Women's Language in the Novel "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
WOMEN'S LANGUAGE IN THE NOVEL
"THE HELP" BY KATHRYN STOCKETT
NI KADEK INDAH SEPTIARI
( 1218351044 )
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NON REGULER PROGRAM
FACULTY OF ARTS
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
DENPASAR
2016
WOMEN'S LANGUAGE IN THE NOVEL
"THE HELP" BY KATHRYN STOCKETT
NI KADEK INDAH SEPTIARI
( 1218351044 )
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NON REGULER PROGRAM
FACULTY OF ARTS
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
DENPASAR
2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would to thank the Almighty God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa for his
blessing, protection and guidance to me so that I can finish my paper which entitled Women’s
Language in the Novel “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett well. He sent me supporting through
people around me. God always show me the ways to make me strong and calm in each of
conditions that I face.
In this occasion, I would like to express gratitude to I Wayan Mulyawan, S.S M.Hum as
my first supervisor for his concern and guidance in writing this paper. Furthermore, I thank to
Dr. Ida Ayu Made Puspani, M.Hum for his guidance and advices as my second supervisor.
My sincere gratitude is also dedicated to Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati
Beratha, M.A and his staffs, Dr. Dra. Ida Ayu Made Puspani, M.Hum as the Head of English
Non Regular Program, Faculty of Arts and Cultures, Udayana University and all of English
Department’s lecturers who have lead me to open my knowledge wider and also educated me
through the academic years. Great thanks to my beloved parents, I Nengah Wiranata and Ni
Wayan Karsi who have supported me from the smallest thing in the beginning until the biggest
project. I am indebt to them. Thank for your time, your patient, my beloved one, Komang Suka
Lastara for his endless support and love to me. Special thanks to Kadek Jenny Lestari, Amy
Pramiwidari, Apriani Sugiandari, Ayu Mira Dewi, Dessy Widia, Ester Dwi Astuti, Dewa Ayu Sri
Catur Gayatri, Angeline Sugianto, and Putu Widiana. Without their support, I would not have
many achievements during my study and complete this thesis in proper time.
Lastly, I hope this paper will be useful to those who may need informationabout women’s
language. Some suggestions will be highly appreciated.
Denpasar, 04 July 2016
Kadek Indah Septiari
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... i
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ iii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study ....................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problems of Study ........................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Aims of Study .................................................................................................................. 3
1.4 Scope of Discussion ......................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Research Method ............................................................................................................. 4
1.5.1Data Sources ............................................................................................................ 4
1.5.2Method and Technique of Collecting Data .............................................................. 4
1.5.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing Data ............................................................. 5
1.5.4 Method and Technique of Presenting Data ............................................................. 6
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEWS, CONCEPTS, AND THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Literature Review............................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Concepts........................................................................................................................... 10
2.2.1 Gender ..................................................................................................................... 10
2.2.2 Women’s Language ................................................................................................ .11
2.2.3 Context of Situation ................................................................................................ 12
2.3 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................... 13
2.3.1 Women’s Language Features and Functions According R. Lakoff ........................ 13
2.3.2 Context of Situation According to M.A.K Halliday ............................................... 20
CHAPTER III ANALYSIS OF WOMEN’S LANGUAGE IN THE NOVEL THE HELP BY KATHRYN
STOCKEET
3.1 Preliminary....................................................................................................................... 22
3.1.1 Synopsis of the Novel............................................................................................... 22
3.2 Women’s Language Features and Functions and Context of Situation ........................... 25
3.2.1 Lexical Hedges and Fillers and Context of Situation ............................................. 25
3.2.2 Tag Question and Context of Situation ................................................................... .27
3.2.3 Rising Intonation on Declaratives and Context of Situation .................................. 32
3.2.4 Empty Adjectives and Context of Situation............................................................ 34
3.2.5 Precise Color Terms and Context of Situation ....................................................... 38
3.2.6 Intensifier Just and So and Context of Situation..................................................... 40
3.2.7 Hypercorrect Grammar and Context of Situation ................................................... 42
3.2.8 Super Polite Form and Context of Situation ........................................................... 44
3.2.9 The Avoidance of Strong Swear Words and Context of Situation ......................... 47
3.2.10 Emphatic Stress and Context of Situation ............................................................ 50
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABSTRACT
This paper entitled Women’s Language in the novel “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
explored women’s linguistic features which were found in that novel and also explained the
context of situation through women’s conversations. Women’s language is related to social
class, same sex and cross sex. This study purposed to increase the knowledge in sociolinguistics
specifically about women’s language. The theories applied in this study were the theory of
women’s language proposed by Lakoff (1975), and supporting theory was proposed by M.A.K
Halliday (1978). Lakoff states that women’s speech was characterized by linguistic features such
as: the use hedges or fillers, tag questions, rising or question intonation, empty adjectives,
precise color, intensifier, hypercorrect grammar, super polite form, the avoidance of strong
swear word, and emphatic stress.
This study used novel especially “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett as the data. This novel
was chosen as the data source in this study because it can represent the life of women in different
social status. It can tell context of situation and also the features and the function of women
language in that novel. The collected data was selected and put into categories of women’s
linguistic features and their functions. Which were descriptively analyzed based on theory
applied. The women’s linguistic features which were found in the novel such as: lexical hedges
or fillers, tag question, rising intonations on declaratives, empty adjectives, precise color terms,
intensifiers, hypercorrect grammar, super polite forms, avoidance of strong swear words,
emphatic stress. It was also found the context of situation such as: field of discourse, tenor of
discourse, and mode of discourse.
