9 language. There are four social variables which can affect people in doing
conversation, such as age, gender, geography, and social class Stockwell, 2002. Furthermore, each language is used by different people in different contexts
within different reasons. It becomes essential that people need to consider those social variables in learning a language to communicate with each other.
3. Discourse Analysis
Nunan 1993 states that ―discourse analysis involves the study of language in use‖ p. 7. Based on this view, discourse conveys what the language is, how
the speakers produce the language, and how the context within which the language is used Nunan, 1993. In other words, discourse refers to the
interpretation of the communicative event in context. Avdi and Georgaca 2007 state that discourse is defined as
systems of meaning
that is related to the interactional in wider sociocultural context and operate regardl
ess of the speakers‘ intentions. In discourse analysis, language is also considered as a form of social
action. Therefore, people use language to achieve certain interpersonal goals in specific interactional contexts Nunan, 1993.
4. Politeness Theory
Brown and Levinson 1987 define politeness as a psychological state that is related to something emotionally established and can be lost, maintained, and
must be constantly attended to in interaction. There are four strategies to maintain the psychological state in the interaction that are presented by Brown and
Levinson 1987, namely bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, and off record.
10 Meanwhile, there are two elements that are firmly related to the application
of politeness strategies that are proposed by Brown and Levinson 1987. The elements are the notion of face and Face Threatening Act FTA. Before
explaining the politeness strategies by Brown and Levinson 1987, the writer discusses the elements in the following paragraphs.
a. Face
Brown and Levinson 1987 define face as the public self-image that every member wants to claim for himself. There are two related aspects of face. The two
aspects are negative face and positive face. Negative face is defined by Brown and Levinson 1987
as ―the basic claim to territories, personal preserves, rights to non-
distraction‖ p. 61. Negative face is known as the want of every individual to be independent and be
unimpeded by others Brown and Levinson, 1987, p. 62. It means that every individual has the desire to be free from imposition and action towards him.
Positive face is defined by Brown and Levinson 1987 as the positive consistent self-image claimed by interactants. As Brown and Levinson 1987
state that positive face refers to ―the want of every member that his wants be
desirable to at least some others‖ p. 62. The positive face crucially includes the desire that self-image be appreciated and approved of. It means that positive
politeness is used when an individual wants to be appreciated or to be approved and liked by others.
To make it clear, consider an example. Mrs. Thompson is a cat lover. Much of her time and effort are expended on her cats. She is proud of her cats,
