POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN MANDAILING WEDDING CEREMONY.

POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN MANDAILING WEDDING

CEREMONY

A Thesis

Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Magister Humaniora

By

FATMA RAUDHAH SIREGAR Registration Number 8126112012

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM

POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN

2014

POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN MANDAILING WEDDING

CEREMONY

A Thesis

Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Magister Humaniora

By

FATMA RAUDHAH SIREGAR Registration Number 8126112012

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM

POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN

2014

ABSTRACT

Siregar, FatmaRaudhah. Politeness strategies in Mandailing Wedding Ceremony.Thesis. Medan. Postgraduate School of the State University of Medan, 2014.

The aim of this study was to find out the politeness strategies of Mandailing language in makkobar wedding ceremony. The Subjects were taken from the participants of the makkobar wedding ceremony. There are four participants involved in the party, namely mora, anak boru, kahanggi, and suhut. The techniques of collecting data were observing and recording the speeches of the participants in the makkobar then interviewing ‘ketua adat mandailing’. The research observed the subject closely and interviewed them to certify the trusworthness of this research. This study investigated the politeness strategies in Mandailing language, such as the using of kinship terms, pronoun, indirect speech and greeting. Then, the types of politeness strategies found in that party are Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim and Sympathy Maxim. Compare to Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Agreement Maxim and Sympathy Maxim, Modesty Maxim is dominantly used by the speakers. The reason for applying this dominant type of politeness is caused by the speakers who are involved in that party tried to save the hearer’s face by getting closer to the hearer. As there is pantang or the prohibition to talk directly, the speaker tries to avoid the recklessness in the party. Thus, it minimizes the distance between speaker and hearer by getting closer each other.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks and praise to Allah SWT the Almighty and Most Beneficial for without His Guidance and Mercy, this thesis would not have been completed. In the process of finishing this piece of academic writing, the writer has been given much support and valuable knowledge from many people whose names cannot be mentioned one by one.

First, the writer would like to express her sincere gratitude to Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M.S., her First Adviser and Dr. Siti Aisyah Ginting, M.Pd., her Second Adviser, for their valuable advice, guidance, constructive comments and precious time spent on supervising and commenting the process of writing until it comes to its present form. Second, her special gratitude goes to the head of English Applied Linguistics, Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M.Pd, and the secretary of English Applied Linguistics Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M.S.,who has generously encouraged her in completing this study, all lecturers, for the valuable knowledge and instruction they have imparted to her during the years studying and the librarians of the State University of Medan for lending some useful books and other sources that are needed in writing this thesis.

Then, a very special debt of gratitude is directed to her beloved father (Alm) Surya Dingin Siregar and her beloved mother Hj. Nuratas Daulay, S. Ag who always give so much love, spiritual and moral support and prayers. They have thought the writer many worth things in facing and running through this life and

attempted to reach the writer’s pleasure without asking the repayment for this all unforgettable efforts. May Allah bless them and make them always in happiness no matter when and where they are.

The opportunity has also been taken to thank her beloved sister, Rahma Hayati SiregarM.Pd and her younger brothers Saddam Husein Siregar and Rizky Syaputra Siregarand my brother in- law Ja’Far Nasution Lc, for their full love, support, care and prayers.

Finally, a special debt of gratitude is addressed to all her beloved best friend Pera Opnita Siregar S.Pd, Zahrona Siregar S.Si and Yulia Anita Siregar M. Pd, and her classmates LTBI B2 for their close friendship and encouragement in finishing this thesis.

Last but not least, she must confess that she has done her most to accomplish this thesis but she realizes that it is still far from being perfect. Therefore, any constructive, criticisms, suggestion, or comments will be highly appreciated.

Medan, September 2014

The writer,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION 1

1.1. The Background of the Study……… 1

1.2. The Problems of the Study ……….. 5

1.3. The Objectives of the Study ……… 6

1.4. The Scope of the Study ………... 6

1.5. The Significance of the Study ……….... 7

CHAPTER II : REVIEW LITERATURE 8 2.1 Theoretical Framework………...……… 8

2.2 Pragmatic………...……….……….... 10

2.3 Speech Act………..……… 12

2.3.1 Directives……… 13

2.3.2 Comissives……… 13

2.3.3 Expressives………... 14

2.3.4 Representatives………. 14

2.3.5 Declaratives………. 14

2.4Politeness ……….. 15

2.5 Politeness Strategies ………. 17

2.6Types of Politeness Strategy………. 19

2.7Mandailingnese………. 24

2.8Mandailingnese language……….. 27

2.9 Politeness in Mandailing Language………... 27

2.10 Makkobar………29

2.11 Previous research………29

CHAPTER III : RESEARCH METHOD 33

3.1 Research Design ……… 33

3.2 The Data and Source of Data……… 34

3.3. Instrument of Data Collection……….. 35

3.4. Technique of Data Collection ……….. 35

3.5 Technique of Data Analysis ……….. 36

3.6 Trustworthiness of the Study………. 38

CHAPTER IV : DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDING 4.1 Data and Data Analysis……….. 40

