THE INTERRUPTION USED BY THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF “GIFT OF A FAMILY” NOVEL: AN ANALYSIS ON CASUAL CONVERSATIONAL STYLE

THE INTERRUPTION USED BY THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF “GIFT OF
A FAMILY” NOVEL: AN ANALYSIS ON CASUAL CONVERSATIONAL
STYLE

THESIS

Written By:
BERTHA REGELIA ANGGREYNI
08360198

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
2013

THE INTERRUPTION USED BY THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF “GIFT OF
A FAMILY” NOVEL: AN ANALYSIS ON CASUAL CONVERSATIONAL
STYLE

THESIS


This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirement to
achieve Sarjana Degree in English Education

Written By:
BERTHA REGELIA ANGGREYNI
08360198

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
2013

MOTTO AND DEDICATION

ً‫ال ّ ّ ا س ْل إاّ ما جع ْته س ْ اً أ ْنت تجْ عل الح ْزن إذا ش ْئت س ْ ا‬
“Ya Allah, tidak ada kemudahan, kecuali yang Engkau jadikan

mudah. Dan engkau menjadikan kesedihan (kesulitan), jika Engkau
kehendaki pasti akan menjadi mudah.”
(Doa Rasulullah SAW)

Dalam hidup, kamu berhak bahagia. Oleh karena itu, jangan
biarkan bahagiamu ditentukan orang lain. Bahagia harus ada
dalam dirimu.
(Mario Teguh)
Tersenyumlah maka alam akan juga tersenyum manis kepadamu.
Karena alam merespon pikiranmu... Allah comes along with us
(Bertha Regelia Anggreyni)

DEDICATION
I dedicated this thesis to:
My beloved parents
My sisters, brother in law, and cousins
My lovely second family “tralala & syalala” community
And my lovely technician

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEGALISATION ................................................................................................. iii
APPROVAL ......................................................................................................... iv
MOTTO AND DEDICATION ............................................................................ v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................. vi
ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... viii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study .......................................................................... 1
1.2 Statement of the Problems ....................................................................... 4
1.3 Purpose of the study ................................................................................. 4
1.4 Significance of the Study ......................................................................... 4
1.5 Scope and Limitations .............................................................................. 5
1.6 Definition of Key Terms .......................................................................... 5

CHAPTER II: REVIEW RELATED OF LITERATURE
2.1 Literature .................................................................................................. 7
2.2 Novel ........................................................................................................ 8
2.3 Kinds of Novel ......................................................................................... 9
2.4 The Elements of Novel ............................................................................ 10
2.4.1 Character and Characterization .................................................... 10
2.4.2 Conflict ......................................................................................... 12
2.4.3 Plot ............................................................................................... 13

2.4.4 Setting .......................................................................................... 13
2.4.5 Point of View ............................................................................... 13

2.4.6 Theme ........................................................................................... 14
2.5 Conversational Analysis .......................................................................... 14
2.5.1 Indirectness .................................................................................. 15
2.5.2 Adversativeness: Conflict and Verbal Agression ........................ 15
2.5.3 Silence Versus Volubility ............................................................ 16
2.5.4 Topic Raising ............................................................................... 16
2.5.5 Interruption ................................................................................... 16
2.5.5.1 The Factors of Interruption ................................................. 17
2.5.5.2 The Reasons of Interruption ............................................... 18
2.5.5.3 The Gender and Effect ........................................................ 19
2.5.6 Conversation Style ....................................................................... 21
2.5.6.1 Powerless Language ........................................................... 21
2.5.6.2 Powerful Language ............................................................. 23
2.5.7 Gender/Power/Status and Interruption ......................................... 24
2.5.7.1 Gender ................................................................................. 24
2.5.7.2 Power and Solidarity ........................................................... 25
2.5.7.3 Status .................................................................................. 26


CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design ....................................................................................... 28
3.2 Approach .................................................................................................. 29
3.3 Object of the Study .................................................................................. 30
3.4 Data Collection ........................................................................................ 30
3.5 Data Analysis ........................................................................................... 31

CHAPTER IV: FINDING AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Findings .................................................................................................... 33
4.1.1 Factors of Interruption .................................................................. 33
4.1.1.1 Gender Composition effects ............................................... 33
4.1.1.2 Group Size .......................................................................... 35

4.1.1.3 Familiarity to the Speaker ................................................... 36
4.1.2 Features of Conersational Style ................................................... 37
4.1.2.1 Tag Question ....................................................................... 37
4.1.2.2 Gesture Forms ..................................................................... 38
4.1.2.3 Questioning Intonation ....................................................... 38
4.2 Discussions .............................................................................................. 39


CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 44
5.2 Suggestions .............................................................................................. 45
5.2.1 For the Lectures ............................................................................. 45
5.2.2 For English Department ................................................................. 45
5.2.3 For Futher Researcher .................................................................... 45

Refferences
Appendix

REFERENCES

Ary, Donald. 2002. Inroduction to Research in Education. New York: Wadiworth
group.

