The Use of Bald on Record

45 his ex-wife Jill, and even between Nick and his rival who is older than him Senator; then followed by Positive Politeness 64 times. This strategy also frequently happens among them who have close relationship. Meanwhile, Off Record is employed 16 times. Most of the strategies are employed by Nick to BR and Jill. Then, the least frequently used strategy is Negative Politeness 9 times. Most of the strategies are employed by Senator to Nick. It is all due to the existence of some social distance between Nick and Senator. Here, in discussion, the writer will not put all the analysis result in subchapter A. In other words, the writer will discuss all kinds of politeness strategies occurred in this movie, and not present data that produces similar analysis result. The following is the detail of the analysis.

1. The Use of Bald on Record

Based on the politeness strategies of Brown and Levinson, this direct politeness strategy usually do not attempt to minimize the impact of FTAs. It attacks a hearer’s face without mitigating the threat. Here, in Thank You for Smoking, Bald on Record strategy frequently happens, especially between Nick and his Boss, BR. As a boss, people sometimes use Bald on Record to show that they have power over the others. This could be observed in the following dialogue, Speech Act 1. Setting : on the phone Situation : BR and Nick debates carrying out anti-smoking campaign Participants : BR and Nick PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 46 SPEECH ACT 1 BOSS: 50 million? Are you out of your fucking mind? BOR The deal was five million NICK: 5 million will get you a couple of subway posters. BOR Its not going to impress anyone. BOSS: Thats the idea, Nick. NICK: Youll be thanking me soon. BOR Thisll probably get you great press. BOSS: I gotta call the captain and see if this is gonna fly. Get your ass back to D.C. BOR In this conversation, BR and Nick are involved in disagreement about carrying out anti-smoking campaign. It is obviously seen that BR, as Nick’s boss, commits face-threatening acts toward Nick and has no effort to reduce the impact of FTAs. He straightforwardly reveals that he does not agree with the deal of anti-smoking campaign by using a harsh expression; “50 million? Are you out of your fucking mind?” and quite high tone in each of his utterances. Besides, by using incisive command toward Nick; “Get your ass back to D.C.”. It really indicates that BR, as a boss, has power over his employee, Nick. This is in line with the theory of Brown and Levinson that this strategy, Bald on Record is normally associated with speech events where the speakers assume that they have power over the others and hence can control the other’s behavior with words. Indeed, BR’s complaint and directive PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 47 utterances could be regarded as a potential threat toward Nick. It is said so because BR shows less emotion control and no effort to soften his imposition, that is the complaint and command in this case. Meanwhile, Nick does not feel like being imposed or intruded by his boss. This is noticed in Nick’s response, that he looks relaxed and uses Bald on Record as well toward his boss, BR. It also implies that Nick has a little social distance with his boss. They know each other very well. Therefore, both BR and Nick frequently apply Bald on Record in their daily conversations, either inside or outside office. Their utterances are direct, clear, and unambiguous. In other words, their relationship is inclined to be between close friends, instead of between employer and employee. Indeed, this kind of strategy is commonly applied among those who have a little close distance and very comfortable in such environment, such as close friends and family. In addition to appearing in the conversations between Nick and BR, Bald on Record also frequently happens between Nick and his best friends, Polly Bailey and Bobby Jay Bliss, who have close relationship. They very often apply Bald on Record in their conversations. However, here the writer only focuses on the utterances between Nick and Polly Bailey because as already mentioned previously that the analysis was only dealing with the conversations among the main characters. Setting : Lunch at Bert’s cafe Situation : They are chatting about Heather Holloway Participants : Nick, Polly Bailey, and Bobby JB PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 48 SPEECH ACT 10 NICK: Have either of you heard of a reporter named Heather Holloway? BOBBY JB: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Irish type. Brown hair, big blue eyes. Nice skin. Amazing tits. POLLY BAILEY: Tits? Why are tits relevant? BOR BOBBY JB: Hmm, lets see. World-class tits on a reporter interviewing a man with privileged information are relevant. POLLY BAILEY: How about it, Nick? Are you a tit man? BOR BOBBY JB: Dont answer that. Thats a trap. NICK: Depends whose tits. BOR It could be clearly seen that both Nick and Polly Bailey equally use Bald on Record in this conversation, Speech Act 10. Polly Bailey straightforwardly asks Nick about a sensitive thing, namely about sex; “How about it, Nick? Are you a tit man?” She attacks Nick’s face without mitigating the threat. However, Nick also responds comfortably by saying, “Depends whose tits.” Therefore, the conversation goes smoothly without anyone feeling himself herself being imposed. In other words, this could be still considered polite. Besides, as stated by Brown and Levinson 1987, Bald on Record is also very comfortable in emergency. It could be observed in this dialogue. Let’s just focus on the utterances between Nick and his son. