POLITENESS STRATEGIES AND GENDER DIFFERENCES
IN JAVANESE INDIRECT SPEECH ACTS
A THESIS
By
PUTRI RAMADHANI Reg. No.: 8106111027
Submitted to English Applied Linguistics Study Program
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Humaniora
ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS DEPARTMENT
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
ABSTRACT
Ramadhani, Putri. Politeness Strategies and Gender differences in Javanese Indirect Speech Acts. English Applied Linguistics Study Program. Postgraduate School. State University of Medan. 2013.
This thesis deals with Politeness Strategies and Gender differences in Javanese Indirect Speech
Acts. The objectives of this study were to identify types of politeness strategies, to examine the
differences of politeness patterns used by Javanese Male and Female or by different gender and to
see how the politeness strategies imply in the culture of “indirectness” a culture of Javanese who
avoid being direct to utter something which were reflected in Javanese indirect speech acts in
request. The approach used in this study are based on politeness theory of Brown & Levinson
(1987); Bald-on record, Positive, Negative, and Off Record. This study employed descriptive
qualitative design. The data were the transcription of recorded observation and interview using
audiovisual recorder in Javanese social interaction in doing business transaction at “Pasar Rebo”,
a traditional market located in Kampung Kolam, Pasar IX Tembung, Deli Serdang district, North
Sumatera. The politeness strategies used were bald-on record strategy, positive politeness strategy
and negative politeness strategy. Different strategies were performed by different gender; male
dominantly used bald-on record strategy while female dominantly used positive politeness
strategy. The realization of Javanese indirect speech acts used by female established an indirect
correlation to politeness strategies and the culture of “indirectness” in Javanese. The realization of these politeness strategies by the speakers were aimed to minimize Face Threatening Acts to
ABSTRAK
Ramadhani, Putri. Politeness Strategies and Gender differences in Javanese Indirect Speech Acts. English Applied Linguistics Study Program. Postgraduate School. State University of Medan. 2013.
Tesis ini berkenaan dengan Strategi Kesantunan dan pembedaan jender dalam tindak tutur tidak
langsung oleh etnis Jawa. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi jenis strategi
kesantunan, mencari perbedaan pola strategi kesantunan yang digunakan oleh masyarakat etnis
Jawa dari jender yang berbeda serta melihat bagaimana strategi kesantunan tersebut berhubungan
secara tidak langsung dengan kultur masyarakat Jawa yang disebut dengan “indirectness” atau
dalam bahasa Indonesia dapat dimaknai tidak mengatakan hal yang sebenarnya untuk menjaga
kesopanan) yang tercermin di dalam tindak tutur tidak langsung pada saat meminta. Pendekatan
yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini berdasarkan pada teori kesantunan Brown & levinson (1987);
Bald-on record, Positif, Negatif, dan Off Record. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain deskriptif
kualitatif. Data dalam penelitian ini adalah hasil rekaman dari observasi dan wawancara yang
dilakukan oleh si peneliti dengan menggunakan perekam audio visual dalam interaksi sosial
masyarakat Jawa dalam melakukan jual beli di “Pasar Rebo”,, pasar tradisional yang berlokasi di
Kampung Kolam, Pasar IX Tembung, Kabupaten Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara. Strategi
kesantunan yang digunakan dalam interaksi sosial di pasar adalah bald-on record strategy, positive
politeness strategy and negative politeness strategy. Terlihat perbedaan strategi dari jender yang
berbeda; pria lebih dominan menggunakan bald-on record strategy sedangkan wanita lebih
dominan menggunakan positive politeness strategy. Penggunaan tindak tutur tidak langsung yang
digunakan oleh wanita mencerminkan adanya hubungan tidak langsung antara strategi kesantunan
dengan kultur masyarakat jawa yang disebut ‘indirectness”. Strategi kesantuan ini digunakan oleh para penutur semata-mata untuk meminimalkan tindak pengancaman muka agar tercipta interaksi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Formerly, the writer would like to commence thanking Allah SWT for blessing her to complete this project. This study is concerned with Politeness Strategies and Gender Differences in Javanese Indirect Speech Acts which is submitted to Post Graduate School of State University of Medan in partial of fulfillment of the final academic requirements to obtain the degree of Magister of Humaniora from English Applied Linguistics.
