18 p. 47. Therefore, the utterance: “Let’s have lunch” as an example of invitation
applies Positive Politeness strategy. Brown and Levinson 1987 state that being optimistic is one of the ways
to apply Positive Politeness strategy p. 126. It aims to respect hearers’ notions of positive face. Similarly, Holtgraves 2002 mentions that a speaker can convey
Positive Politeness by conveying optimism p. 47. Besides, agreement is also considered as a way to convey cooperation between the speaker and the hearers.
Furthermore, Holtgraves 2002 mentions that a speaker may seek point of agreement when applying Positive Politeness strategy even when disagreeing p.
47.
c. Negative Politeness Strategy
Brown and Levinson 1987 assert “Negative Politeness strategy as a redressive action addressed to hearer’s negative face: his want to have his freedom
of action unhindered and his attention unimpeded p. 129.” It performs the function of minimizing particular impositions on the hearers. To minimize the
impositions, a speaker may use hedges and convey pessimism in the utterances. Holtgraves 2002 states that using hedges is one way to lessen the impositions of
a request p. 45. The utterance: “Take the snack, if you may” is clearly a Negative Politeness strategy as it offers freedom of action to the hearers. In addition,
Holtgraves 2002 mentions that Negative Politeness strategy involves attempts to lessen coercion by conveying pessimism regarding to the act to be performed p.
19 45. It simply implies threat minimizing as the speaker does not want to impede
the hearers’ freedom of action. Negative Politeness puts distance between speakers and hearers. Brown
and Levinson 1987 mention that Negative Politeness strategy intends to create distance between the speakers and hearers to show respect behavior p. 129.
Additionally, Wardaugh 2010 also states that Negative Politeness leads to deference, apologizing, indirectness, and formality in language use p. 292. It
adopts a variety of strategies to any threats to others’ notions of face. The utterance: “I hesitate to trouble you, but….”, as an example of apologizing, uses
the Negative Politeness strategy.
d. Off-Record Strategy
Brown and Levinson 1987 state “Off-Record strategy is a communicative act which is done in such way that it is not possible to attribute
one clear communicative intention to the act p. 211.” In addition, Holtgraves 2002 defines Off-Record strategy as an indirect communication p. 43. It allows
hearers to interpret the intended meaning of the utterances themselves. As a result, a speaker can avoid the responsibility of doing the FTAs by using Off-Record
strategy. For instance, the utterance: “The vegetable soup is a bit bland” means that the speaker wants the hearers to pass the salt.
