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the occurrence of „commands‟ usually used by the speakers when the speakers were asking for the
opposition‟s arguments. Thus, the using of this characteristic is in forum discussion is not based on gender, but on who has the role as a leader whether it is male or female.
4. Questions asked
Below are the examples of questions asked found in the conversations:
22 Figure 11. Examples of Questions Asked
The above excerpts were examples of questions asked by the speakers during certain discussions in the forum. In FtF communication, men are believed to ask for questions more than
women do in order to maintain and develop the conversation Swann, Deumert, Lillis, Mesthrie; 2004.
Female Register
After collecting the data and through analyzing phase, all characteristics from female register found in the conversations. While, on the other hand, all characteristics proposed by Karlsson
2007 – as well supported by previous study by Lakoff 1973 – were found in the
conversations. Based on the findings, from five characteristics proposed by Karlsson 2007, the characteristics found are Intensifiers: So, Hedges, Tag questions, Empty adjectives, and polite
language.
1.
The using of ‘So’
Followings are the use of “so” as intensifiers found in the conversations.
23 Figure 12. Examples of Intensifier: So
The words „so‟ found on the data taking part as an adverb that emphasize the adjectives. Lakoff 1973 further claims
that by using the word so, the speakers‟ feeling would be stronger in meaning. The using of the word “So” is one of the characteristics of female register found in
conversations. According to Lakoff‟s „Talk like a lady‟, women tend to use so for emphasizing something and as a superlative form.
2. Hedges
The using of hedges considered as one of the major used characteristic in female register. These are hedges that found in conversations:
1.2 Tentative Cognition Verbs
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Following are the tentative cognition verbs found in the conversations:
Figure 13. Example of Hedges: Tentative Cognition Verb
The speakers used
I think
to portray how the speaker were not absolutely sure about the statement they said. The using of these hedges also aimed to stimulate a response from partner
speaker. These kinds of hedges I think and I believe are categorized as tentative cognition verbs Varttalla, 2001.
1.3 Probability Adverb
Following are the hedges found in the conversations:
25 Figure 14. Example of Hedges: Probability Adverb
By using the word
maybe, probably, and possibly
, it expressed how the speaker was uncertain about the statement they said. The using of these „probability adverb‟ also shows how
the speakers were not sure, and asking for further opinion from the partner speaker. This confirms what Varttala 2001 stating that the use of probability adverbs is categorized as hedges
when it is used for expressing doubtful idea.
1.3 Modal Auxiliaries
Following are the findings in the conversations:
26 Figure 15. Example of Hedges: Modal Auxiliaries
The using of modal auxiliaries
should, can, would, and may
are to soften the participants‟ utterances since the purpose of these utterances were to offering a help asking a
help and asking for agreement. Based on Lakoff‟s 1973 hypotheses about how the women talk, he claimed that women
use more hedges than men do. However, in a forum discussion based on the findings, male speakers also using hedges in their language. Hedges found in the findings are commonly used
when all the participants were asking and giving opinions about what should they do for their projects. As Varttala 2001 stated that the using of hedges is to show the uncertainties, hedges is
the most-used characteristic among others. The using of hedges found on male speakers is
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massive as the speakers proposed their own arguments and opinions towards the topic. The intensity of using hedges by male speaker also found when they proposed their opinion and
arguments. Hence, the using of hedges still dominated by the female speakers in giving and asking their opinions.
3. Empty Adjectives
