talk. Seventh, men and women have different interests in topic selection. In this point, men like to talk about politics, economy, stocks, sports, and current issues.
On the contrary, women prefer talking about education of children, clothes, cooking, fashion, and other topics.
Moreover, this study also explores the difference in psychology, social status, and cultural background. First, psychology difference shows that men like
to say what they want to say without considering others’ feeling. On the other hand, women are more careful, sensitive, and thoughtful. Second, social status
difference indicates that men are more powerful than women are. In this case, women attempt to improve themselves by using standard form of language. Third,
cultural background difference affects men and women’s behavior, especially in using language.
The changes of such differences show that educational level might influence the way men and women use language. In this case, men are trying to be patient to
wait others’ talk. In addition, men attempt to reduce the use of swear words or taboos. Therefore, they become polite and gentlemen-like.
The last study has been conducted by Jumanto 2014 entitled Phatic Communication: How English Native Speakers Create Ties of Union. It aims to
show the functions of phatic communication among English native speakers, the types of expressions used for creating ties of union, phatic communication and
politeness, and verification by other theories. In this case, he has interviewed nine native speakers with different dialects of American English, British English, and
American English. He has set four types of hearer in relation to power and solidarity: a close superior superior and solidarity, a not close superior superior
and not solidarity, a close subordinate inferior and solidarity, and a not close subordinate inferior and not solidarity.
The findings show that there are twelve functions of phatic communication as well as the expressions of phatic communication with different hearers and
different situations as proposed by Kridalaksana 2004, and the expressions used by the English native speakers. He also explains the relationship between phatic
communication and politeness. Based on his research, phatic communication among English native speakers is to express politeness to maintain social
distance, to express politeness and friendship to shorten the social distance, and to express friendship to eliminate the social distance. Phatic communication is
also one of negative politeness strategies and positive politeness strategies. For negative politeness strategies, phatic communication can be used to show the
social distance between a speaker and a hearer. On the other hand, a positive politeness strategy of phatic communication is used to show a close relationship
between a speaker and a hearer. His findings are also related to several theories. First, phatic communication
is related to the theory of language as human acts, in line with Malinowski’s theory in which language is a unity of human activities, a mode of action, and a
phatic communion. It also related to the theory of language functions from Bϋhler’s theory on expressive and appellative functions of language, Jakobson’s
theory on phatic function of language, and Halliday’s theory on interpersonal function of language. Second, phatic communication is related to the theory of
language and culture that contains social conventions and norms of English native speakers’ speech society and is in line with the theory of language relativity that is
different from other speech societies. Third, phatic communication also meets the theory of communicative competence, including linguistic competence,
sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence, strategic competence, pragmatic competence, and cultural competence. Last, phatic communication is
relevant with the theory of text and context. In this case, the text of phatic communication is kind of expressions used to serve the twelve functions of phatic
communication, while the context of phatic communication relates to the different expressions, different hearers, and different situations.
From the related studies above, the present researcher intends to use the same idea, but the difference is on the subject and the data. This present study
involves six couples of graduate students; two couples of female students, two couples of male students, and two couples of a female and a male student. The
focus of this study is on the communicative functions and functions of phatic communication. Besides, the present researcher is also going to see the gender
differences in conversation styles. The styles can be seen from topic, swear word or taboo language, and gossip.
C. Theoretical Framework
Phatic communication becomes the topic of this study because the present researcher assumes that this kind of communication happens in daily life. In this
sense, this study aims to see the phenomena of English phatic communication of the graduate students in batch 2015. It is argued that they are accustomed to using
English although they might not use it daily with friends outside the class. Thus, this study is intended to know their English proficiency in communication,
especially in phatic communication. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
This present study uses several supporting theories to explore
communicative functions, phatic functions, and conversational styles. The theory is basically from Jumanto 2014, Malinowski 1923, and Holmes 1992. It aims
to reveal the expressions and functions of phatic communication produced by the graduate students in conversation. The other theory is from Frank and Anshen
1983, Jespersen 1922, Tannen 1990, Coates 2004, and Holmes 1992. It discusses about conversational styles related to the communicative functions and
functions of phatic communication, especially topic selection, swear word, and gossip. Referring to those theories, this present study results in communicative
functions, phatic functions, and conversational styles found in conversation of the graduate students in English language studies of Sanata Dharma University, batch
2015.
D. Graduate Students in English Language Studies of Sanata Dharma University
The graduate students in English language studies of Sanata Dharma University must have good English proficiency. In this point, they need to be able
to interact with others either inside or outside the class. However, they only show their ability inside the class, especially in teaching learning process. As the
present researcher observed, only a few students who communicate using English outside the class.
The present researcher assumes that there is no obligation to speak English outside the class, and the graduate students feel unwilling to use English. In this
case, the graduate students should prove their English when communicating with friends or lecturers outside the class. Since they are in the graduate program in
English language studies of Sanata Dharma University, they should make the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
English environment alive. In addition, it is also better for them to practice and improve their English communication skill, especially in mastering English phatic
communication. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
40
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
The chapter deals with the methodology used in this present study in order to get relevant results. It consists of four parts, namely data of the study and data
source, approach of the study, data collection process, and data analysis process. The first part describes the data of the study and the source of the data. The
second part discusses the approach in analyzing the data. The third part deals with the steps of collecting the data. The forth part notes the steps of analyzing the data
to achieve the answers of the research questions.
A. Data of the Study and Data Source
This present study observed utterances as the data of the study or data corpus, and the data source were the graduate students in English language studies
of Sanata Dharma University in batch 2015. The setting of this present study was in an English graduate program in an English Foreign Language EFL
environment. As stated in chapter I, there were several consideration in conducting this study. First, Sanata Dharma University is well known for its
English in Yogyakarta. Second, the participants were the graduate students in English language studies because they had a sufficient English proficiency
confirmed by TOEFL score when enrolling for the graduate program. In this point, the graduate students had to reach 500 score or more. Third, it was suitable
for the graduate students in batch 2015 because they might use phatic communication to interact with friends in order to adapt to new situations and to
get close to others. Last, the graduate students in English language studies mostly PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
communicated using Indonesian. Therefore, the present researcher attempted to see their English communication skill outside the class.
To get the participants, the present researcher did not set any criteria because some of the graduate students were not willing to involve in this study.
Therefore, this present study was a sample study in which the present researcher merely chose several participants randomly. Then, they were divided into three
groups of gender, namely males, females, and males-females. From the three groups of gender, it was found that there were two couples of male students, two
couples of female students, and two couples of a male and a female student. The present researcher finally obtained six couples of the graduate students in which
each couple produced a conversation. In addition, the present researcher also needed
to describe the participants’ identity, including age, status, ethnic, and TOEFL score. Montgomery 1986:62-
63 explains that different groups are from a variety of ways, such as gender, age, class, and ethnic identity. In addition, TOEFL score was also crucial because it
measured students’ ability in English. The description of each student is as
follows.
Table 3.1 List of Participants
Name Age
years old Marital
Status Ethnic
TOEFL Score
Socrates 24
Single Dayak
523 Mello
22 Single
Maluku 540
Aan 24
Single Dayak
547 Sri
23 Single
Javanese 563
Maria 25
Single Batak
567 Star
32 Single
Javanese 523
Hayu 24
Single Javanese
550 Rose
24 Single
Javanese 507
Al 25
Single Javanese
500 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
