the previous results on communicative functions and functions of phatic communication. As explained, the differences can be seen from the topic, swear
word or taboo language, gossip, interruption, and back-channel response. However, the present researcher would like to discuss three points, namely topic,
swear word or taboo language, and gossip. The three points are highly relevant to the previous findings.
Moreover, it also needs some consideration in selecting those three styles. First, topic is quite important because it can direct the focus of conversation.
Second, swear word or taboo language is to see the nature of males’
conversational style. Last, gossip is to know the style of females’ conversation.
The detailed finding is arranged in the distribution table below.
Table 4.3 Distribution of Conversational Styles
No. Conversational Style
Speaker Male
Female Male and
Female 1
Topic 5
29 25
2 Swear word or taboo language
9 1
3 Gossip
20 Table 4.4 shows frequency of the conversational styles in the graduate
students’ conversation. Firstly, females discussed 29 topics because they might like to talk a lot about anything. Besides, males and females created 25 topics
because they probably also like to talk about unfocused conversation. Different from the two groups, males only produced 5 topics because they might not know
how to introduce new topics or develop the topics. Secondly, males produced 9 swear words in conversation. It is assumed that
they probably have accustomed to using such word and therefore they enjoyed talking using various swear words. However, females did not produce any swear
words because they would like to show politeness. Thirdly, the result also shows that males created gossip and the frequency is 20. It indicates that they felt
comfortable in gossiping someone or something with friends of the same gender. On the other hand, females did not create gossip because they might also show
polite manner in conversation. The following is the detailed analysis of each style.
1. Topic
The graduate students created various topics. They introduced, developed, and changed topics of conversation. The analysis is in the following details.
The couple of male students, Socrates and Mello, created several topics in their conversation. The topics are about activities, assignments, subjects, and
miscellaneous topics. The example of the conversation can be seen in excerpt 69. Excerpt 70
Context : Socrates and Mello were outside the classroom and
busy with their own activities. Socrates
: Mello, where were you? why you didn’t come to the
class today?
Mello : Overslept. Ap11-2
The conversation shows that Socrates firstly introduced the topic about Mello’s activities. Socrates would like to know the reason why Mello did not join
the class. Socrates used question to create topic in conversation and he was success in creating the topics and developing them.
Unlike the first couple of male students, the second couple of males, Aan and Mello, only created a topic in conversation. They talked about place for
sports. Based on the data, actually, they had more topics, but they mostly created PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
gossiping topics in their conversation. The excerpt of the conversation is illustrated as follows.
Excerpt 71 Context
: Aan and Mello were in the classroom talking about the sports center in Yogyakarta.
Aan : When – where…I don’t know where…where actually
can we find a way to play basketball here? Because…
= Mello
: = Oh, Gee I don’t know. Ap21-2
Excerpt 71 explains that the topic they discussed was about the place for sports. Aan liked to do sports, especially basketball, but he did not know the place
for playing basketball, and neither did Mello. Since they were not originally from Yogyakarta, they did not know any places, especially for certain sports. The topic
initiated by Aan was as the opening in conversation. In addition, Aan successfully made the topic at the beginning. Although Mello did not really know the place, he
still gave response to what Aan asked by expressing Oh, Gee I don’t know. Third, the first couple of female students, Sri and Maria, had various topics.
They talked about activities, plans, likes and dislikes, assignments, and miscellaneous topics. One of the topics created in conversation is in the following
excerpt. Excerpt 72
Context : Sri and Maria shared the morning activities and next
activities. Maria
: Hmm…[laughing]. Actually I have eaten some breakfast = this morning = Ehm…twice [laughing]
Sri : = Hmhm = Hmhm = TWICE?
Maria : So, I don’t know in the middle of the class I felt very
hungry.
Sri : Hungry? And then, what did you eat then? Ap37-10