Keywords: women’s language, features, functions,and context of situation.
"THE HELP" BY KATHRYN STOCKETT
NI KADEK INDAH SEPTIARI
( 1218351044 )
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NON REGULER PROGRAM
FACULTY OF ARTS
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
DENPASAR
2016
WOMEN'S LANGUAGE IN THE NOVEL
"THE HELP" BY KATHRYN STOCKETT
NI KADEK INDAH SEPTIARI
( 1218351044 )
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NON REGULER PROGRAM
FACULTY OF ARTS
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
DENPASAR
2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would to thank the Almighty God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa for his
blessing, protection and guidance to me so that I can finish my paper which entitled Women’s
Language in the Novel “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett well. He sent me supporting through
people around me. God always show me the ways to make me strong and calm in each of
conditions that I face.
In this occasion, I would like to express gratitude to I Wayan Mulyawan, S.S M.Hum as
my first supervisor for his concern and guidance in writing this paper. Furthermore, I thank to
Dr. Ida Ayu Made Puspani, M.Hum for his guidance and advices as my second supervisor.
My sincere gratitude is also dedicated to Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati
Beratha, M.A and his staffs, Dr. Dra. Ida Ayu Made Puspani, M.Hum as the Head of English
Non Regular Program, Faculty of Arts and Cultures, Udayana University and all of English
Department’s lecturers who have lead me to open my knowledge wider and also educated me
through the academic years. Great thanks to my beloved parents, I Nengah Wiranata and Ni
Wayan Karsi who have supported me from the smallest thing in the beginning until the biggest
project. I am indebt to them. Thank for your time, your patient, my beloved one, Komang Suka
Lastara for his endless support and love to me. Special thanks to Kadek Jenny Lestari, Amy
Pramiwidari, Apriani Sugiandari, Ayu Mira Dewi, Dessy Widia, Ester Dwi Astuti, Dewa Ayu Sri
Catur Gayatri, Angeline Sugianto, and Putu Widiana. Without their support, I would not have
many achievements during my study and complete this thesis in proper time.
Lastly, I hope this paper will be useful to those who may need informationabout women’s
language. Some suggestions will be highly appreciated.
Denpasar, 04 July 2016
Kadek Indah Septiari
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... i
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ iii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study ....................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problems of Study ........................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Aims of Study .................................................................................................................. 3
1.4 Scope of Discussion ......................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Research Method ............................................................................................................. 4
1.5.1Data Sources ............................................................................................................ 4
1.5.2Method and Technique of Collecting Data .............................................................. 4
1.5.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing Data ............................................................. 5
1.5.4 Method and Technique of Presenting Data ............................................................. 6
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEWS, CONCEPTS, AND THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Literature Review............................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Concepts........................................................................................................................... 10
2.2.1 Gender ..................................................................................................................... 10
2.2.2 Women’s Language ................................................................................................ .11
2.2.3 Context of Situation ................................................................................................ 12
2.3 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................... 13
2.3.1 Women’s Language Features and Functions According R. Lakoff ........................ 13
2.3.2 Context of Situation According to M.A.K Halliday ............................................... 20
CHAPTER III ANALYSIS OF WOMEN’S LANGUAGE IN THE NOVEL THE HELP BY KATHRYN
STOCKEET
3.1 Preliminary....................................................................................................................... 22
3.1.1 Synopsis of the Novel............................................................................................... 22
3.2 Women’s Language Features and Functions and Context of Situation ........................... 25
3.2.1 Lexical Hedges and Fillers and Context of Situation ............................................. 25
3.2.2 Tag Question and Context of Situation ................................................................... .27
3.2.3 Rising Intonation on Declaratives and Context of Situation .................................. 32
3.2.4 Empty Adjectives and Context of Situation............................................................ 34
3.2.5 Precise Color Terms and Context of Situation ....................................................... 38
3.2.6 Intensifier Just and So and Context of Situation..................................................... 40
3.2.7 Hypercorrect Grammar and Context of Situation ................................................... 42
3.2.8 Super Polite Form and Context of Situation ........................................................... 44
3.2.9 The Avoidance of Strong Swear Words and Context of Situation ......................... 47
3.2.10 Emphatic Stress and Context of Situation ............................................................ 50
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABSTRACT
This paper entitled Women’s Language in the novel “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
explored women’s linguistic features which were found in that novel and also explained the
context of situation through women’s conversations. Women’s language is related to social
class, same sex and cross sex. This study purposed to increase the knowledge in sociolinguistics
specifically about women’s language. The theories applied in this study were the theory of
women’s language proposed by Lakoff (1975), and supporting theory was proposed by M.A.K
Halliday (1978). Lakoff states that women’s speech was characterized by linguistic features such
as: the use hedges or fillers, tag questions, rising or question intonation, empty adjectives,
precise color, intensifier, hypercorrect grammar, super polite form, the avoidance of strong
swear word, and emphatic stress.
This study used novel especially “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett as the data. This novel
was chosen as the data source in this study because it can represent the life of women in different
social status. It can tell context of situation and also the features and the function of women
language in that novel. The collected data was selected and put into categories of women’s
linguistic features and their functions. Which were descriptively analyzed based on theory
applied. The women’s linguistic features which were found in the novel such as: lexical hedges
or fillers, tag question, rising intonations on declaratives, empty adjectives, precise color terms,
intensifiers, hypercorrect grammar, super polite forms, avoidance of strong swear words,
emphatic stress. It was also found the context of situation such as: field of discourse, tenor of
discourse, and mode of discourse.
Keywords: women’s language, features, functions,and context of situation.