“True”. It indicates that Nancy sought an agreement from Michael’s statement. She employed a positive politeness strategy named seeking agreement in safe
topics strategy. She showed this strategy to share the same opinion that it was not easy to make a good cobbler. It may also indicate that she appreciated
Michael who had served the cobbler to her. The other example of seeking agreement in safe topics strategy can be
seen in the following dialogue. 4:13 Alan Cowan
: This Scotch is unbelievable.
Michael Longstreet : Right? You see that? Eighteen years old, single malt.
PPC057
Michael served Scotch to his guests. Alan thought that the taste of the Scotch was very good. In this case, he gave a statement about safe topic that
was a type of drink. In respond t o Alan’s statement, Michael said “Right”. It
indicates that he sought an agreement from Alan’s statement. Michael saved
Alan’s positive face by using the strategy of seeking agreement in safe topic. The safe topic in this conversation was about drink. By employing this
strategy, Michael could emphasize that he and Alan had a same opinion about the drink. Thus, Michael had shown his solidarity to Alan.
The datum below explains more about the strategy of seeking agreement in safe topics.
4:14 Michael Longstreet : Of course, of course. Excellent, isnt it?
Alan Cowan : Excellent.
PPC058
Alan handed Michael his empty glass then Michael refilled it. Michael said that the taste of the drink was excellent. In replyin
g Michael’s statement, Alan said
“Excellent.” He sought an agreement from Michael’s statement that the taste of the drink was good by using repetition word. T
hus, Michael’s positive face had been satisfied by Alan. Alan employed one of positive
politeness strategies named seeking agreement in safe topics. In this case, the safe topic was drink.
f. Avoiding disagreement
The strategy of avoiding disagreement has the same rank with the strategy of exaggerating interest, approval, sympathy with H. Both of them
appear in 6 out of 67 times of occurrences with the percentage 8.95. The examples and explanation for this phenomenon are presented as follows.
4:15 Michael Longstreet : He didnt want to tell on the kid. Like his friends would say he was a snitch. I mean lets be
honest, Penelope, it wasnt only a sense of honor.
Penelope Longstreet : You could say that. But a sense of honor requires a social context.
PPC008 Michael said that his son, Ethan, did not want to discuss about the kid
who hit him in the park. It was because his friends would say that he was a snitch. Furthermore, Michael said that it was not only a sense of honour.
Penelope did not agree with Michael’s statement. However, in expressing her
disagreement, she did not say “I do not agree with you.” She decided to use
hedge words to minimize the imposition when she told her disagreement. By saying
“You could say that. But…”, Penelope had saved Michael’s positive
face. He did not think that his statement was wrong or false. In this case, Penelope employed a strategy of positive politeness, avoiding disagreement
strategy. In addition, another example of avoiding disagreement strategy is
shown in the following datum. 4:16 Nancy Cowan
: Could you come over to our place at about seven-thirty, with Ethan?
Penelope Longstreet : Seven-thirty? What do you think, Michael? Michael Longstreet : Well, if you want my opinion....
Nancy Cowan : Yes, please.
Michael Longstreet : I think Zachary should come over here. PPC026
Nancy invited the Longstreets to come to her house at around seven thirty to talk more about the problem of their sons. Penelope asked his
husband, Michael, whether it was a good idea or not. In fact, Michael thought that it was not a good plan to come to t
he Cowans’ house because the Cowans’ son was the one who hit his son. Therefore, he thought that it should be the
Cowans’ son who came over to his house. However, in expressing his disagreement, he did not say
“I do not agree.” He decided to apply the strategy of avoiding disagreement by using hedge words
“Well, if you want my opinion…” By employing this strategy, he had saved the Cowans’ positive
face. Datum PPC052 below is also one of the examples of avoiding
disagreement strategy. 4:17
Michael’s mother : This is a bad time?
Michael Longstreet : No. Well, we got some friends over but go
ahead.
PPC.052