Gifted hands from incomparable people were big favor for her to carry out this thesis. It was unattainable for her to bring this thesis to a close. Hence, the writer would like to highly appreciate all the people mentioned below.
Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M.Pd., first adviser, thanks for his patience and brilliance to supervise and sharing his scholar. His brightness colored every single thought of the writer to complete this thesis. Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M.S., co- adviser, appreciation is not enough to express thanks for her guidance, criticism, consultation, time and supports, so the writer can wrap this thesis up.
A very special gratitude goes to beloved parents; Mr. Yusril Ismail and Mrs. Anni Sulasmi, beloved younger sister dr. Sri Wulandhari, Lettu ckm (k), and the youngest brother Ichsan S.T. Great love for great husband and son, Harry Firsada Nst. and Dzaky Emery Nst. Their genuine heart to support the writer during her academic year has lent a hand galore.
Then, thanks to certain Javanese community in Kampung Kolam, Percut Sei Tuan who have participated as source of the data in this thesis and for the hospitality during the observation. The crowd of Pasar Rebo was the most colorful spot to value traditional shopping. Friends, classmates and the writers mentioned in references of this thesis, they are highly appreciated for sharing wisdom through academic writing.
No human being is flawless, so is the writer who is still very far from perfect. Constructive critics and suggestions are highly expected for the perfection of this thesis. The highest expectation is this work will be useful for the readers.
Medan, 6 Juni 2013 The writer,
Putri Ramadhani
REFERENCES ………... 67
LISTS OF TABLES
Table Page
3.1 Observation Sheet ………. 40
4.1 The Politeness Strategies Used by Javanese Male
and Female Buyers ……… 45
4.2 The Percentage of Politeness Strategy in Request
by Male Buyer ……… 46
4.3 The Percentage of Politeness Strategy in Request
LISTS OF APPENDICES
Appendix Page
1. Picture of Government Office
in Kampung Kolam ……….. 70 2. Transcript of Utterances
between Female Buyers and the Seller ……… 74 3. Transcript of Utterances
between Male Buyer and the Seller ……… 80 4. Interview Transcripts ………... 85 5. Realization of Types of Politeness Strategies
by Female Buyers ………... 91 6. Realization of Types of Politeness Strategies
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Study
Language and politeness are closely related to the society and culture and as the results, numerous studies of language and politeness have grown into an important line of inquiry. The publication of numerous pertinent books, journals and articles related to the study of politeness and related issues. The politeness is always reflected in society and culture. As Chen (1989) stated that politeness refers to socio-cultural matter and is crucially reflected in language. It is meant that politeness is an essential feature of social life.
Previously, some models of language and politeness have been developed by some scholars, for instance: Brown and Levinson (1987), conveying the utterances as polite as possible is the goal of politeness theory and more specifically focus into twenty-five politeness strategies which are classified into two categories; positive and negative politeness. Lakoff (1973), discussing the logic of politeness. Leech (1983), Leech's theories of proposing several maxims related to politeness. Yule (1996), elaboration of politeness and awareness of another person’s face. Mills (2003), with the concept of politeness and face. But
case studies and research projects in linguistic politeness have shown us what have been achieved within current models and what still remains to be done, in -
particular with reference to cross-cultural studies in politeness and differences between a Western and a non-Western approach to the subject, across different cultures and gender. As Ika Agustina (2012:82) suggests to the lectures of sociolinguistics should give attention not only to foreign cultures but also to the cultures of vernacular, especially Javanese culture, to compare Javanese with other regional cultures. The cross-cultural studies in politeness of non-Western approach is highly needed to be developed as the dynamic in language research.
factual information, whereas women more often use a "rapport style," which is more concerned with building and maintaining relationships. The needs of politeness research study then develop into the wider communities of practice, rather than individuals, arbitrate over whether speech acts are considered polite or impolite. Stereotypes of gender may play a role in the decisions that such communities make about politeness, but, nevertheless, individuals within these communities may use such stereotypes strategically to their own advantage. Since that, language and politeness needs to be analysed not only from a discourse level or rather than at the sentence or phrase level, but gender needs to be analysed in a way which moves it away from a focus on the sex of individuals to a form of analysis which focuses on such issues as the gendering of strategies, modes of talk and domains. How gender affects communication patterns in different ways in cultures around the world.
