xl
In generating analysis toward a conversation, a researcher requires understanding toward the components of social factors. In analyzing social
factors, an analysis toward social dimensions having close relationship with social factors must be taken into account. According to Holmes 1992: 376, the
four social dimensions are:
1. The Social Distance Scale Concerned with Participants Relationship
The solidarity - social distance scale is as follows: Intimate
Distant High solidarity
Low solidarity Holmes, 2001: 9
This scale takes account for pattern of linguistic interaction. It is used for emphasizing that how well the participants know each other is a relevant factor in
linguistic choice. How well the participants know about their addressee will influence the pattern of communication. The linguistic choice can show group
difference, existence, or solidarity between the group members. People use certain speech styles in their interactions with intimates or other persons having
distant relationship. In conclusion, this social dimension deals with the level of closeness of the
participants in conversation that may influence the conversation itself. It can be said that, if the participants are intimate, high solidarity between them will
probably emerge. In vice versa, if the participants are not close, they will probably have low solidarity. Hence, according to Holmes this scale is useful in
xli
emphasizing that someone relationship is relevant factor in linguistic choice. The following example is taken from The Day After Tomorrow:
Jack Hall : Stop kidding around I want you home.
Sam Hall : Dad, Ill be on the train. Do me a favor. Just dont worry
about me. Ill figure it out. Jack Hall
: All right, son. Ill see you tomorrow. This conversation shows that the participants have an intimate
relationship. It can be seen that Jack as a father worries about his son, Sam’s condition. Therefore, he asks Sam directly to go home as soon as possible. A high
solidarity can be identified clearly from that conversation due to the way they express their attention to each other. Thus, from the content of their conversation,
it is clear that it shows their intimacy as a father and a son.
2. The StatusPower Scale Concerned with Participant Relationship
The statuspower scale is as follows: Superior High
status
Subordinate Low
status Holmes, 2001: 9
The scale accounts for a variety of linguistic differences in the way people speak. The various ways in choosing words can show someone’s status in the
community, whether heshe is superior, equal, or subordinate. The statuspower scale points to the relevance or relative status in some linguistic choices since it
influences the conversation. It means that if the first participant is superior to the second participants, the conversation will be different from the conversation
xlii
between the participants with equal status. The example from The Day After Tomorrow is as follows:
Tom Gomez : Jack? I know you have a good at rubbing people the
wrong way ... but why, why would you aggravate the vice president?
Jack Hall : Because my 17-year-old kid knows more science than
he does. In the conversation above, Tom gives a warning to Jack directly. Since
Tom is superior to Jack, he delivers his warning to Jack in a direct way. From that example, it can be concluded that someone who has a higher status will
deliver his or her negative utterances directly dealing with the mistake done by his or her addressee, who has less power than he does.
3. The Formality Scale Relating to the Setting or Type of Interaction
