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C. Social Dimensions
In generating analysis toward a conversation, a researcher requires understanding toward the social factors such as the participants, who is speaking and
who they are speaking to, the setting or social context of the interaction, where they are speaking, the topic, what they are talking about, the function, why they are
speaking Holmes, 1992: 12. There are four different dimensions for analysis which relate to the social factors, namely:
1. The social distance Scale Concerned with Participant Relationship
The solidaritysocial distance scale Intimate
Distant
High solidarity Low solidarity
This scale is useful in emphasizing that how well we know someone is a relevant factor in linguistic choice Holmes, 1992: 12-13. This scale deals with the level
of closeness of the participants in conversation that may affect the conversation itself. In other words, if the participants are intimate, high solidarity between them will
possibly emerge, but if the participants are distant, they will probably have low solidarity.
xxxiii 2.
The Status Scale Concerned with Participant Relationship The statuspower scale
Superior High status
Subordinate Low status
Dimension of social status is the dimension that accounts for a variety of linguistic differences in the way people speak. This scale points to the relevance of
relative status in some linguistic choices Holmes, 1992: 13. It implies that different statuses between participants also affect the conversation. The various ways in which
we choose words can show whether we see the person addressed as a superior, a subordinate, or an equal.
3. The Formality Scale Relating to the Setting or Type of the Interaction
The formality scale Formal
High formality
Informal Low formality
According to Holmes, this scale is useful in assessing the influence of the social setting or type of interaction on language choice 1992: 13. Thus, people will choose a
certain variety of linguistic choices in accordance with the context of setting communication takes place whether a formal or informal occasion.
xxxiv 4.
Two functional Scales Relating to The Purposes or topic of the Interaction The referential and affective function scales
Referential High
Low Information
information Content
content Affective
Low High
Affective affective
Content content
The function of an interaction can also be an important influence on its language form. The dimension here covers a referential and affective social meaning.
Holmes states that this scale functions to show the basic and pervasive functions of language: language can convey objective information of a referential kind; and it can
also express how someone is feeling 1992: 14. In general, the more referentially oriented an interaction, the less it tends to express the feelings of the speaker.
Social dimension function is not only as the indication of situation in which language is used but also the reflections of purpose, topic, manner, and mood of
language used. Therefore, those dimensions also may influence the linguistic choices of the participants.
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D. Pragmatics