Joanne. Here, Lane uses the strategy of using a mitigator as a mark that she is doing dispreferred act on the second pair part to respond to
Joanne’s assesment or statement.
j. Expressing Doubt
Expressing a doubt is one of the way to do dispreferred act on the second pair part in a conversation. It is used to show the defensive
act between the second pair part to the first turn. The indicator when someone expresses hisher doubt to show hisher dispreferred act is by
saying “I’m not sure”; “I don’t know.” This strategy is used to avoid giving a next respond to the interlocutor. The phenomenon of
expressing a doubt is illustrated in the following conversation. Lane
: Oh, she’s so helpful. Oh, that’s not right. Oh, that’s not right. Go back.
Go back. God You stupid thing. Come on.
Aspiring Assistant : Sshh
Lane : Well, how do I go back?
Aspiring Assistant :
You can’t. You either know this stuff or you don’t. And my guess is you
don’t. Lane
: Somebody has low blood sugar. Here, have some candy.
Aspiring Assistant : I don’t eat sugar.
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The conversation above occurs when Lane is doing a software test after she did an interview at her new company. This test aims to
decide whether Lane is qualified in her new job desk or not. Yet, Lane does not really understand about what kind of test is that, and she is
not familiar with a software which is related to her job as a deal – reporter. Lane tries all of her efforts to pass this test.
On the other hand, there is another new employer, an aspiring assistant, who has to do the same test as Lane. Lane wants to cheat,
but this woman refuses to help her. Lane makes some noises because she is stuck with that test and she does not know what to do with the
software. Lane asks the aspiring assistant to teach her the step to work with the software. However, the aspiring assistant shows her doubt
that Lane cannot work well with the software. The aspiring assistant
says, ”You can’t. You either know this stuff or you don’t. And my guess is you don’t.” indicates that she shows her dispreferred social
act by employing the strategy of expressing a doubt.
k. Saying an Apology
Saying an apology can be categorized as the most well- mannered way to do dispreferred social act on the second pair part in a
conversation. When someone does not interested with the talk that has been discussed in a conversation, it is commonly found that heshe
will say an apology in order to avoid continuing the conversation. People usually say I’m sorry or what a pity which indicate that heshe
aims to avoid to continue the conversation without hurting people’s feeling. The illustration can be seen in the conversation below.
Tom : Lane. Lane. Lane
Lane : Yes?
Tom : This is the document we’re sending to Paris.
You don ’t speak French, do you?
Lane :
It depends on how you define “speak.” Tom
: I’m really disappointed in you, Lane. This would have been disastrous if I’d sent this out.
Lane :
I’m sorry.
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The conversation happens when Tom realizes that there is something wrong with his document that has been sent to Paris. He
calls Lane and wants to ask for her explanation. He knows that in Lane’s curriculum vitae, it is written that she is fluent in French. He
feels furious with Lane, because finally he knows that Lane has just lied to him about her ability in speaking French.
Lane feels affraid that Tom will dismiss her from the company since she does not tell the truth when she makes her curriculum vitae.
Lane can not find any suitable word to respond to Tom’s utterances,
then she chooses to say “I’m sorry”
in order to avoid Tom’s anger. On the other hand, behind
Lane’s apology, she feels that it is not fair for her because Tom does not give her a chance to explain her reasons.
Thus, it is clear that Lane expresses an apology to show her dispreferred act which aims to avoid Tom’s anger.
l. Mentioning Obligation
When someone does not like and at the same time does not interested in discussing a certain topic in a conversation, mentioning
