invitation; and 5 implying the unfairness of the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation. On the other hand, the function of adjuncts to refusals is showing
gratitude to the refusee. Among all the functions of refusals, demanding understanding from the refusee is the dominant function since it lessens the
negative impact of refusals. The characters ask their refusee to understand the reason why they cannot comply with the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation.
Hence, the possibility of offending their refusee is lessened.
B. Discussion
In the discussion section, the researcher provides the explanation of the findings. Some utterances spoken by the characters in 12 Years a Slave are taken
as examples. There are three types of refusals which are found in the movie. Each of the type contains several realizations and functions. All are discussed in the
following parts.
1. Types and Realizations of Refusals Employed by the Characters in
12 Years a Slave
a. Direct Type
Direct type is employed by the characters when they directly refuse the request, invitation, suggestion, or offer. There are several reasons for performing
direct type of refusals. First, the characters want to make their refusal firmer and more efficient. Second, the characters have a higher social level or they are in the
same social level with the refusee.
There are two realizations of direct type. The realizations are performative and non-performative statement. However, only non-performative statement is
performed by the characters in 12 Years a Slave. Non-performative statement can be performed by saying No or by using a negative willingness.
1 No
A flat no is used when the characters are extremely direct in refusing Phuong, 2006: 34. The conversation below shows the use of No. The
conversation occurred between Burch and Eliza. Burch asked Eliza to come out from the dungeon.
Burch : Come on. Get yer blanket. Get up.
Eliza : No. Please dont...
Datum 2 In the middle of the night, Burch came to Eliza and Solomon‘s dungeon. He asked
Eliza to come out from the dungeon. However, Eliza sensed that something bad could hap
pen. Therefore, she refused Burch‘s request by saying No. In regard to this context, Eliza‘s refusal is categorized as direct type because
she directly refuses Burch‘s request by saying No. Eliza performs a direct refusal in order to refuse Burch‘s request because she wants to make her refusal firmer
and clearer. Furthermore, a short direct refusal is more efficient to be performed since Eliza is in an urgent situation. In an urgent situation, refusing by employing
direct type such as saying no is more efficient to be performed since the message is clearly stated. Something bad might happen to her if she complies with Burch‘s
request. Thus, Eliza tries to make her refusal as clear as possible. The statement Please don’t… following Eliza‘s refusal is used to ask for Burch‘s empathy.
Burch is the owner of the dungeon, so she begs him not to do something bad to her and her children.
Another example of the use of No is in the conversation that occurred between Patsey and Solomon. Their conversation happened in the middle of the
night. Patsey woke Solomon because she asked Solomon a favor. She wanted Solomon to end her life.
Patsey : I ask; end my life. Take my body to the margin of the swamp —
Solomon: No.
Datum 24 That night, Mrs. Epps asked his husband to beat Patsey because Patsey gave her
an insolent look. However, Epps did nothing in response to his wife‘s request. Getting more furious, Mrs. Epps gashed Patsey‘s face with her nails. Seeing his
wife‘s action, Epps finally agreed to beat Patsey. After that, Patsey came to Solomon. She asked Solomon to kill her because she could not handle her
uncomfortable life as a slave anymore. However, he refused Patsey‘s request by
saying No. In reference to this context,
Solomon‘s refusal is categorized as direct type
because he directly refuses the request by saying No. He directly refuses the
request because he wants to make his refusal firmer. In addition, Solomon can perform a straight no refusal since he and Patsey are in the same social level; both
of them are slaves. Furthermore, they have a close relationship. In refusing, he does not need to try to be polite. Moreover, he is not afraid to offend Patsey since
he thinks that Patsey‘s request is impossible to be performed. It is not possible for him, as a fellow slave, to kill Patsey with his own hand.
Another example of stating No in refusing can be seen in the conversation between Patsey and Solomon. The context is the same as the previous example.
Patsey wanted Solomon to end her life. Patsey
: Take me by the throat. Hold me low in the water until Is still
n without life. Bury me in a lonely place of dyin‘. Solomon
: No
I will do no such thing. The...the gory detail with which
you speak Datum 25
Patsey told Solomon what he should do in order to end her life. She said that Solomon has to strangle and hold her low in the water until she died. However,
Solomon still refused the request. In relation to this context,
Solomon‘s refusal is classified as direct type
because he directly refuses the request by saying No. Solomon‘s refusal indicates
that he is so determined in refusing the request. Moreover, his determination is reinforced with the statement I will do no such thing. The...the gory detail with
which you speak. Solomon explains that he does not want to perform Patsey‘s
request. 2
Negative Willingnessability Negative willingnessability includes any refusing expressions which
contain negations. Negations can be expressed by using particle not or using any words which convey a negative willingness or ability VonCanon, 2006: 34.
