Identifying the Factors of Politeness

31 negative face. The impact of this strategy can shock or even embarrass the addressee. Thus, this strategy is the lowest polite one. Based on the findings, this strategy was applied by all of the main characters as seen in Table 4.1. To be more precise, it was frequently used by Richard, Felipe, and Ketut Liyer when they talked to Elizabeth Gilbert, who was around mid- thirties. Richard was Elizabeth Gilbert’s friend in the Ashram, India – he gave her a nickname, Groceries, in the first night they met. Being a good observer, he noticed how much she could eat. He was a fifty-year old widower. He had been through a divorce before her. He knew and understood what she had just been through and felt. It was because he was quite older and had been in the same situation. Thus, when he talked to her, he often threatened her face because he had power over her. When it was time for him to leave India, he employed Bald-on Record strategy in his utterances. He reminded her of all her misery at the door upon her exit which might be necessary for her to pick it up again in case she left India. He also reminded her of their cushy reincarnation and gratitude. He suggested her to find someone better to love because he did not want her to waste her precious time thinking about such a useless thing. Therefore, he asked her not to make her life a monument to David whom was her ex-boyfriend, or to her ex- husband because it was over already. The complete utterances are shown in Dialogue 1. Dialogue 1 Setting : On the airport, India Situation : Richard was going to leave. Participants : Richard and Elizabeth Gilbert Pages : 250-251 32 Richard : What am I gonna do when I don’t have Liz Gilbert to kick around anymore? You’ve had a good experience at the Ashram, haven’t you? You look all different from a few months back, like maybe you chucked out some of that sorrow you been hauling around. Elizabeth : I’m feeling really happy these days, Richard. Richard : Well, just remember —all your misery will be waiting for you at the door upon your exit, should you care to pick it up again when you leave. Elizabeth : I won’t pick it up again. Richard : Good girl. Elizabeth : You’ve helped me a lot. I think of you as an angel with hairy hands and cruddy toenails. Richard : Yeah, my toenails never really did recover from Vietnam, poor things. Elizabeth : It could’ve been worse. Richard : It was worse for a lot of guys. At least I got to keep my legs. Nope, I got a pretty cushy incarnation in this lifetime, kiddo. So, did you —never forget that. Next lifetime you might come back as one of those poor Indian women busting up rocks by the side of the road, find out life ain’t so much fun. So appreciate what you got now, OK? Keep cultivating gratitude. You’ll live longer. And, Groceries? Do me a favor? Move ahead with your life, will ya? Elizabeth : I am. Richard : What I mean is —find somebody new to love someday. Take the time you need to heal, but don’t forget to eventually share your heart with someone. Don’t make your life a monument to David or to your ex-husband. Elizabeth : I won’t. Richard : After all, baby, remember what they say —sometimes the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Elizabeth : OK, Richard, that’ll do. Now you can go back to Texas. Richard : Might as well. Cuz I ain’t getting’ any prettier just standing around here. As Richard did, Felipe who was a fifty-two-year-old Brazilian man applied Bald-on Record strategy in his utterances when speaking to Elizabeth Gilbert. Moreover, he was her boyfriend. It was when he ensured her whether the