Face-Threatening Acts Politeness Strategies

19 the positive consistent self-image or personality crucially including the desire that this self-image be appreciated and approved of claimed by interactants. Negative face was defined as the want of every competent adult member that his actions be unimpeded by others, or the basic claim to territories, personal preserves, rights to non-distraction--i.e. the freedom of action and freedom from imposition. Further, Brown characterized positive face by desires to be liked, admired, ratified, and related to positively, nothing that one would threaten positive face by ignoring someone. At the same time, he characterized negative face by the desire not to be imposed upon, noting that negative face could be impinged upon by imposing on someone. Positive Face refers to ones self-esteem, while negative face refers to ones freedom to act. The two aspects of face are the basic wants in any social interaction, and so during any social interaction.

c. Face-Threatening Acts

Brown and Levinson 1987 state that positive and negative faces exist universally in human culture. In social interactions, face-threatening acts are at times inevitable based on the terms of the conversation. A face threatening act is an act that inherently damages the face of the addressee or the speaker by acting in opposition to the wants and desires of the other. Most of these acts are verbal, however, they can also be conveyed in the characteristics of speech such as tone, inflection, etc or in non-verbal forms of communication. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 20 The threats to negative face might take the forms of orders, requests, suggestions, and advice. They potentially damage an individual’s autonomy. In contrast, disapproval, disagreement, accusation, and interruptions are threats to positive face, which potentially lower an individual’s self and social esteem. To lessen the threats and save face, people need politeness. It arises as a strategy speakers need to know in order to fight against face threatening acts and guarantee safety in conversation Bernier, 2001.

d. Politeness Strategies

Brown and Levinson 1987: 60 outline four main types of politeness strategies: bald on-record, negative politeness, positive politeness, and off-record indirect. The more an act threatens the speaker or hearer´s face, the more the speaker wants to choose a `higher-numbered´ strategy. The choice may be schematized follow. Super-strategies of politeness ordered against estimated risk of face loss Brown and Levinson, 1987: 60 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 21 1 Bald On-record Bald on-record strategies usually do not attempt to minimize the threat to the hearer’s face, although there are ways that bald on-record politeness can be used in trying to minimize FTAs implicitly. Often using such a strategy will shock or embarrass the addressee, and so this strategy is most often utilized in situations where the speaker has a close relationship with the audience, such as family or close friends. Brown and Levinson 1987: 94-98 outline various cases, in which one might use the bald on-record strategy, including:  Instances in which threat minimizing does not occur  Great urgency or desperation: Watch out  Speaking as if great efficiency is necessary: Hear me out:...  Task-oriented: Pass me the hammer.  Little or no desire to maintain someones face: Dont forget to clean the blinds  Doing the FTA is in the interest of the hearer: Your headlights are on  Instances in which the threat is minimized implicitly  Welcomes: Come in.  Offers: Leave it, Ill clean up later, Eat 2 Positive Politeness Positive politeness strategies seek to minimize the threat to the hearer’s positive face. They are used to make the hearer feel good about himself, his interests or possessions, and are most usually used in situations where the audience knows each other fairly well. In addition to hedging and attempts to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 22 avoid conflict, some strategies of positive politeness include statements of friendship, solidarity, compliments, etc. The following fifteen strategies are addressed to positive face and are thus examples of positive politeness Watts, 2003: 89-90: 1 Notice, attend to H herhis interests, wants, needs, goods, etc.: strategy 1 Jim, you’re really good at solving computer problems. →FTA I wonder if you could just help me with a little formatting problem I’ve got. 2 Exaggerate interest, approval, sympathy with H: strategy 2 Good old Jim. Just the man I wanted to see. I knew I’d find you here. →FTA Could you spare me a couple of minutes? 3 Intensify interest to the hearer in the speaker’s contribution: strategy 3 You’ll never guess what Fred told me last night. This is right up your street . →FTA [begins a narrative] 4 Use in-group identity markers in speech: strategy 4 Here’s my old mate Fred. How are you doing today, mate? →FTA Could you give us a hand to get this car to start? 5 Seek agreement in safe topics: strategy 5 I agree. Right. Manchester United played really badly last night, didn’t they? →FTA D’you reckon you could give me a cigarette? PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 23 6 Avoid disagreement: strategy 6 Well, in a way, I suppose you’re sort of right. But look at it like this. →FTA Why don’t you . . .? 7 Presuppose, raise, assert common ground: strategy 7 People like me and you, Bill, don’t like being pushed around like that, do we? →FTA Why don’t you go and complain? 8 Joke to put the hearer at ease: strategy 8 A: Great summer we’re having. It’s only rained five times a week on average . B: Yeah, terrible, isn’t it? A: →FTA Could I ask you for a favour? 9 Assert or presuppose knowledge of and concern for hearer’s wants: strategy 9 I know you like marshmallows, so I’ve brought you home a whole box of them. →FTA I wonder if I could ask you for a favor . . . 10 Offer, promise: strategy 10 I’ll take you out to dinner on Saturday →FTA if you’ll cook the dinner this evening. 11 Be optimistic that the hearer wants what the speaker wants, i.e. that the FTA is slight: strategy 11 I know you’re always glad to get a tip or two on gardening. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 24 →FTA so, if I were you, I wouldn’t cut your lawn back so short. 12 Include both S and H in the activity: strategy 12 I’m feeling really hungry. Let’s stop for a bite. FTA = S wants to stop and have something to eat and wants to get H to agree to do this 13 Give or ask for reasons: strategy 13 I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink, Jim. →FTA Why not stay at our place this evening? 14 Assert reciprocal exchange or tit for tat:4 Dad, →FTA if you help me with my math homework, strategy 14 I’ll mow the lawn after school tomorrow. 15 Give gifts to H goods, sympathy, understanding, cooperation:

A: strategy 15 Have a glass of malt whisky, Dick.

B: Terrific Thanks. 3 Negative Politeness