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1987 theories. There are two factors that influence the application of the politeness strategies: the payoffs and the sociological variables of circumstances
between the speaker and the hearer. The payoffs refer to the result of the strategies and the sociological variables involve three variables namely the social distance,
the relative power and the rank of imposition.
1. Payoffs
Payoffs are the advantages or the results of the politeness strategy. According to Brown and Levinson 1987, when a speaker applies the strategy,
the speakner expects a certain result that is advantageous for him. Bald on record gives the speaker a chance to be clear, perspicacious and to demonstrate non-
manipulativeness. Positive politeness gives the speaker the chance to satisfy hearer’s positive face. Negative politeness gives the speaker the chance to satisfy
hearer’s negative face. Off record gives the speaker the chance to satisfy hearer’s face in a greater degree and to avoid the responsibility of the FTA he does. The
deeper discussion about the payoffs found in the movie were explained in the next part. The writer will discuss bald on-record payoffs first, and then followed by
positive politeness, negative politeness and off-record payoffs.
a. Bald On-Record Payoffs
The idea of bald on record payoffs is giving the speaker a chance to be clear, perspicacious, and efficient and to show demonstrable non-
manipulativeness Brown and Levinson: 1987. This was exemplified in dialogue 10 and dialogue 11. In dialogue 10, Carl demonstrated bald on record strategy
based on this payoff.
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Dialogue 10 Time:
1:11:53 – 1:12:21
Setting :
A village in Lincoln, Nebraska
Situation :
Carl and Allison are walking in the path when it suddenly rains.
Participants : Carl and Allison
Carl :
I can’t believe I tripped like that commenting on the previous visit at
the chicken slaughterhouse.
Allison : Huh, it seemed that you fainted.
Carl :
No, I told you my foot caught a nail.
Allison : Oh, okay. I thought it was all the chicken beaks in the bucket.
Carl :
Don’t. Please. Oh God, it starts to rain covers Allison with his jacket. I’ll protect you. Come on. Hurry. There’s no time to lose. We have to
find shelter. Come on. Get in here BOR gets into the barn.
In dialogue 10, Carl said, “Get in here” to Allison when it started to rain. Carl could not avoid the responsibility of doing FTA to Allison. Carl did not
redress it because he wanted to be clear, perspicacious and efficient. The situation was kind of unpredictable and it happened suddenly so it was better for Carl to be
clear, perspicacious and efficient or otherwise they would get wet for the sprinkle turned into hard rain in a short moment.
Another payoff of bald on-record is showing demonstrable non- manipulativeness. This payoff is demonstrated in dialogue 11. In this dialogue,
Allison employed bald on-record strategy. She chose to do the strategy to show the demonstrable non-manipulativeness.
Dialogue 11 Time:
1:18:36 – 1:18:45
Setting:
The city’s airport
Situation:
Carl is trying to talk to Allison at the airport.
Participants: Carl and Allison
Carl :
Running towards Allison Allison Please, can we talk for a second?
Allison :
Get away from me BORwalks away.
Carl :
Okay stops following Allison.
Allison : Farther shouts.
Carl :
Yep runs to another direction.
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Allison was angry with Carl right after he told her that he had to say yes to every opportunity that came to him. Allison could not accept that fact and she
was so mad that wanted Carl to leave her. Allison said, “Get away from me” to Carl without redressing the utterance first. Allison was being clear and she
showed the demonstrable non-manipulativeness. She did not redress nor manipulate real message. She could just said something which was less
threatening than saying it in bald on record way. She could have just said it in negative politeness or even off record way. She did not do that since she wanted
to show her anger by being clear and showing the non-manipulativeness.
b. Positive Politeness Payoffs