Bischoping, Katherine. 1993. Gender Differences in Conversation Topic. Michigan:
Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Carli,


Linda
L.
2001.
Gender
and
Social
Influence.
(online),(
http://www.communicationcache.com/uploads/1/0/8/8/10887248/gender
_and_social_influence.pdf). (Download on 29 April 2013, 11:33 am)

Creswell,

John.
2009.
Research
Design.
(online),
(http://www.worldcat.org/title/research-design-qualitative-quantitative

and-mixed-methods-approaches/oclc/611868855). (Download on 29
April 2013, 12:40 pm)

Hannah, Annette. 1999. Gender And Conversational Style As Predictors Of
Conversational Behavior. Vol. 18 No. 2, pages 153-174. (Online),
(http://www.ffri.hr/~ibrdar/komunikacija/seminari/Hannah,
1999
Gender and conversational style.pdf). (Download on 29 April 2013,
11:10 am)

Kennedy, X.J. 1983. Literature an Interoduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.
Canada: Little, Brown and Company Limited.

Koesnosoebroto, Sunaryo Basuki. 1988. The Anatomy of Prose Fiction. Jakarta:
Depdikbud.

Nemati, Azedah. 2007. Gender Differences in the Use of Linguistic Forms in the
Speech of Men and Women: A Comparative Study of Persian and
English.(online),
(http://bibliotecavirtualut.suagm.edu/Glossa2/Journal/dec2007/ Gender


Differences in the Use of Linguistic Forms in the Speech of Men and
Women.pdf). (Download on 29 April 2013, 11:29 am)

Tannen, Deborah. 1994. Gender and Discourse. New York: Oxford University Press.
Tannen, Deborah. 2005. That’s Not What I Meant: Language, Culture, and Meaning.
Vol.
22
Issue
1,
p91
(http://www.evgonline.com/Downloads/Tannen_guide.pdf). (Download
on 29 April 2013, 11:18 am)
Tannen, Deborah. 2007. That’s Not What I Meant: How Conversational Style Makes
and
Breaks
Relationship.
(online),
(http://www.marin.edu/pdfs/thatsnotwhatimeantpdf-v2.pdf). (Download
on 16 April 2013, 11:53 am)


Wardhaugh, Ronald. 1986. An Introduction to Sociolinguistic. Australia: Basil
Blackwell Ltd.

West, Candace, and Don H. Zimmerman. 1983. Small Insults: A Study of Interruption
in Cross-Sex Conversation between Unacquainted persons. MA:
Newbury House
White, Andrew. 2003. Womens’ Usage of Specific Linguistic Functions in the
Context of Casual Conversation: Analysis And Discussion. (online),
(http://www.bhamlive3.bham.ac.uk/Documents/collegeartslaw/cels/essays/sociolinguistics/White5.pdf). (Download on 29 April
2013, 11:19 am)

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 of this research presents background of the study, statement of the
problems, purposes of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation, and
definition of key terms. Each section is presented as follows.
1.1 Background of the Study
Wardaugh (1986) stated that language is a communal possession although

admittedly an abstract one. Individuals have an access to it and constantly show that
they do so using it properly. Secondly, Trudgill (1983) stated that language is not
simply a means of communicating information about the weather or any of the
subjects; it is also a very important means of establishing and maintaining
relationship with other people. Communicating something about what the speaker
wants to say is important if the listener also knows what the one wants to say by
communicative language.
Theoretically, conversational style has the same meaning with communicative
style. It is derived from the word communication where two people or more are
included in some conversations. Those activities can be described where two people
take turn in speaking. In the discourse of males and females in a conversational style
there are features of indirectness, politeness, feminism, and competitiveness. Some of
such features also happen in the casual condition.