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 49 Setting : in the yard of Lorne Lutch’s house Situation : Lorne Lutch aims his gun at Nick, while Joey is still in the car. Participants : Nick, Lorne Lutch, and Joey SPEECH ACT 15 NICK: talk to Joey You stay here, okay? BOR LORNE LUTCH: What do you want? Lorne Lutch aims his gun at Nick JOEY: Dad NICK: Joey, get back in the car. BOR talking to Lorne Lutch Just want to talk. LORNE LUTCH: All right. Lets talk. Lorne Lucth is talking to his wife Pearl, we got company. NICK: talking to his son Ill be right back, tiger. Bald on Record happens between Nick and his lovely son, Joey in the yard of Lorne Lutch’s house. When Nick is still in the car, he tells to his son, “You stay here, okay?” This implies that it is a kind of You imperative utterance asked by Nick, as a father to his son, Joey in order to keep staying in the car. Then, after Nick gets out of his car, suddenly Lorne Lutch aims his gun at Nick. As a father, Nick is very anxious with his son. Therefore, in this emergency he commits Bald on Record by spontaneously saying “Joey, get back in the car.” PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 50 In addition to happening among the conversations of Nick-BR, Nick-Joey, and Nick-Polly Bailey, the usage of Bald on Record is also very often found in the conversations between Nick and his rival, Senator Finistirre. Here is the example of their conversation containing Bald on Record strategy. Setting : on TV talk show hosted by Dennis Miller Situation : Nick and Senator Finistirre are attending on TV talk show. They are giving teasing comments each other on the talk show Participants : Nick, Senator Finistirre, and Dennis Miller the host SPEECH ACT 17 DENNIS MILLER: All right, I understand you were on Joan Lundens show recently. Didnt make a lot of friends over there, did you? NICK: I will say that I dont think Ill be getting my annual invitation to the Finistirre Labor Day Barbecue. BOR SENATOR: Well, I continue to offer an open invitation to Mr. Naylor to join us in Congress to talk about the inclusion of our new poison label which, if I might say... DENNIS MILLER: Nick, ready to trek up the Hill and testify before Congress? NICK: Well, Id love to, Dennis, but not as long as the senator is calling for me to be fired. Its not exactly a welcome invitation. BOR DENNIS MILLER: Yeah. Bit of a mixed message, Senator. SENATOR: Well, not as mixed as the stance that Big Tobacco has taken about the dangers of smoking cigarettes. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 51 NICK: Oh, no. DENNIS MILLER: Now what are you laughing? Youre a wind-up artist. Give the man his due. Hes got a bit of a point there, doesnt he? NICK: Sorry. I just cant help myself, Dennis. I... I... Im just tickled by the idea of the gentleman from Vermont calling me a hypocrite when, uh... this same man, in one day, held a press conference where he called for the American tobacco fields to be slashed and burned, then he jumped on a private jet and flew down to Farm Aid where he rode a tractor onstage BOR SENATOR: Oh, come on. NICK: As he bemoaned the downfall of the American farmer. BOR DENNIS MILLER: Care to comment, Senator? SENATOR: He... I... No. Indeed, it seems that some awkwardness and uncomfortable atmosphere appear in Speech Act 17. Most of the utterances are conveyed by Bald on Record strategy. It is mostly committed by Nick. He has little or no desire to maintain Senator’s face, which is by conveying teasing comments toward Senator Finistirre on and on. It begins with a ridiculous comment of Nick. He switches the subject asked by the host Dennis Miller by revealing, “I will say that I dont think Ill be getting my annual invitation to the Finistirre Labor Day Barbecue.” Afterwards, the tenseness of the conversation is getting more intense. Seeing from Senator Finistirre’s expressions, this clearly seems that PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 52 Senator Finistirre feels uncomfortable with Nick’s comments and arguments. He feels intruded so that he even could not convey much explanation or argument toward Nick’s comments. Actually, it is all due to the existence of some social distance between Nick and Senator Finistirre. They have a contrary background. Nick is from the Academy of Tobacco Studies, while Senator Finistirre is from Health and Human Services. Consequently, they are always involved in debates. Besides, it is also obvious that Nick neglects the age distance or even relative power or status between himself and Senator Finistirre.

2. The Use of Positive Politeness