female characters do not show that they the speakers are the only one who has the requisite information when someone the listeners were seeing confirmation.
The condition in Gossip Girl Season 1 is that the one seeing confirmation the listener already has the information and the speaker does not want to give the
listener the desicion in the speech, so there is no data that shows this speech feature of gossip. Moreover, the female characters use tag questions instead of
requisite information when they feel hesitant.
3. Functions of Gossip among Female Characters in Gossip Girl Season 1
There are five functions of gossip among female characters in Gossip Girl Season 1. They are to provide information, to give entertainment, to enhance
friendship, to influence others and to make social comparison. Below are the detailed explanation of each category.
a. To provide information
To provide information as one of functions of gossip comes first in the rank. It occurs 20 times out of 45 data and its percentage is 44.44. This function
of gossip occurs as an information change. It makes the speaker and the listener of the gossip able to learn cultural and social world. Moreover, it is as a map of their
social environment. The example of this function of gossip is presented in the explanation below.
4: 32 [Serena walks up to her mother, Lily, who is talking to a friend]
Serena Mom... mom Hey.
Lily Oh, Serena, darling.
[They hug each other] Serena
So, where is he? What? They havent let him out yet, do they?
Lily I thought you might want to see some of your friends.
Serena Thanks.
No. 2 EP1S05
P04 Datum 4: 32 shows that the function of gossip occurs is to provide
information for Serena who is looking for Eric, her brother. Serena who came to meet her mother in Blair
’s party, she wanted to know the information about Eric, her little brother. After a long time not seeing her brother, she missed him so
much. Serena could not find her bother in that party which meant that her brother still in Ostroff Center. Moreover, her mother did not want to talk about Serena’s
brother in that place and said that her friends attended this party. Her mother actually provides information about Serena’s friends. However, what Serena
wants is the information of her brother from her mother. Another example is presented below.
4: 33 Lily So did you and Dan have fun at the concert last night?
Serena We, uhm, never made it. We actually ended up at the
Kiss on the Lips party. No. 13
EP2S15P38-P39 The function of gossip in datum 4: 33 is to provide information. Serena
provided information to her mother that she did not go to the concert last night but ended up at Blair’s party called ’Kiss on the Lips’. At first, Serena asked
permission for going to the concert with her boyfriend, Dan. However, it ended up
in Blair’s party. Serena’s mother does know that Blair has party that night. By giving this information, her mother knows that Serena went to Blair’s party.
4: 34 Blair Cedric? Your brothers name?
Jenny No, that was his Cabbage Patch Kid. My brothers
name is Dan.
Actually, you might know him. He, uhm, he went out with Serena last night.
Blair That was your brother? So does that mean youre
friends with Serena now?
Jenny I mean, I dont have a problem with her but if someone
did havea problem with her I wouldnt have a problem with that either.
No. 19EP2S23P47-P48
Datum 4: 34 shows that the function of gossip that occurs is to provide information. W
hile Jenny played Blair’s doll, she told Blair that her brother’s name was Dan, not Cedric. Moreover, she added that Blair met her brother in the
party last night and he was the man who came with Serena in that party. However, Blair, who was in a problem with Serena, responded from the
information given by Jenny that Jenny was the friend of Serena. Jenny did not accept that responds and told Blair that their problem is not hers. Thus, she did
not have any problem with Serena or Blair.
4: 35 Blair Do you remember when Dad gave me my first Yale
sweatshirt? I dont think any piece of clothing has ever fit me more perfect, not to mention how adorable I
found that bulldog.
Remember when I asked you if I could
get a bulldog? Good call by the way saying no, and now the big day is finally here. Soon Nate and I will be at
college, him going down to Yale, me going up to Dartmouth.
Dad flying in for the Princeton game, you
like watching me grow up , don’t you?
[The camera turns and we see that she has been talking to Dorota this whole time. Dorota turns to Blair with a breakfast tray.]
Dorota
Eat up Miss Blair. Your mom would want you to have a good breakfast.
No. 22EP3S08P69
