9 questions in their speech are expressing doubt or uncertainty Lakoff, 2004, p.
74. Uncertainty tag is a tag which is said with a rising intonation Allen, 1954, p. 104. This tag is usually used when the speakers do not have enough information
so that makes them doubt about their utterance. A speaker who uses this tag suggests: “I believe that is so, but please correct me if I am wrong. By using this
tag, the speaker is asking the listener‟s opinion and would not be very surprised if he were contradicted” Allen, 1954, p. 104. Here is an example of uncertainty tag
and also the pattern of the intonation taken from Allen 1954, p. 104. [1] You came this
բmorning, | աdidn‟t you? Example [1] shows us that the speaker is not really sure that her statement is true.
Therefore, she employs an uncertainty tag in her statement in order to obtain information or a confirmation from the addressee Thomson Martinet, 1986, p.
114.
b. As a Facilitative Tag
Facilitative tag functions as a facilitative or a politeness device and it is said with a falling intonation.
When a woman is using this tag, she “does not normally need information but merely expects agreement therefore the tag is said
with a falling intonation, as in statements” Thomson Martinet, 1986, p. 114. In addition, Holmes 2001 states this tag
“expresses affective meaning in which it provides an addressee with an e
asy entrée into a conversation” pp. 288 - 289. It means to say that this tag facilitates the speaker to invite the addressee to get
involved in a conversation. For example, a primary school teacher who is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
10 responsible for the success of an interaction between herself and her pupil
Holmes, 2001, p. 289.
From example [2], it can be seen that by using a facilitative tag, the teacher has been successfully carried on the conversation. The use of a facilitative tag by the
teacher encourages the pupil to contribute to the conversation.
c. As a Softening Tag
Softening tag is a tag which “attenuates or mitigates the potential negative impact of
something like a criticism” Eckert Ginet, 2003, p. 168. Just like a facilitative tag, a softening tag is said with a falling intonation. The example of a
softening tag is in the sentence. [3] It is impolite when you talk with a mouth full of food,
բisn’t it? In this case, the speaker wants to criticize the addressee. However, she does not
want to discourage the addressee by her criticism. Therefore, she employs a softening tag to her utterance. The use of the tag also makes her criticism more
accepted by the addressee. The use of the tag by the speaker also shows that the speaker cares
about the addressee‟s feelings Holmes, 2001, p. 289.
2. Rising Intonation on Declarative Uptalk
Rising intonation on declarative which is also called „uptalk‟ or „question
intonation‟ is the use of a high-rising tone at the end of a sentence Eckert [2] Mrs. Short
: Here‟s a pretty one what‟s this one called Simon?
Simon : Mm, erm [pause]
Mrs. Short :
See its tail, look at its tail. It‟s a fantail, բisn’t it? Simon
: Mm a fantail. I seen one of them. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
11 Ginet, 2003, p. 173. When a high-rising tone is applied to a sentence which is a
declarative answer, the declarative answer becomes a question Lakoff, 2004, p. 77. Actually, this feature has four functions. They are to express uncertainty, to
reduce the force of an utterance, to indicate lack of finality and to show positive politeness.
a. Expressing Uncertainty
According to Lakoff 2004, rising intonation on declarative is used by women to expresses uncertainty p. 77. When women are uncertain, they use
rising intonation on declarative to make sure the accuracy of information. Here is an example of rising intonation on declarative that express uncertainty.
[4] A : When will dinner be ready?
B : Oh… around six o’clock…?
From example [4], Lakoff concludes that the speaker B sounds unsure about her answer and seeks for confirmation from speaker A Lakoff, 2004, p. 78. Even
though the answer is in the form of declarative, it becomes a question since a rising intonation is applied to it.
b. Reducing the Force of an Utterance
As cited in Holmes 2001, p. 287, Lakoff says that the use of rising intonation on declarative also serves as hedging devices. It means that the use of
rising intonation on declarative is to reduce the force of an utterance or to weaken the strength of an assertion. According to Lakoff, hedging devices signal lack of
confidence or express uncertainty as cited in Holmes, 2001, p. 287. However, “a
more detailed analysis sometimes showed that this form was not always PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
12 expressing uncertainty, it merely functioned as politeness devices
” Holmes, 2001, 288.
c. Indicating Lack of Finality
Rising intonation on declarative also simply signs that the person is not giving the final word on that matter
– they are open to continuing the exchange
Eckert Ginet, 2003, p. 174.
Eckert Ginet 2003 noted that there were many possible reasons for the speaker B to use the high rising terminal HRT in such an exchange other
than insecurity about whether the time suggested was “right” or unwillingness to commit herself. She might be asking any one of a number
of questions whose content is not explicitly given in the utterance: why do you want to know? ... are you proposing that we go out for dinner instead
of eating here at home? p. 174.
Similar argument is also said by Ladd that “rising finals simply mark
incompleteness, lack of finality ” as cited in Eckert and Ginet, 2003, p. 175.
d. Showing Positive Politeness
Ainsworth states that rising intonation on declarative also indicates positive politeness as cited in
Blahu
šová, 2013, p. 24. Positive politeness is the impression of being friendly and non-authoritative expressed by the uptalkers, due
to the rising nature of the tone Bradford, 1997 as cited in
Blahu
šová, 2013, p. 24. Therefore, positive politeness also means solidarity or support for the addressee
Britain, 1992 as cited in
Blahu
šová, 2013, p. 25.
B. Findings
This part is the findings in which the results as well as the interpretation of the data are presented. It presents the discussion of how tag questions and rising
