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that he does not suppose to talk when they are having a conversation. In the conversation there is a token
that’s an interesting idea before Brutus wants to give the account but then stop by Mr. Veeblefester.
7. Apology
There is one comic strip that uses this pattern. The following is the analysis of it:
Mr. Veeblefester: This new product design was in the fax machine – I’ve told you
to only send digital image files Brutus: Sorry, chief, I forgot
– I guess sending faxes is a force of habit with me Mr. Veeblefester: Read my lips
– no new faxes The conversation 398viii happens between Mr. Veeblefester and
Brutus. Mr. Veeblefester comes to Brutus with the project design paper that he finds in the fax machine. He also complains because Brutus sends the product
design using the fax-machine. Brutus apologizes to Mr. Veeblefester. He says it is a force habit for him to send it using the fax-machine. Mr. Veeblefester then
orders him not to use the fax again. In the conversation there is an apology sorry before the account I forgot.
Levinson in his book Pragmatics 1984: 333 says that there are two essential features of dispreferred actions. First, they tend to occur in a marked
format and second, it tends to be avoided by the speaker. In the comic strips the dispreferred response produces by Brutus tends to occur in marked format or
pattern, Brutus also tends to avoid it. From the analysis most of the dispreferred responses produced by Brutus has the pattern of giving an account. There are 28
from 42 comic strips that contain giving an account pattern. There also other patterns, they are preface, repetition, appeal for understanding, delayhesitate,
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token yes, and apology that follow by the explanation of the dispreferred response. List of the analysis of those patters are put in the table of dispreferred
patterns in the appendices. In the comic strips, sometimes Brutus gives dispreferred response when he
talks to his family in his house, his boss and friends in the office, the waiter and waiterss in the restaurant or cafe, and some random people. From the analysis,
there are some different responses that show by Brutus when he talks to people around him. When he talks to his family especially Gladys 5019viii and
Wilberforce 11624x, Brutus just uses an account. The following are some of the examples:
Gladys: I can’t take any more of this hot, humid weather. I’d prefer a winter blizzard
Brutus: I disagree. Gladys: You do? Then tell me one thing that’s better about this kind of weather
Brutus: I don’t have to shovel it Wilberforce: Do you always hold your fork in your right hand when you eat, pop?
Brutus: No, I hold it in either hand. I guess when it comes to eating, I’m ambidextrous
Gladys: In other words, he holds his fork in whichever hand will get the food in
his mouth quickest In the office, when Brutus talks to Mr. Veeblefester 398viii, he tends to
use some patterns. From 10 comic strips, there are 3 comic strips that uses give an account pattern. It shows that Brutus tries to avoid the dispreferred response as he
talks to Mr. Veeblefester. It is different when he talks to his friends 1061410, he just simply us an account. Below are some of the examples:
Mr. Veeblefester: This new product design was in the fax machine – I’ve told you
to only send digital image files Brutus: Sorry, chief, I forgot
– I guess sending faxes is a force of habit with me Mr. Veeblefester: Read my lips
– no new faxes
