Alan had tasted the cobbler, he said “Very good. Very good.” This statement
indicates that he used this strategy in the form of compliment. He appreciated Penelope and Michael who had made the cobbler and served it to their guests.
Thus, Alan had saved Penelope and Michael’s positive face.
The dialogue below shows the application of this strategy by another character, Nancy Cowan.
4:2 Nancy Cowan : I see youre an art enthusiast. I love Bacon
too. Penelope Longstreet : Oh yes, Bacon.
PPC031 Penelope, Nancy and Alan were standing in the living room. They were
very uncomfortable with the situation there because they could not solve the problem of their sons yet. Therefore, Nancy tried to break the awkward silence.
She leant over and delicately picked up a book featuring the painter, Bacon. She noticed that Penelope was an art enthusiast. By saying
“I see you’re an art enthusiast”, Nancy had saved Penelope’s positive face. Nancy applied the
strategy of noticing, attending to H herhis interests, wants, needs, goods etc. In this case, Nancy noticed that Penelope was a devotee of art.
In addition, another example of the phenomenon that also deals with this strategy is shown in the following datum.
4:3 Nancy Cowan : Im going to throw up.
Alan Cowan : No, youre not.
Nancy Cowan : I am.
Michael Longstreet : You want to use the bathroom?
PPC038
The conversation between Nancy, Alan and Michael took place in the living room. Nancy did not feel good at that time. She felt like going to vomit.
However, Alan prevented her not to vomit because they were in the Longstreet’s house as guests. Michael as the owner of the house tried to treat
his guests well. Therefore, he asked Nancy whether she needed to use the bathroom or not. By
noticing to Nancy’s need, Michael had saved her positive face because he wanted to show friendliness and solidarity to her.
b. Exaggerating interest, approval, sympathy with H
The phenomenon of exaggerating interest, approval, sympathy with H strategy in Carnage movie appears in 6 out of 67 times of occurrences with the
percentage 8.95. An example of exaggerating interest, approval, sympathy with H strategy is presented in the following datum.
4:4 Michael Longstreet : Shes not telling you the real secret. Penelope Longstreet : Gingerbread crumbs.
Nancy Cowan :
Oh, my God.
PPC018 In this conversation, Michael and Penelope served cobbler cake to their
guests. Then, Alan and Nancy ate the cake and thought that the taste was delicious. Therefore, they were curious about the secret recipe of the
Penelope’s handmade cake. Then, Penelope revealed the real secret of her handmade cake. She told that she used gingerbread crumbs as the secret recipe
of her cake. Nancy was surprised and responded in an exaggerated way by saying
“Oh, my God.” She exaggerated her statement because she wanted to show her appreciation to Penelope in having a good recipe. Thus, P
enelope’s positive face had been saved by Nancy.
