Social Dimensions LITERATURE REVIEW

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G. Social Dimensions

Having communication with other people, a speaker cannot forget the social factors influencing the running of interaction. According to Holmes 1992: 9 there are four different dimensions reflected during the communication, namely social distance scale, social status scale, formality scale and functional scale. 1. Social distance scale This scale is useful in emphasizing how well we know someone. It relates on the relationship among participants, how well they know each other and who is talking to whom is an important factor, e.g. parents to children or labors to managers. This scale is used to show different solidarity between the group members. Intimate Distant High solidarity Low solidarity Holmes, 1992:12 In this scale, the closeness between speaker and hearer can influence the language choices they use in communication. An intimate relationship between speaker and hearer will have high solidarity within their interaction and for those who have a distant relationship will have low solidarity within their interaction. commit to user 23 2. Social status scale This scale deals on the relationship among participants that influences the language choices. It accounts for a variety of linguistics difference as a way that signals people’s status. Superior High status Subordinate Low status Holmes, 1992:13 This scale shows vertical differences between speaker and hearer. It can be seen from the way people talk each other during communication. The language choices used in communication can indicate whether participant is superior or subordinate. 3. Formality scale This scale is useful in assessing the influence of the social setting or type of interaction on language choice. It accounts for speech variation in different setting since formality and informality can determine the language choices of communication. commit to user 24 Formal High formality Informal Low formality Holmes, 1992:13 4. Functional scales referential and affective function scales Language serves many functions in all communities but the basic functions of referential and affective meaning have proved useful scale of analysis. The two identified in these scales are particularly persuasive and basic. Language can convey objective information of a referential kind; and it can also express how someone is feeling. Referential High information Low information content content Affective Low affective High affective content content Holmes, 1992:14 commit to user 25

H. Related Research