considered as a dispreferred response as she does not show her participation in the action.
e. To Express the Speaker’s Unjustified Answer or Information
In expressing dispreferred social act, several characters in Jumping the Broom perform uncertain statements or an expression of doubt. It happens since
they want to express their unjustified information related to the topic of conversation. An example of this function is presented in datum 6.
Mrs. Watson : What are they like? Sabrina
: I dont know.
Datum no. 6 Mrs. Watson asks Sabrina a question about Jason’s family with an
expectation that it will be responded by an expected answer. Since Sabrina has not met his family either, she cannot tell any information about Jason’s family to her
mom. Thus, Sabrina gives her dispreferred response by stating an uncertain statement “I don’t know” as she is unable to give the expected information. This
statement is performed by Sabrina to show her unjustified information related to the topic of utterance.
f. To Criticize the First Speaker’s Utterance Which is Considered as an
Impolite or Rude Utterance
In Jumping the Broom movie, dispreferred social acts sometimes are performed by the characters to criticize the first speaker’s utterances. This
function appears as a result of the first speaker’s impolite or rude utterance. Mrs. Watson
: Did you forget that we have 50 people arriving here tomorrow for our daughter’s wedding tomorrow?
Mr. Watson : Your sarcasm is unattractive.
Datum no. 10
In this datum, Mrs. Watson asks Mr. Watson a question for his disappearing act. In this context, the response of question is expected to be an
explanation or an apology. However, Mr. Watson who recognizes the question as sarcasm immediately replies it by challenging the question. His statement “Your
sarcasm is unattractive” is considered as a statement of challenge used to criticize Mrs. Watson’s impolite or rude question.
Since Mr. Watson does not immediately show up in their house, Mrs. Watson phones him. On the phone, Mr. Watson who is on the way to the airport
promises to reach home soon. Feeling annoyed with his husband, Mrs. Watson tells him off by asking him a question with an expectation that he will arrive as
soon as possible. However, an expected response does not directly appear in the next turn. Instead, he challenges the question by giving statement of criticizing.
g. To Defend the Speaker’s Self Argument
Another function of the dispreferred social acts performed by the characters in this movie is to defend the speaker’s self argument. The following
datum portrays the occurrence of a dispreferred social act performed by Mrs. Watson which is used as a self defense.
Mrs. Taylor : Would a Jewish couple get married without breaking the glass?
Mrs. Watson : Were not Jewish Mrs. Taylor : I didnt say you were Jewish. The slaves were not allowed
to marry. Jumping the broom was the only way that they could show their union. Now, we have done that in this
family for years. It is a tradition. And, as you say, it is a cultural necessity.
Datum no.32
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