The following conversation is an example of negative willingnessability. The participants of the conversation were Ford and Freeman. The conversation
occurred in Freeman‘s house where he sold all the slaves. William Ford, one of Freeman‘s buyers, planned to buy slaves. Then, he decided to buy Eliza and
Solomon. However, Eliza kept begging Ford to buy her as well as her children because she did not want to be separated from them. Finally, Ford asked Freeman
to sell Eliza‘s children to him because he was touched by Eliza‘s distress of losing her children. However, Freeman refused the request.
Ford : How much for the little girl? You have no need for her. One so
young will bring you no profit
Freeman : I cannot sell the girl. Theres heaps n piles of money to be
made off her. She is a beauty. One of the regular bloods. None of your thick-lipped, bullet headed, cotton picking
niggers.
Datum 5 Freeman refused Ford‘s request because he thought that Eliza‘s daughter was a
special nigger. He explained to Ford that she was different from other slaves since she was beautiful. Furthermore, she could make a lot of money.
In regard to this context, Freeman‘s refusal is expressed through the employment of negative willingnessability. Therefore, it is categorized as direct
type. Solomon shows his unwillingness to comply with Ford‘s request by saying I cannot sell the girl. By saying I cannot sell the girl, Freeman tries to make his
refusal firmer. Since Ford is his buyer, it sounds impolite if Freeman refuses Ford‘s request by saying No. Instead, he shows his unwillingness in order to make
his direct refusal less extreme. Furthermore, Ford can be offended if Freeman refuses his request in an extreme way. Freeman also provides an explanation for
his unwillingness to comply with Ford‘s request in order to ask for Ford‘s understanding.
The conversation between Tibeats and Solomon is another example of direct type by showing negative willingnessability. The conversation occurred in
Ford‘s weaving house. Tibeats
: Strip yer clothes. Strip.
Solomon : I will not.
Datum 11 When Solomon worked to build a weaving house for Ford, Tibeats came to
observe his work. He actually tried to look for Solomon‘s fault since he disliked him. Then, Tibeats scolded Solomon for not following his instruction. However,
Solomon explained to Tibeats that he has done everything as instructed. Solomon‘s explanation made Tibeats angry. He asked Solomon to strip his clothes
because he wanted to whip him. However, S olomon refused Tibeats‘ request.
In reference to this context, negative willingness is indicated in the statement I will not
. Hence, Solomon‘s refusal is classified as direct type. Solomon wants to explicitly show Tibeats that he does not want to comply with
his request. In addition, he wants to make his refusal sounds firmer. However, Solomon does not provide any explanations. In other words, he does not try to ask
for Tibeats‘ understanding of why he does not want to comply with the request. Solomon directly refuses the request because he thinks that it is necessary to fight
against Tibeats‘ mistreatment. He wants to show Tibeats that he can fight back. The next example of the use of negative willingnessability is in the
conversation between Solomon and Ford. Ford came back to his home and found Solomon was hung on a tree by Tibeats.
Solomon : desperate, urgent Master Ford, you must know; I am not a slave.
Ford : I cannot hear that.
Datum 12 After helping Solomon, Ford brought him to his house because he was afraid that
Tibeats would come back to take revenge on Solomon. He explained to Solomon that Tibeats wanted Solomon to die and he would do everything in order to kill
him. Ford thought that his house was not safe for Solomon anymore. Therefore, Ford transferred Solomon to Epps. In a desperate state, Solomon told Ford that he
was a freeman. He tried to ask for Ford‘s help to release him. However, Ford refused his request since he was indebted.
In relation to this context, the negation in Ford‘s refusal is indicated by the particle not in the statement I cannot
. Therefore, Ford‘s refusal is categorized as direct type. Even though performing a direct refusal, Ford is not afraid to offend
Solomon because Solomon is his slave. As a slave master, he can do or say anything to all his slaves since slaves are considered as the master‘s properties.
b. Indirect Type