Politeness and language are in series of culture and gender matters. According to Reiter (2000), “politeness is not something human beings are born with but
something which is acquired through a process of socialization”. Thus, politeness
is not derived innately, but is constructed through social and historical processes. An example of non-communicative politeness is the simple act of a younger person offering an elderly person his own seat. An example in the Javanese culture is a younger person should bow slightly when walking in front of the elders and when the elder is giving advice, the younger person should not look directly at elder’s face as this is interpreted as the younger’s challenging the elder
country. There are 1.128 ethnics in Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke. The largest ethic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up 40% of the total population (Kuntjara, 2001). The Javanese not only concentrated on the island of Java but also some of Javanese have migrated to the other islands throughout the archipelago. Some of Javanese migrated to North Sumatera then well-konwn as Pujakesuma (Putera Jawa kelahiran Sumatera). Javanese is most politically dominant ethnic group which has strong culture. According to Pudjosoedarmo (1979), “in their daily lives, Javanese people are greatly influenced by some
concepts which are well rooted in the Javanese culture, namely Tata krama,
andap-ashor, and tanggap ing sasmita (the language style, humbling oneself while
exalting others, and being able to catch the hidden meaning)”. The phrase tata
krama culturally means a good conduct or ettiquete. The term andhap-ashor in
Javanese means humbling oneself while exalting the others. This concepts dictates the Javanese to be low profile. Finally, as a good Javanese, one should also have a sense of tanggap ing sasmita which can be translated as the ability to read between the lines. It means that the speaker may express his/her idea indirectly to the speaker. It is considered less polite or it may hurt the addressee’s feelings if it is delivered directly.
Javanese speech levels are divided into three levels, Poedjodoedarmo (1979), “there are basicaly three speech levels in Javanese”. These levels are; (1) Ngoko
formal nor too informal. (3) Krama is the polite and formal style. It is used between person of the same status who do not wish to be informal.
Chusnihadiati (2011), conveys that Javanese women are still considered as a subordinate group. Women must avoid offending men-and they must speak carefully and politely. There are many subordinate groups which have their own set of communication rules, apart from the universal rules. There are different levels of required politeness and different ways of being polite, but all people have the need to be appreciated and protected, which Brown and Levinson call face needs. This study is found as interesting features in the way the subjects manipulate and manage their interactions in order to get their intended message across employed six positive and seven negative politeness strategies.
The interaction between male and female are also available in Javanese. The communication between them are very well although in social life, the female in Javanese tend to speak less, lower and indirect to the male. Indirectness of the Javanese can be found as in the principles of Rukun and hormat. The First principle of rukun (harmony) refers to the Javanese’s attitude of living with other
different ethnic groups in a society. The second principle is hormat (respect). This principle plays an important role in maintaining a good relationship with others in a society.
Most Javanese tend to use indirect utterances in Javanese culture. According to Geertz (1976:24), indirectness or ‘indirection’ is a major theme of Javanese
speech is one of the Javanese politeness features. Both Suseno and Hildred Geertz agree that there are two principles which motivate Javanese people to avoid being direct. Those principles are rukun (harmony) and hormat (respect). Javanese use indirectness and pretence as strategies of showing negative politeness. Another research done by Sukarno (2010) asserts that Javanese use positive politeness dominantly in daily conversations. Based on those researches, it shows that most Javanese use positive politeness dominantly in their daily conversation. Furthermore The link between indirectness and politeness is further supported by Searle’s observation that “politeness is the most prominent motivation for
indirectness in requests, and certain forms tend to become the conventionally polite ways of making indirect requests” (1975: 76). According to Searle, in indirect speech acts “the speaker communicates to the hearer more than he
actually says by way of relying on their mutually shared background information, both linguistic and non-linguistic, together with the rational powers of rationality and inference on the part of the hearer” (1975: 60-61). Thus, in order to minimize
the threat and to avoid the risk of losing face, there is a preference for indirectness on the part of the speaker issuing the request to smooth the conversational interaction.
