interlocutor. This strategy is also an attempt to make the refusal acceptable to the interlocutor.
4.4 Responses to prompt 4
The fourth prompt provides the participants a formal situation and S has enequal power and high social distance with H. This situation included in deference
politeness. Deference politeness places value on maintaining distance +D between individuals’ and implies formality and respect Scollon and Scollon, 1983: 169. The
refusal strategies that should be used to respond this situation are mitigated, indefinite reply, expression of regret sorrow, non- verbal refusal, reason explanation, and
gratitude. In this situation four male participants use expression of regret sorrow to
respond prompt one. It can be seen by the phrase “I wish I could go there, Sir. Unfortunately, I have to go to Semarang for work”, “I beg your pardon, Sir. I’m
afraid I could not participate”, “I’m afraid I can’t attend to the discussion” and “I’m
afraid I can’t attend the meeting”. Expression of regret sorrow is one of refusal
strategies by Carmen Garcia. This strategy happen upon receiving the invitation, the participants often respond it with an expression of regretsorrow for not being able to
accept the invitation. This expression of regretsorrow functioned in some cases as an indirect refusal. Differ from the second participant, he tends to use direct refusal by
using expression “I am sorry I can’t come” . By giving that respond, it shows that the participant refuse the invitation directly.
In this situation three female participants in the fourth prompt choose expression of regretsorrow as their strategies. The expressions “I am awfully sorry,
but I have other plans.” and “I’m sorry for being absent last meeting.” are used as an
attempt to show that the participants regret because they cannot accept the invitation. The expression “I’m sorry” is used as an attempt to apologize to the interlocutor.
Differ from first female participant, she chooses positive opinion as her strategies. The expression “I’d love to come, but I’ve already had an appointment” is used as an
attempt to show her positive opinion. This strategy is also an attempt to make the refusal acceptable to the interlocutor.
4.5 Responses to prompt 5
