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indirect can redress the FTA of requ est, and as a result can save Henry’s negative
face.
o. Question, Hedge
Another strategy used by Melvin in redressing FTA directed to hearer’s negative face is to question or hedge. In this strategy, the speaker tries to make
minimal assumptions towards hear ers’ wants or anything related to it. By
minimizing the assumption, hearers’ wants to be unhindered can be protected. The device in realizing such intention is mainly hedges words.
Melvin B. Tolson uses this strategy three times throughout the movie. Those all are addressed to his students. The example of this strategy performed by
him is available in datum number 17 below. Melvin B. Tolson
: All right, Mr. Lowe. I will name a subject. You speak a few words
– a pertinent quote from world literature.
Henry Lowe : Go ahead.
Datum number 17 The dialogue takes place in Melvin’s house on the day of the debate team tryouts.
Henry is asked to stand into the hot spot. Then, Melvin asks him to do something that is to speak a few words or a pertinent quote from world literature. Thus, he
performs a command that in consequence can threat Henry’s negative face. In such a command, there is a tendency that Melvin assumes that Henry can or is
willing to do it. However, Melvin hedges it, meaning he tries to minimize the assumption itself. He uses a hedge which is encoded in weakening particle, all
right. This hedge, in certain degree, softens the FTA of command performed by Melvin to Henry.
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p. Give Deference
The last and least strategy used in Melvin’s negative politeness strategy is to give deference to the hearers. The strategy means to give respect to them and
importantly to minimize the potential threat to their negative face. It is mainly realized by the means of address form, especially which focuses on honorifics,
such as aristocratic connotation, Sir, Madam, Lady, etc. In this movie, Melvin uses this strategy once in which he uses aristocratic
connotation to address his students. It is illustrated in the following dialogue. James Farmer. Jr.
: Thank you, sir. Melvin B. Tolson
: You’re very welcome. Gentlemen and lady. This is the hotspot.
You will enter it at your own risk.
Datum number 8 The dialogue shows that Melvin returns to his explanation about the rules of
debate after being interrupted by James who just came in. Then, he points out where the hot spot or the place for students to stand in and to give a try for the
debate team tryout. In this occasion, he addresses them by calling gentlemen and lady although institutionally he has a higher status than them since he is their
teacher. It indicates that he intentionally wants to give deference and show his respect to his students. This can be functioned as the redressive action performed
by Melvin as he introduces FTA of command to them. He indirectly asks them to come to the hot spot. Therefore, it can be said that by giving deference in the
utterance, the potential threat to their negative face can be minimized.
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q. Give Hints
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