to God instead.
Another example is taken from Mudik Lebaran, disc 1, minute 35. Here
we can see that Gunadi got the money from sister Is, but he thank to God for it.
Example 23:
Gunadi : (berbicara pada diri sendiri) alhamdulilah, tiap hari aku dapat uang dari mba Is untuk buka puasa.
[(talk to himself)] Thank God, everyday I got money from sister Is for breaking the fast.]
English A3 thanking strategy (written in example E-A3 (2) and example
E-A3 (3)) show similar habit to connect something with something else, but not as
much as Indonesian strategy. The difference is on the addressee. In Indonesian, it
is usually connected to God. In English strategy, one data shows how the thank
can be delivered to the unknown entity, like it is written in E-A3 (3).
As it is discussed in example 15, the use of A3 in Indonesia is sometimes
adding by gesture. The condition is similar with example 14. Both Andrea and
Joko got money. Andrea expressed it by saying I’ll kill mom. Thank you, and Joko
expressed it by saying thanks and praise, sir and he bows down to his
grandfather’s knees.
The use of Sub-Category C1 in English and in Indonesian
English thanking strategy usually uses compliments to shows the thanking
expression. The compliments are given for a very simple favor to the complicated
Example 3, taken from Devils Wear Prada, disc 2, minute 9. Andrea got a
compliment from Emily. She thank her, and gives her a compliment too.
Example 24:
Emily : Oh, my God. Andrea you look so chick. Andrea : Oh, thank you. You look so thin.
Example 4, taken from Closer, disc 2, minute 31. Alice is planning a
holiday with her boyfriend, Daniel.
Example25:
Daniel : Where are we going?
Alice : My holiday surprise. My rules.
Daniel : (Dan starts tickling her, and Alice laughs hysterically.) Where are we going?
Alice : New York! New York!
Daniel : Oh, you angel.
There are not much different in English and Indonesian C1 thanking
strategies as it shown in example 7 and example 17. The difference is in the
intensity. Indonesian prefers to use A3. Thank in Indonesian language is often
connected to God presence and physical, while in English strategies the thanking
expression is expressed more by giving compliments.
CONCLUSION
The study is conducted to contrast the pragmatic function of thanking
strategies in two languages, English and Indonesian. From findings and discussion
discussed on the previous pages, English and Indonesian have similar thanking
strategies. The difference is on how the action is performed behind the
expressions. English thanking strategy uses admiration of the act more than
strategy than English. Furthermore, Indonesian strategies usually use gesture to
express the feeling of indebtedness. In English strategy, it shows how the
expression of indebtedness delivered to God and to the unknown entity, while in
Indonesian strategy, the indebtedness strategy only delivered to God.
A good thing that reader can get from this study is on how the data shows
authentic conversations that are taken from Indonesian and English movies. This
authentic data is important to avoid pragmatic transfer and pragmatic error that
usually appeared in learning foreign language. The implication for English
teacher, this study can become an example on where teacher can get authentic
English conversations and how to compare with Indonesian language strategies
This study weakness is on confirming to the respondent. Since the data is
collected from the movies, the ambiguous data can not be confirmed. Therefore,
for the further study that is going to use this strategy can employ a rater, or using
Discourse Completion Test (DCT). For those who wanted to continue the study of
contrastive pragmatic, there are many aspect of contrastive pragmatics beside
thanking strategies. Intachakra (2004) published his analysis on apologizing and
thanking strategies in Thailand, there are also a refusal contrastive that can be
analized in the future.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I Acknowledge Mr. Christian Rudianto who supervised me to
thanks to my supervisor, Christian Rudianto, M.Appling for his
considered critiques from the earlier draft of this paper.
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