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Caleb : They have a boat…Jason dad might take us out on the lake
Ted :
I’ll think about it
Caleb : That means no
Ted : It means I’ll think about it
Data Interpretation
In the conversation above, Ted uses indirect refusal in the form of postponement
to say no toward Caleb’s request. Ted says I’ll think about it as indirect strategy in refusing because he does not want to hurt Caleb’s feeling directly. Thus,
he employs indirect strategy rather than direct strategy. Moreover, the indirect refusal namely postponement
can refuse Caleb’s request appropriately because Ted will have time to think longer in deciding the answer for Caleb’s request.
F. Hedging Data 05 K Disc 1 IF I-Ref T-P
The conversation below happens before Friday at the yard of Massachusetts
Institute Technology MIT between Ted and his close friend, Phil. Their relationship is close since it is between close friends. They are talking about
the dinner plan. Here, Phil says that his sister in law is in town and she invites Ted to come in Friday for dinner but Ted refuses it. This conversation runs in
non formal situation. The genre of this dialogue is daily conversation.
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Phil : Do you remember Kims little sister?
Ph-double Ds? Remember her? Ted
: Is it ethical to say things like that about your sister in law? Phil
: What? Its factual. Its peer-reviewed. I mean, its like... Anyway, whatever, she’s in town this weekend
Ted : Okay
Phil : And she thinks that you’re intriguing which I thought was code for
gay…but apparently not, because she asked if you’d join us for dinner on Friday.
Ted :
Yeah…I don’t know, Phil
Data Interpretation
Based on the conversation above, we can see that Ted employs indirect refusal
in the form of hedging to refuse the dinner invitation. It can be seen when he says Yeah…I don’t know, Phil towards Phil’s invitation. In this context of situation, Ted
indicates that he is uncertain with his answer. Thus, he uses hedging to represent his uncertainty. By using hedging, Ted hopes that Phil can catch the uncertainty message
in his answer easily. Moreover, the hedging is used to soften the refusal utterance.
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ADJUNCTS TO REFUSAL
Adjuncts to refusal are expressions that accompany a refusal. These expressions
function as extra modifications to protect the speaker’s positive face and it is usually used before the main refusal. These are adjunct to refusal applied by the
characters in the film entitled Knowing:
A. Appreciation gratitude Data 12 K Disc 1 IF A-Ref T-G
The dialogue below is conducted between Grace and Ted. They are siblings,
Ted, the brother and Grace, the sister. The relationship between them is close. This conversation takes place in Ted’s house. In this scene, Grace visits Ted
to know his condition. After looking his condition, Grace offers her help to take care of Caleb in the evening to give time for Ted to have normal life with
woman. But, Ted refuses the offer and makes sure that he is okay and does not need the help. The genre of this dialogue is daily conversation.
Grace : Hey stranger.
Ted : Geez: what are you doing out there?
Grace : On my way to work…graveyard shift this week. Just my luck.
I said I’d drop in, remember? You didn’t get my message? Ted
: I’ve been busy
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Grace : You’re always busy clocking the messy
You sure are missing a woman’s touch around here. How’s my nephew?
Ted : He’s decided to become a vegetarian
Grace : A what…? Have you been feeding him Ted’s famous dogs again?
If you want someone to take him off your hands on evening, so you can go out -
you know, like normal people do… Ted
:
I appreciate the offer, sis, but we’re fine. Really.
Data Interpretation
In the conversation above, we can see that Ted employs adjuncts to refusal by saying appreciation gratitude. It can be seen when he says I appreciate the offer,
sis, but we’re fine. Really towards Grace’s offer. In this context of situation, Ted considers to use adjuncts to refusal because their relationship is close. Thus, he
prefers to use adjuncts to refusal rather than other refusal strategies in order to save the hearer’s feeling.
Data 18 K Disc 2 IF A-Ref T-F
The participants of the dialogue below are Ted and his father. This
conversation happens in non formal situation through the telephone. In this scene, Ted tries to rebuild his communication with his father by saying his
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worries about his family’s life. Thus, he commands his father to save Grace and Mom from the heat radiation by going to the basement, sewer or T. But,
his father refuses the command by saying that he will not go anywhere because he is ready if God calls him. The genre of this dialogue is daily
conversation.
Ted : This heat were experiencing
isnt going to get better. I need you to get Mom and Grace and any supplies you can, and get below ground tonight.
The basement, the sewer, the T. Just get as deep as you can and as fast as you can. And that will keep us safe from this heat?
I dont know that, but we have to try, right? Father
: Im sorry, John, but Im afraid Im not going anywhere tonight or any night.
I appreciate your concern, but if its my time, its my time
. Im ready whenever the good Lord calls me
Data Interpretation
From the conversation above we can see that father applies the indirect refusal
and adjuncts to refusal. The indirect refusal can be seen in the form of statement of
regret apology by saying Im sorry, John, but Im afraid Im not going anywhere
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tonight or any night. Father employs indirect refusal because the conversation happens in the non formal situation between him and his son. In this context of
situation, father intends to use indirect refusal because he wants to keep the warm conversation since he does not have communication with Ted for a long time.
Then, it is followed with adjuncts to refusal by saying appreciation gratitude. It can be seen when father says I appreciate your concern, but if its my
time, its my time. In this context of situation, father considers to say like that because in that moment he surprised with Ted’s concern.
Data 10 K Disc 1 IF A-Ref MT-T
The participants of this dialogue are Miss Taylor and Ted. Their relationship
is distant. This conversation takes place in Miss Taylor’s house in non formal situation. A
fter reading the information in Lucinda’s letter, Ted goes to Miss Taylor’s house in order to get information about Lucinda since Miss Taylor is
the teacher who ever taught Lucinda. Then, after talking so long, Miss Taylor
offers him a drink again but Ted refuses it. The genre of this dialogue is daily conversation.
Miss Taylor : Oh, how rude of me. I never offered you a drink. Would you like some ice tea?
Ted :
Thank you…I’m fine
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Data Interpretation
In dialogue above, we can see that Ted employs adjuncts to refusal by saying appreciation gratitude. It can be seen when Ted says Thank you for
Miss Taylor’s offer. In this context of situation, Ted prefers to use adjuncts to refusal by saying
thank you because he wants to express his appreciation. Furthermore, he says I’m fine
to give additional explanation that he is okay.
3. The reasons of the participants in employing particular type of refusal. a. To ease the conversation
Sometimes, the speakers prefer to use indirect refusal rather than direct refusal in expressing refusal. It can be seen when the speakers express their refusal
expressions clearly by adding reason behind the refusal. In this case, the indirect refusal is used to ease the conversation
b. To show appreciation respect care It concerns on how the speakers try to show their appreciation, respect care
toward the hearer. The appreciation, respect care are represented in the using of adjunct to refusal which is stated before the main refusal.
c. To show politeness Politeness concerns on the attempt of speakers in saving the hear
er’s feeling. Here, the speakers want to show their politeness in expressing refusal. It is
usually used in the conversation among older-younger, father-son. Politeness has a function to soften the refusal.
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d. To keep distance It deals to the relationship between the speakers and hearers whether it is
distant or not since the relationship can affect the selection of refusal’s strategy. It can be seen when speakers who do not have close relationship
employ the direct refusal to keep distance.
C. Discussion
