every place has different way in thanking. As a result, every EFL learner who has different language background has different way in expressing gratitude. It will
affect them in performing gratitude expression in target language in certain situation.
2.4 Cheng’s Taxonomy
The taxonomy of thanking is elaborated below: 1
Thanking It consists of three subcategories, first is by using the word thank e. g:.
thanks, thank you, thank you so much. Second is thanking and stating the favor e. g. thank you for watching, thank you for your help. The last is
thanking and mentioning the imposition caused by the favor e. g thank you so much for letting me borrow it those extra days.
2 Appreciation
In appreciation strategy, there are two subcategories—using the word appreciate without elaboration I appreciate it and mentioning imposition
caused by the favor I really appreciate your time and effort.
3 Positive feelings
There are three subcategories in positive feelings namely expressing the positive reaction to the favor giver you are my superhero, expressing the
positive reaction to the object of the favor this pen is really useful, and expressing the positive reaction to the outcome to the favor I will keep you
posted on what happens.
4 Apology
Apology strategy has five subcategories—using only apologizing word I am sorry, I apologize, using apologizing words and stating the favor of the
fact I am sorry for the short notice, using apologizing words and mentioning the imposition caused by the favor sorry it took me so long to get it back to
you, criticizing or blaming oneself Because you break up with your girl or
boyfriend, you say “I am such an idiot”, and expressing embarrassment I am so embarrassing.
5 Recognition of Imposition
There are three subcategories included in recognition of imposition. They are acknowledging the imposition your teacher asked you to submit the
assignment on time and you said “I know you did not allow me extra time”, stating the need for the favor you need an extra time to submit your
assignment, and then you said this to your teacher “I usually do not try to ask for extra time, but this time I need it”, and diminishing the need of the favor
your friend help you by borrowing you some money and you said “you did not have to do that”. This strategy can be accompanied by thanking, appreciation,
and apology strategies.
6 Repayment This strategy has three subcategories, including offering or promising
service, money, food, or goods can I buy your dinner and beer for this?; indicating hisher indebtedness your friend help you to do your assignment
even shehe has another planning and you said “I owe you big time”; and promising future self-restrain or self-improvement you did something terrible
to your friend and you promise to herhim by saying “it will not happen again”.
7 Alerter
Blum Kulka, House, and Kasper as cited in Cheng, 2005: 49 define
alerter as an element functioning as an attention getter or an address term preceding the actual speech act in order to gain the hearer’s attention or signal
of interpersonal relationship. In Cheng’s study, alerter is classified as attention getter hi, hai, oh God, oh my, by the way, title Prof, Dr, Mr, Mrs, and name
Grace, Mary, guys, pal, buddy.
8 Others Others are the expressions that do not belong to any of the strategies
above. There are four subcategories in this section, including here statement here is your book, small talk I think I have seen you before, but I cannot
remember. What do you study?, leave-taking have a nice day, see you soon, and joking you are playing with your friend in her home and you read her
book without permission to her. She then said “that is why your boyfriend
want you to break with him, just joking.
2.5 Socio Culture
