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[5] KURT: Make what official? MERCEDES:
You know, that we’re dating.
KURT: I’m sorry, Mercedes, but I thought I made it [very] clear. I’m in
love with someone else. Excerpt [5] is taken from episode 3 titled Acafellas. It shows that Kurt uses the
intensifier very to emphasize the word clear in his statement.
[6] FINN: I can’t, okay I can’t I’m sick and tired of people pushing me to
be somebody I’m not. KURT:
Your lashing out at me is [fantastically] compelling and
inappropriate. The excerpt [6] from episode 10 titled Ballad is a little bit different from the other
intensifiers. If we take a look at the situation, it can be seen that Kurt is annoyed by Finn’s statement. He uses the intensifier fantastically also to emphasize his feeling.
However, it is interesting that Kurt chose a positive word as the intensifier when he is annoyed. The researcher assumes that Kurt does it to control the dialogue and his
emotion. According to Brower and Darrington 2012, negative patterns of communication can often lead to greater frustration and escalation of conflict.
Therefore, Kurt does not want to use a negative word to make a conflict with Finn since he wants their duet to still run well.
[7] KURT: ......and if we want to take it to the next level, we have to start respecting each other as individual, [really] see each other…...
And finally, in the excerpt [7] from episode 15, the researcher finds that the intensifier really is used to emphasize his statement. By emphasizing the statement,
Kurt is able to attract his addressees’ attention. When Kurt discusses a serious topic, he wants all of his friends to listen to what he was talking about so he uses the
intensifier to attract their attention. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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In short, women’s language that is considered powerless can be seen from the use of intensifiers. It is used to emphasize their utterance to draw their
addressees’ attention since women’s language is lacking in power .
Kurt uses intensifiers in his speech that are commonly used by women. He uses them to attract
his addressees’ attention by emphasizing his feeling or statement of his utterances.
3. Superpolite Forms
Superpolite form is one of women’s language features described by Lakoff 1975. She describes super polite as leaving decisions open, not imposing your
mind, or views, or claims, on anyone else, and reflecting social politeness. While it may be a polite command, it does not need obedience overtly, but is suggesting
something to be done as a favor to the speaker Lakoff, 1975, p. 56. From the data classification, it is found that Kurt used superpolite forms in some episodes of Glee
Television Series Season 1 .
In Glee Television Series Season 1, Kurt uses 30 superpolite forms in his utterances. The superpolite form appears the most in the episode 15 titled The
Power of Madonna as much as 6 times. One superpolite form used by Kurt in this
episode is mentioned in the excerpt below.
[8] KURT: [I would like to honor her contributions by tackling a multi- media project with Mercedes.]
WILL:
Great. Go for it, Kurt. When the Glee Club were discussing about Madonna and her contribution in the
entertainment world, Kurt used a superpolite form as seen in the excerpt [8]. The utterance is classified as superpolite since Kurt uses the word honor, which usually
happens in formal situation while actually he is in a non-formal situation. His PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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decision in using the word honor reflects the social politeness. Besides, he also uses it to show his admiration toward Madonna.
Kurt also applies superpolite forms when he asks permission to talk to the addressees as seen in the excerpt [9] from episode 15, [10] from episode 16, and
[11] from episode 17.
[9] KURT: Ms. Sylvester,
[we’d like a word.]
[10] KURT: Mr. Schue? [If I may? ]
[11] KURT: Mr. Schuster, [may I be blunt?]
From those three excerpts, the researcher finds that when it comes for Kurt to talk to people who are older than him, he uses superpolite forms. First, Kurt is not
imposing his addressee to listen to what he is trying to say. However, he tries to be polite by asking permission for him to talk first and then deliver his idea. Second,
his expressions reflect social politeness. From excerpts [9], [10], and [11], Kurt uses formal or polite modals to ask for his addressee’s permission. Instead of using can,
he uses may and would as the modals in his utterances. Even in the excerpt [9] when the modal would is shortened into we’d, it does not reduce its politeness level.
Another superpolite form is found in the episode 10 when Kurt helped Finn, his crush, to find an outfit that suited him. When Finn thanked Kurt for helping him,
Kurt answered him by using a superpolite form as seen in the excerpt [12].
[12] FINN: Thanks for coming over, Kurt. I know you’re into fashion and
that kind of stuff. And I need to find something nice to wear to the Fabray’s for dinner, so…
KURT:
[I couldn’t be more pleased and honored to help]
you find something vintage and appropriate to wear.
