GENDER COMMUNICATION STYLES IN LAW AND POLITICAL DEBATE OF INDONESIA LAWYERS CLUB (A CASE STUDY).

GENDER SPEECH STYLES IN LAW AND POLITICAL
DEBATE OF INDONESIA LAWYERS CLUB
(A CASE STUDY)

A Thesis

Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study
Program in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Magister Humaniora
By:

FLORIDA INDRIANY BARUS
Registration Number: 8146 111 019

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY
PROGRAM POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
MEDAN
2016

ABSTRACT


Barus, Florida Indriany. Gender Speech Styles in Law and Political
Debate of Indonesia Lawyers Club (A Case Study). A Thesis. English
Applied Linguistics Study Program. Postgraduate School. State
University of Medan, 2016.
This research deals with the way of speech styles of male and female guests in
law and political debate of Indonesia Lawyers Club. The objectives of this
research were to identify the kinds of speech styles that exchanged in law and
political debate of Indonesia Lawyers Club by male and female guests, to
describe the speech styles used by male and female guests and to explain the
reason of male and female guests exchanged the speech styles in the way they
are. This research was conducted by applying descriptive qualitative research.
The data of this study were 25 utterances of male guests and 37 utterances of
female guest which were selected from segment 5 and 6 of Indonesia Lawyers
Club on the hot news “Drama Eksekusi Mati: Jokowi di bawah Tekanan” on
April 28th 2015 and the last segment on the hot news “DKI-1: Siapa
Penantang Ahok?” on March 8th 2016. The findings showed that male guests
tend to use rapport talk in delivering their idea in commenting the issue, while
female guest tends to use report talk in commenting the issue in Indonesia
Lawyers Club. Male guests frequently show the characteristics of female

communication, such as: support, intimacy, understanding, feeling, proposal
and compromise in their way of commenting the issue, while female guest
shows the characteristics of male communication, such as: status,
independence, advice, information, orders and conflict in her comment to the
issue. The reason of male guests use rapport talk more whereas female guest
tends to use report talk more is because males treat the language as a way in
selling themselves in a debate, whereas female does it as a way to challenge
the male’s ability and experience in law and political issue by being the more
aggressive debater.

i

ABSTRAK

Barus, Florida Indriany. Gaya Bahasa Gender dalam Debat Hukum dan
Politik pada Indonesia Lawyers Club (Studi Kasus). Tesis. Program Studi
Linguistik Terapan Bahasa Inggris. Program Pascasarjana. Universitas
Negeri Medan, 2016.
Penelitian ini berkaitan dengan gaya berbahasa tamu laki-laki dan perempuan
dalam debat hukum dan politik pada Indonesia Lawyers Club. Tujuan dari

penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi jenis gaya bahasa yang bertukar
dalam debat hukum dan politik Indonesia Lawyers Club oleh tamu laki-laki
dan perempuan, untuk mendeskripsikan gaya bahasa yang digunakan oleh
tamu laki-laki dan perempuan dan untuk menjelaskan alasan mengapa gaya
bahasa dari tamu laki-laki dan perempuan menjadi bertukar seperti hal
tersebut. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menerapkan penelitian deskriptif
kualitatif. Data dari penelitian ini adalah 25 ucapan-ucapan dari para tamu
laki-laki dan 37 ucapan-ucapan dari tamu perempuan yang dipilih dari
segmen 5 dan 6 dari Indonesia Lawyers Club pada berita hangat tentang
"Drama Eksekusi Mati: Jokowi Di Bawah Tekanan" tanggal 28 April 2015
dan dari segmen yang terakhir yaitu berita hangat tentang "DKI-1:? Siapa
Penantang Ahok" pada tanggal 8 Maret 2016. Hasil penemuan menunjukkan
bahwa tamu laki-laki cenderung menggunakan gaya bahasa “rapport” dalam
menyampaikan ide mereka sewaktu mengomentari masalah, sementara tamu
perempuan cenderung menggunakan gaya bahasa “report” dalam
mengutarakan komentarnya terhadap masalah yang dibahas pada debat
Indonesia Lawyers Club. Tamu laki-laki sering menunjukkan karakteristik
dari cara komunikasi perempuan, seperti: dukungan, keintiman, pemahaman,
perasaan, usulan dan kompromi dalam cara mereka mengomentari sebuah
masalah dalam debat ini, sementara tamu perempuan menunjukkan

karakteristik cara komunikasi laki-laki, seperti: status, kemandirian, saran,
informasi, perintah dan konflik dalam mengutarakan komentarnya pada
masalah dalam debat tersebut. Alasan tamu laki-laki menggunakan gaya
bahasa “rapport” lebih sering daripada perempuan, sedangkan tamu
perempuan cenderung menggunakan gaya bahasa “report” adalah karena lakilaki menggunakan bahasa sebagai cara dalam menjual diri mereka dalam
perdebatan, sedangkan perempuan melakukannya sebagai cara untuk
menantang kemampuan laki-laki dan pengalaman di bidang hukum dan isu
politik dengan menjadi pendebat yang lebih agresif.

