invitation. Differ from the second female participants, she chooses thanking for refusing as her strategy. She uses the expression “Thank you, but I have to go to
Semarang next week” to respond the prompt. This strategy is the most polite way in
expressing a refusal.
4.7 Responses to prompt 7
In the seventh prompt presents an informal situation between casual friends which has relatively equal power and low social distance. This situation included in
solidarity politeness. The refusal strategies that should be used in responding the situation are inquiry to third party, direct refusal, token agreement, criticism, positive
opinion, promise of future acceptance, and promise to comply. Three male participants choose thanking for refusing as their strategy. The
expressions “Ok thanks, I can do it”, “Ok thanks, but you don’t need to”, and “Thank you, I think I can handle it”
are used as an attempt to show that the participants express the refusals in polite way. In the other word, by using this
strategy the participants try to minimize the threat to the positive face of the interlocutor. The rest of male participants choose direct refusal in responding the
situation. The expressions “You don’t need to help me” and “I can do it by myself” show that by expressing direct refusal which is followed by giving reason, the
participants try to minimize the threat to the positive face of the interlocutor. In line with three male participants, three female participants also use same
strategy in responding this prompt that is thanking for refusing. The expressions
“Thanks for your help, I can manage it myself”, “Thank you I can manage it myself”, and “Oh, it’s okay, I really can manage it myself. Thanks anyway” are used as an
expression to refuse the help. Differ from two others female participants, they choose positive opinion as their strategy. They use expression “It’s very nice of you to help
me, thank you. But I can do it myself.” to respond the situation. This strategy is an
attempt to make the refusal acceptable to the interlocutor.
4.8 Responses to prompt 8
The prompt presents an informal situation which has enequal power and low social distance. This situation included in solidarity politeness. Bateson and Mead in
Scollon and Scollon 1983: 169 feel that the family is a communicative system of solidarity relations. So, this situation included in solidarity politeness. The strategies
that should be used are inquiry to third party, direct refusal, token agreement, criticism, positive opinion, promise of future acceptance, and promise to comply.
In this situation two male participants choose direct refusal as their strategy. They use expressions “Sorry dad, I have to go”, and “But it’s a must, dad. I should
go now” to show that they are directly refuse the suggestion of the speaker. The
effect of the refusal is not mitigated because it can hurt the speaker’s feeling. The first male participant chooses criticism as his strategy. The expression “It’s Saturday night
dad” indicates that the participant gives critics in the form of an opinion but tend to
give comment opinion judgment to the speaker. The third male participant uses expression of regret sorrow as his strategy. The expression “I think you are right, but
I just have to go. I am sorry” shows that the participant indirectly refuses the
suggestion. The last male participant chooses promise of future acceptance as his strategy. The expression “I promise I will at home before ten.” uses as an attempt to
show that the participant refuse the suggestion indirectly by giving promise to the
interlocutor.
In this situation two female participants choose promise of future acceptance as their strategy. The expressions “I’ll promise I’ll take care of myself.”, and “I’ll be
back before midnight.” are used as an attempt to give promise to the interlocutor so
heshe will not offended. Two others female participants choose thanking for refusing to show their refusal. The expressions “Thanks for your suggestion, daddy. But I have
to go now.” and “Thanks for your suggestion, Dad. But I have to go.” are used as
their way to refuse suggestion. This strategy is the most polite way in expressing a refusal. In the other word, by using this strategy the participants try to minimize the
threat to the positive face of the interlocutor. The last female participant chooses reason explanation as her strategy. The expression “I’m sorry, Dad. I have to do
something with my friends.” is used to show that she refuse the suggestion. In this
situation the participant has reasons explanations to refuse the suggestion.
4.9 Responses to prompt 9