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Mostly, when the males and females are in speaking or conversation they usually
have some interruptions on the conversation. Sometimes males are dominant to
interrupt the females. The females still wait for the chance to take part in the
conversation, usually they talk when the males give the clues just like pausing the
conversation by asking a question. It also happens when the hearer cuts off the
speaker directly. It sometimes happens in a conversation between males and females
because of the background or the gender. It could be one of the reasons of those
conditions. They are more likely to make some jokes which might make the situation
uncomfortable.
Sign of dominance’s interruption has been commonly used as an assumption in
research. Based on the previous research conducted by West and Zimmerman (1983),
it was found that men dominate women by interrupting them in conversation.
Moreover, James and Clarke (1993), reviewing research on gender and interruption,
do not find a clear pattern of males interrupting females.
Interruption always occurs when males and females are in conversation. Maltz and
Borker (1983) stated that research on gender and language has consistently found
males speaker to be competitive and more likely to engage in conflict (for example,
by arguing, issuing commands, and taking opposing stands) and females to be
cooperative and more likely to avoid conflict (for example, by agreeing, supporting
and making suggestions rather than commands). It can be concluded that males
dominate and control the conversation the most.
The commonly phenomenon which is referred to “interruption,” but accurately
referred to as “overlap” is a case which is directly connected with solidarity and

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ambiguity. Tannen (1994) has said that her analysis makes clear that some speakers
consider talking along with another to show of enthusiastic participation in the
conversation, of solidarity, creating connections. Others, however, assume that only
one voiced should be heard at a time, so far them any overlap is an interruption, as an
attempt to wrest the floor, a power play. This phenomenon can be reported that over
lappers had “dominated” the conversation.
Interruption is not kind of violation as long as the topic does not change.
Interruption between male and female also happens in “Gift of a Family” novel
between two main characters. Interruption can be signaled with some of expressions
or signals; for example I—, well, but, or, no, but—, will—, to—. Wardaugh (1985) has
said those expressions do not change the flow of conversation.
“Gift of a Family” novel is a kind of romantic novel, whose two characters Josh
and Kate are partner at the same hospital. Both of them have uniquenesses of
conversation because of the different character, background of life, and position.
Their conversation filled up with interruption.
In this case the writer chooses interruption and features of conversation style in
casual conversational style as the focus of the research because interruption in casual
conversational style is commonly found in daily conversation whether the females
and males are in conversation. The writer chooses to observe “Gift of Family” novel
because most of the dialogues are full of interruption and conversation style. Since
the main characters know each other about their background, there are so many
misunderstanding among them which cause interruptions in their conversation.

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1.2 Statement of the Problems
1. What are the factors of interruption in “Gift of a Family” novel?
2. What are the features of conversation style which can influence the gender’s
position between males and females in “Gift of a Family” novel?

1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.

To find out the factors of interruption in “gift of a family” novel.

2.

To find out the features of conversation style which can influence the gender’s
position between males and females in “Gift of a Family” novel.

1.4 Significance of the study
Theoretically this study gives a clear explanation about interruption and
conversation style in casual conversational style in “Gift of a Family” novel to the
readers to make them easy to understand. It also gives the contribution to the teachers
and students who want to study about interruption and conversation style in casual
conversational style.
Practically the results of the study are expected to provide useful information for
the following readers.For the students, this analysis can increase their knowledge of
interruption and conversation style in casual conversational style. They can see and
learn about it from another perspective. For the teachers, this research could be used
as an additional material in studying and teaching literature.

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1.5 Scope and Limitation
This study focuses on the interruption and conversation style used by Josh
Sullivan and Katriona O’Brien as the main characters in the “Gift of a Family” novel.
The limitation of this study is casual conversational style used by the main characters
in their conversation in the “Gift of a Family” novel.

1.6 Definition of Key Terms
1.

Interruption: An infringement turn taking rules of conversation when the second
speaker begins to speak while current speaker is still speaking without giving a
chance to the first speaker to finish it (Zimmerman and West, 1975). In this study
interruption is turn taking of conversation which pausingthe conversation by
some signals or expressions.

2.

Conversational style: Is a semantic process; it is the way meaning is encoded in
and derived from speech (Tannen, 1987). In this study conversational style has
the same meaning with communicative style which is derived from the word
communication where two people or more are included in some conversations.

3.

Main characters : are the people who are also called as the major characters that
cannot stand on his own and needs other characters to make the story more
convincing and life like (Sunaryono, 1988).

4.

Characterization : Is the personality of a character and the method that an author
uses to reveal the personality.

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5.

Casual style: an informal style that is usually spoken with a group community or
close friend that only could be understood by them. Joos (in Mesthrie, 2000),
defined casual style is typical of informal speech between peers, includes ellipsis
and slang between peers. In this study casual style is a kind of daily conversation
between peers work and friends.

6.

Sarah Morgan: a famous romance author in 1862 until now who was born at New
Orleans in 1842 which the first book was published at 1862 and the title is The
Civil War Diaries.
(http://www.oocities.org/legal1two/morgan.html)

7.

Gift of a family novel is a bestselling romance novel series is written by Sarah
Morgan and published at 2005 (Gift of a Family novel, 2005).