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, the writer would like to thank the Almighty God Jesus Christ for
the blessing, mercy and endless love, so she has finally completed this thesis. In
writing this thesis, the writer was helped by many beloved people and therefore the
writer would like to express her greatest gratitude to:
1.

Prof. Dr. Lince Sihombing, M. Pd, her first advisor and Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih,

M. Pd, her second thesis advisor for their guidance, advices, suggestions,
affection and patience in supervising and guiding the writer to finish this thesis.

2.

Dr. Rahmad Husein, M. Ed, the Head of English Applied Linguistics Study
Program and Dr. Anni Holila Pulungan, M. Hum, the Secretary of English
Applied Linguistics Study Program for the invaluable suggestions and
assistance in providing the easiness while the writer studied in the faculty,
especially in the process of completing this thesis.

3.

Her thesis examiners, Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M. Pd, Dr. Rahmad Husein,
M. Ed and Dr. Anni Holila Pulungan, M. Hum for advices, suggestions and
constructive criticism in order to gives improvement for this thesis betterment.

4.

All of her lecturers in English Applied Linguistics Study Program who have

taught and guided her during the academic year at the faculty.

5.

Her beloved parents, her father Drs. D C Barus, M. Si, her mother R N Ginting
Manik, S. Pd, her beloved brothers, Andry Permana Barus, S. Pd, M. Sn,
Basten Van Barus, Piter Efraim Liasta Barus, S. E, her beloved sister in law
Maria Grace Sondangi Tobing, S. E and her beloved man Ebedeus Arjuna

iii

Sembiring, S. I. Kom for their prayers, attention, support, affection and
unconditional love. This thesis is heartily dedicated to her family who
encouraged her and prayed for her throughout her life and her studies.
6.

All of her beloved extended family and friends at LTBI A3 2014, Sisca Eva,
Ayu, Kiki, Naya, Vita, Lisa, Dian, Lindry, Fii and all of her friends for the
prayers, support, love, laughs and friendship. She would never forget all the
chats and beautiful moments she shared with all of her friends and classmates.

Other close friends, Eva Perangin-angin, Sri, Melin, Avo, Wike, Frisca, Junita
and Nora who supported her in doing her thesis.

7.

Mr. Farid, who has kindly helped her in providing the academic administration.

8.

Those whose names cannot be mentioned one by one for their help and
support. I love you all. Thanks for everything. May the Almighty God richly
bless all of you. Amen.

Medan,

August 2016

Florida Indriany Barus

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................

i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................

v

LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................

viii

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................


ix

LIST OF APPENDICES .........................................................................................

x

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background of the Study..................................................................

1

1.2 The Problems of the Study ......................................................................

10

1.3 The Objectives of the Study ....................................................................

11


1.4 The Scope of the Study ..........................................................................

11

1.5 The Significance of the Study ................................................................

12

CHAPTER II. REVIEW LITERATURES
2.1 The Nature of Gender ..............................................................................

13

2.2 Gender Differences in Social Interaction .................................................

17

2.3 Gender Differences in Communication ...................................................

18


2.3.1 Male and Female’s Way of Communication ................................... 19
2.3.2 Male and Female’s Gendered Characteristics .................................

28

2.3.3 Six Differences of Male and Female in Communication ................ 31
2.4 The Reason of Male and Female Speak Differently ................................

34

2.5 Debate ....................................................................................................... 44
2.5.1 Law and Political Debate ................................................................... 45
2.5.2 Communication Styles of Males and Females on Political Debate .... 50
v

2.5.3 Indonesia Lawyers Club ......................................................................51
2.6 Relevant Studies ..........................................................................................53
2.7 Conceptual Framework ...............................................................................58

CHAPTER III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design .......................................................................................

63

3.2 Subject of Research .................................................................................

63

3.3 The Data and Data Source .......................................................................

64

3.4 The Instrument of Data ............................................................................

64

3.5 Technique of Data Collection ...................................................................

65

3.6 Technique of Data Analysis ....................................................................

65

3.7 Trustworthiness ........................................................................................

72

CHAPTER IV. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
4.1. Data Analysis ...........................................................................................

75

4.1.1. The Way of Communication used by Male and Female Guests in
Indonesia Lawyers Club ................................................................ 75
4.1.1.1 The Way of Communication used by Male Guests ............. 78
4.1.1.2 The Way of Communication used by Female Guest ........... 88
4.1.2. The

Differences

between

Males

and

Female

Guests

in Commenting Session in Indonesia Lawyers Club ..................... 99
4.1.2.1 The Characteristics that Males Guests showed in Indonesia
Lawyers Club ....................................................................... 99
4.1.2.2 The Characteristics that Female Guest showed in Indonesia
Lawyers Club ....................................................................

105

4.1.3. The Reason of Male and Female Guests exchanged the Speech
Styles in the Way they are ..........................................................

