Bald On-record Negative Politeness

13 Dialogue 1 Time : 01: 31:42 – 01: 31: 50 Setting : On the plane to San Francisco Situation : Jules and Ben are on their way to San Francisco, on the plane Jules keep working on her laptop, so Ben asks her to have some little fun since it is their day off. Participants : Jules Ostin and Ben Whittaker. Ben : Jules, what are we doing here? We got the day off. We’re travelling in first-class. Let’s at least have a little fun. Jules : Now, that I can do. The act of Ben Whittaker to ask Jules to have a little fun by including both speaker and hearer in the activity shows Ben and Jules’ friendship, which is the example of Positive Politeness.

b. The Use of Positive Politeness by Jules Ostin to Ben Whittaker

Another example of Positive Politeness strategy is avoiding disagreement. By avoiding disagreement, the speaker minimalizes the threat of hearer’s positive face, which is the need to be accepted Brown and Levinson, 1987. Jules avoids the disagreement with Ben Whittaker when they talks about Jules’ husband who chooses to be stay-at-home dad in order to support Jules’ career in ‘About the Fit’. Dialogue 2 shows the conversation between Jules Ostin and Ben Whittaker which shows that Jules avoids the disagreement with Ben. Dialogue 2 Time : 00:43:46 – 00:44:23 Setting : In the car, on the way to Jules’ daughter’s school. Situation : Ben thinks that Matt, Jules Ostin’s husband, is a terrific guy. Participants : Ben Whittaker, Jules Ostin, and Paige Jules’ daughter. Ben : Matt seems like a terrific guy. Jules : Hmm? Ben : Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. 14 Jules : That’s okay. I agree. He is. Paige : Who? The Dad? Jules : That’s what the other kids call Matt because he is the only Dad in the sea of Moms. Ben : I’ve read about these househusbands. It’s interesting how that all worked just now. Jules : They actually prefer to be called stay-at-home Dads. Ben : Oh, sorry. Did not know that. Well, it’s very admirable. He’s a real 21 st -century father. Jules : He is. He actually had a great job in marketing, but when ‘About the Fit’ took off, he left to be a full-time Dad. Totally saved our butts. In the dialogue 2, Jules expresses her agreement to Ben’s statements about Matt by saying I agree and He is. She also avoided disagreement about the term “househusband” that is used by Ben, by saying “They actually prefer to be called stay-at-home dads” instead of voicing her disagreement with “no, you are wrong”.

2. The Use of Negative Politeness

Negative Politeness strategies are oriented toward the hearer’s negative face and emphasize avoidance of imposition on the hearer. The speaker recognizes and respects the hearer’s negative-face wants and will not or will minimally interfere with the hearer’s freedom of action.

a. The Use of Negative Politeness by Ben Whittaker to Jules Ostin

Ben also applies negative politeness strategies as shown in dialogue 3. Ben says, “Not really, sir. I’m terribly sorry, excuse me.” to refuse Jules’ offer to transfer to another division. The acts of refusing Jules’ offer threatened Jules’ negative face-wants. Giving deference, such as Sir, and saying sorry are often used to minimize the threat to the hearer’s negative face. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI