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CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
The objectives of this research are to identify the types, to describe the realizations, and to analyze the functions of refusals. This chapter consists of two
parts, namely findings and discussion. The findings section is presented in the table of data findings which contains the types, realizations, and functions of
refusals found in 12 Years a Slave. Meanwhile, the discussion section explains the analysis of the types, realizations, and functions of refusals found in the movie.
A. Findings
The findings of the types, realizations, and functions of refusals found in 12 Years a Slave are presented in the following table.
Table 2. Data Findings of the Types, Realizations, and Functions of Refusals in 12 Years a Slave
No. Types
Realizations Functions
Datum
1. Direct Type
Non-performative statement
Showing a determination in
refusing 2, 15, 24,
25, 30
Showing unwillingness to
comply with the request, offer,
suggestion, or invitation
5, 11, 12, 16, 19
2. Indirect
Type The statement of an
alternative Negotiating the
request, offer, suggestion, or
invitation 26
refusee since they are in the same social level. In addition, the characters have an intimate relationship with the refusee, so they are free to refuse directly. On Based
on the table of data findings, there are three types of refusals which are performed by the characters in 12 Years a Slave. The types of refusals found in the movie are
direct, indirect, and adjuncts to refusals. The most dominant type of refusals is indirect type as the characters want to emphasize that the request, offer,
suggestion, or invitation is impossible to be performed. Moreover, indirect type becomes the dominant type since some characters do not have a close relationship
with the refusee. In addition, the characters try to avoid offending the refuse
because they want to maintain their relationship with the refusee.
Each type of refusals is realized differently. There are two realizations of direct type. However, only one realization is found in the movie, i.e. non-
Avoidance Avoiding a conflict
or ending an argument with the
refusee 13, 28, 30,
31
Excuse reason explanation
Demanding understanding from
the refusee 3, 4, 8, 17,
20, 21, 23
The statement of a principlephilosophy
The attempt to dissuade the
interlocutor Mocking the refusee
or the request, offer, suggestion, or
invitation 1, 6, 7, 9,
10, 14
Implying the unfairness of the
request, offer, suggestion, or
invitation 13, 22, 27
3. Adjuncts to
refusals Gratitudeappreciation
Showing gratitude to the refusee
18
performative statement. Non-performative statement is mostly used to refuse the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation from the refusee who has the same social
level with the characters. They do not need to consider respect to the the other hand, the realization of direct type which is not found in the movie is performative
statement. Performative statement is not performed because the characters prefer to state a flat no or show their unwillingness when directly refuse the request,
offer, suggestion, or invitation. Moreover, employing performative statement to refuse the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation in daily conversation sounds too
direct. The refusee can be offended if the characters refuse the request, offer, suggestion, and invitation in a very direct way. Therefore, the characters in 12
Years a Slave only employ non-performative statement. Meanwhile, indirect type is realized in five realizations. The realizations of
indirect type are 1 the statement of an alternative, 2 avoidance, 3 excusereasonexplanation, 4 the attempt to dissuade the interlocutor, and 5 the
statement of a principlephilosophy. There are four realizations which are not found in 12 Years a Slave, namely promising to the future acceptance, setting a
condition for future or past acceptance, stating a wish, and showing an acceptance that functions as a refusal. The four realizations are not found in the movie
because all the characters make their refusals clear at the time the refusing statements are uttered. They state their refusals without indicating their desire or
promise to comply with the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation. By promising to the future acceptance, the characters commit themselves to comply with the
request, offer, suggestion, or invitation at another time. Furthermore, setting a
condition for the future or past acceptance implies that the characters will fulfill the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation if the situation is possible. Stating a
wish expresses the desire of the characters to comply with the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation. Then, an acceptance that functions as a refusal indicates
the characters‘ vague response to the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation. They neither accept nor refuse their refusee‘s request, offer, suggestion, or invitation.
Meanwhile, the most dominant realization of refusals is the attempt to dissuade the interlocutor. The characters from a higher or the same social level perform the
attempt to dissuade the interlocutor when they want to ridicule the requester or the request, offer, suggestion, and invitation. In addition, the characters from a higher
social level mostly perform the attempt to dissuade the interlocutor to show their superiority over the characters from the lower social level.
Adjuncts to refusals only occur in one datum because the characters rarely express their solidarity or respect. The conflict among the characters affects them
to rarely show their solidarity or respect to the refuse. Furthermore, there are eight functions for performing refusals found in the
movie. The functions are classified under direct type, indirect type, and adjuncts
to refusals. The functions of direct type emerged in the movie are 1 showing a
determination in refusing and 2 showing unwillingness to comply with the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation. Meanwhile, the functions of indirect type
include 1 negotiating the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation; 2 avoiding a conflict or ending an argument with the refusee; 3 demanding understanding
from the refusee; 4 mocking the refusee or the request, offer, suggestion, or
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