109

4.1.3.1 The Reason of Male Guests give Comment in
Rapport Talk ....................................................................... 109
vi

4.1.3.2 The Reason of Female Guest gives Comment in
Report Talk.......................................................................... 113
4.2. Findings .................................................................................................

117

4.3. Discussions ............................................................................................. 119
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................. 123
5.2 Suggestions ................................................................................................. 125

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 126
APPENDIX .............................................................................................................. 130

vii

8

LIST OF TABLES

Pages
Table 2.1 The Features of Report and Rapport Talk in Communication................... 20
Table 2.2 Six Differences of Male and Female in Communication .......................... 32
Table 2.3 The Reason of Using Report and Rapport Talk in Communication .......... 35
Table 2.3.1 The Characteristics of Male and Female in Socialize Life that has
provided by Maltz and Borker (1982) in Mary (2003) ........................... 36
Table 2.4 The Points of features “Report and Rapport Talk” in Communication ...... 37
Table 3.1 The Utterances of Male Guests in Indonesia Lawyers Club ...................... 67
Table 3.2 The Utterances of Female Guest in Indonesia Lawyers Club ................... 69
Table 4.1 The Use of Report and Rapport Talk by Male Guests in Indonesia
Lawyers Club .............................................................................................. 76
Table 4.2 The Use of Report and Rapport Talk by Female Guest in Indonesia
Lawyers Club .............................................................................................. 77
Table 4.3 The Features of Rapport Talk ...................................................................... 78
Table 4.4 The Features of Report Talk ....................................................................... 89

viii

LIST OF FIGURES

Pages
Figure 2.1 The Features of Report and Rapport Talk in Communication................... 20
Figure 3.1 Components of Data Analysis: Interactive Model from:
Miles, Huberman & Saldana (2014) .......................................................... 66

ix

LIST OF APPENDICES

Pages
Appendix 1. The Utterances of Male and Female Guests in Indonesia
Lawyers Club ..................................................................................... 130
Appendix 2. The Analysis of Report Talk Used by Male Guests ........................... 139
Appendix 3. The Analysis of Report Talk Used by Female Guest .......................... 142
Appendix 4. The Analysis of Rapport Talk Used by Female Guest ........................ 149
Appendix 5. The Analysis of Rapport Talk Used by Male Guests .......................... 150

x

123

CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1

Conclusions
This study was concerned on gender differences on the way of

communication styles of male and female guests in law and political debate
of Indonesia Lawyers Club. It was aimed at identifying the kinds of speech
styles that exchanged in law and political debate of Indonesia Lawyers Club by
male and female guests, describing the speech styles used by male and female
guests and explaining the reason of male and female guests exchanged the
speech styles in the way they are. After analyzing the data, some conclusions
can be stated as the following:
1. The kinds of speech styles that exchanged in law and political
debate of Indonesia Lawyers Club by male and female guests are
“rapport talk” which is used by males, such as using qualifiers,
apologizing, taking blame, thanking, maintaining an appearance of
equality, downplaying qualification, establishing relationship and
downplaying authority and “report talk” that used by female, such as
direct request, longer talk in public context, giving advice to solve
problems, rarely giving praise or compliments and showing authority.
However, “speech including slang or swears words, teasing and

124

banter” and “mixing business and non-business talk” that belongs
to report talk were not found.
2. Both male and female guests in law and political debate of
Indonesia Lawyers Club used report and rapport talk in their way
of communication, but male guests used rapport talk more in
delivering their comment for the issue. Meanwhile, female guest
tended to use report talk more in delivering her comment for the
issue.

In addition, male

guests

frequently showed the

characteristics of female in communication, such as: support,
intimacy, understanding, feeling, proposal and compromise, while
female

guest

showed

the

characteristics

of

male

in

communication, such as: status, independence, advice, information,
orders and conflict.
3. The reason of male guests used rapport talk more whereas female
guest tended to use report talk more was because male treated the
language as a way in selling themselves in a debate, whereas
female did it as a way to challenge the male’s ability and
experience in law and political issue by being the more aggressive
debater.

125

5.2

Suggestions
Due to the above conclusions, it is necessary to give suggestions
as the following:
1. It is suggested to the readers to increase their understanding of how
males and females communicate in their interaction to other people
since

gender differences in communication potentially create

misunderstanding.
2. It is suggested to the other researchers to enlarge their knowledge
about the ways of communication by searching what other factors that
can influence someone’s ways of communication except gender itself.
3.

It is suggested to other researchers especially the researchers
majoring in English Applied Linguistics to conduct further research in
other field of making communications, such as in daily conversation,
social media networking, talk show, speech and so on, in order to
develop the theory of gender differences in communication and also to
enrich the researchers and the readers’ knowledge on gender
differences theories.

4. It is suggested to the lecturers of language to introduce the theory of

gender differences in communication in teaching learning process to
their students so that it can enlarge their student’s understanding of
how to behave positively through language.

126

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