British prime minister as “Yo Blair” many thought it epitomised Britain’s servile
role in the transatlantic relationship. The intimate use of the surname has almost disappeared. Javanese is claimed as the most polite tribes in Indonesia which prior the positive politeness strategy in their daily communication, Javanese also apply indirectness and pretence as strategies of showing negative politeness. The main reason why the researcher want to investigate politeness strategies and gender differences used in Javanese indirect speech acts is because she wants to proove the possibilities of using different politeness strategies by different genders towards Javanese’s unique culture etiquette, it is indirect speech as one of the
Javanese politeness features.
1.2Problems of The Study
The problems of the study are formulated as in the following:
1. What are the types of politeness strategies used by male and female in Javanese?
2. How are the politeness strategies differently used by male and female in Javanese?
3. Why do those politeness strategies imply in the culture of indirectness?
1.3Objectives of The Study
In relation to the problems of the study, the objectives of the study are:
1. To describe the types politeness strategies used by male and female in Javanese 2. To explain the patterns of the politeness strategies differently used by male and
3. To elaborate the reasons of those politeness strategies imply in the culture of indirectness.
1.4. Scope of the Study
This study is attempted to investigate the politeness strategies used by Javanese male buyers and Javanese female buyers in Javanese’ social life, specially utterances of request uttered by the buyers toward the seller in traditional business transaction in traditional market. The main aspects to be observed is the politeness strategies of Javanese male buyers and female buyers in uttering requests to the seller, whether they tend to use: positive politeness, negative politeness, bald-on record, off-record strategy in expressing the acts which can threaten face such as request.
1.5. Significances of the Study
Findings of this study are excepted to be significantly relevant theoritical and practical aspects. Theoritically, the research findings are expected to enrich the theories of linguistic politeness strategies, as suggested by (Sifianou, 1992) “new approaches are suggested to develop linguistic politeness specifically for the cross-cultural studies”. The spoken language in spoken medium by certain community in certain event, mainly in a traditional market with special community in it, needs a real effort to be enriched with some new linguistic politeness theory.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions
The study concerned on politeness strategies used by Javanese male and female buyers to send request toward the seller and how the politeness strategies differently used by different gender and imply in Javanese Indirect Speech Acts. Based on the analysis, the conclusions were stated as the following:
1) Not all politeness strategies were used by male and female buyers to send request toward the seller. The strategies used were bald-on record strategy, positive politeness strategy and negative politeness strategy.
2) The most dominant type of politeness strategies used by different gender was not similar. Male buyers dominantly used bald-on record strategy while female buyers dominantly used positive politeness strategy. Male buyers dominantly used bald-on record strategy because they wanted to make short conversation and to make the information sent clearly, they wanted the seller get the point of what they talked about directly, so that there was no misunderstanding among them. Female buyers dominantly used positive politeness strategy in expressing request as an attempt to make the seller feel much respected, avoid conflict, or to maintain social harmony and solidarity by establishing rapport to the seller .
“indirectness” in Javanese culture which was aimed to maintain social
harmony by minimizing FTA.
5.2. Suggestions
In relation to the conclusions, suggestions are offered as the following. 1) It is suggested that lectures of sociolinguistics should give attention not
only to foreign culture but also the culture of vernacular, especially Javanese culture, to compare Javanese culture with other cultures all over the world.
2) Further research needs to be conducted in other social interactions to enrich the researchers and the readers’ knowledge in the field of politeness
strategies, language and gender, pragmatics, and culture in order to build mutual understanding among Indonesian ethnics.
3) The patterns of the politeness strategies used in Javanese and the variety of language styles used by different gender trigger us to be adaptable and communicative people. We are expected to digest language not only from the scientific perspective but also social and culture.
4) Avoiding conflict by minimizing face threatening acts in communication as the concepts of Javanese culture such as: tata krama, andhap-asor, and
tanggap ing sasmita (the language styles, humbling oneself while exalting
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