4.1.1 Types of politeness strategies used by Mandailingnese in

Makkobar Wedding ceremony ……….40

4.1.1.1 Politeness strategy by using Generosity Maxim………41

4.1.1.2 Politeness strategy by using Approbation Maxim……….42

4.1.1.3 Politeness strategy by using Modesty Maxim………44

4.1.1.4 Politeness strategy by using Agreement Maxim………46

4.1.1.5 Politeness strategy by using Sympathy Maxim……….47

4.1.2 Politeness strategies used by the speakers in Makkobar event………49

4.1.2.1 Politeness strategy by using Kinship Terms………..50

4.1.2.2 Politeness strategy by using Pronoun………51

4.1.2.3 Politeness strategy by using Indirect Speech………....52

4.1.2.4 Politeness strategy by using Greetings……….54

4.1.3 The dominant type of politeness strategies applied by Mandailingnese people in Makkobar Wedding Ceremony………56

4.1.4 The data reasons for using the dominant type of politeness strategy applied by Mandailing people in Makkobar Wedding Ceremony ….57 4.2 Findings ……….58

4.3 Discussions……….59

CHAPTER V : CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 5.1 Conclusions………63

5.2 Suggestions………64

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study

Interaction among members of society is done by the use of a language. It means that language as a communication is central to all human existence and social process. To make the interaction fruitful, a medium of communication is obviously necessary because communication has an important role to express some ideas, feelings, thoughts and intentions. Therefore it seems impossible to do some interaction without using communication.

The relationship between culture and politeness has been studied by researchers. Culture is part of human being. It is considered to be group-specific behavior that is acquired, at least in part, from social influences. It is created and transmitted to others in a society. Cultures are not the product of lone individuals. They are the continuously evolving products of people interacting with each other. Cultural patterns such as language and politics make no sense except in terms of the interaction of people. Because culture is the result of the interaction among people (Kraft and Geluykens, 2007:9)

Misunderstanding can occur from different cultural views of politeness. Polite behavior and speech in one culture can be actually perceived as impolite in another culture. Every country has different culture, even everyone also has different personal culture. They have rule and policy when they speak something. If they come out from the rule, they will be judged as impolite person. Misunderstanding can be avoided in

interaction inter-ethnic culture if we can express our politeness through our way and utterances. Knowing the culture of the hearer will help the language users to build comfortable interaction and build our image or face in the hearer point of view. One can be impolite if he/she cannot identify the hearer‟s culture and the contexts of the situation. Different tribes have different way to say something. It is based on the hearer‟s culture and context.

Politeness is very important in the communication. The communication cannot run well if the member and listener does not obey the politeness. Brown and Levinson (1987) stated that politeness is the term used to describe the extent to which actions, such the way we say something. When we are speaking, the utterances we produce are our action to show the politeness. The utterances should be able to save the hearer‟s and feeling enjoyable. The utterances through the language we use will be a judgment whether we are polite or not, but we have to learn the politeness because politeness is not something we are born with, but something we have to learn and be socialized into (Watts, 2003, 9). Furthermore, Watts (2005) added that human societies use communication strategies to avoid or minimize conflict, and increase comfortable and understood. Speaking politely with other speakers is conducted to maintain the harmony of relationship and to avoid conflict. The harmony between the speaker and the hearer is kept in order to share information, willingness and build interaction also avoid misunderstanding among them. Politeness can be applied by the utterances with consider the hearer‟s culture.

Politeness is a way to show the respectful. One will try to be polite with other people to attract their attention. Nasution (1999: 12) states that being polite in Mandailing

language can be expressed through the use of kinship term and greeting. The use of these elements in communication show the relationship between the speaker and the listener.

Mandailingnese is one of several numbers of ethnic group in Indonesia which is known as ethnic group that uses politeness in communication. Mandailingnese use its language in daily life. In making communication to interact, Mandailing is familiar to be polite or in Mandailingnese language calls hasopanon. To be polite is very important because politeness is the way to avoid conflict in communication.

To be polite in Mandailing language are related to the action that is taboo to do and to say. It is called “pantang”. The way to talk to someone who is honored will be

different when they speaking to others. For example, when speaking to Mora (the group of people which is very honored in Mandailingnese culture), anak boru is not free talk.

Past time ago as there is something taboo to do and to say „pantang‟

Mandailingnese has the phrase to call Mora. The politeness is expressed by the utterance “Marsomba tu Mora” means being polite to Mora. If they do not use these, they will be

called as „nasomamboto adat‟ means someone who does not know the custom or

impolite person.

Nowdays, practically this phrase has been changed. It can be seen that religion has change this culture. The strategy to use the phrase such “Morsomba tu Moratta”

which is faced to Mora is not maintained. It is caused by people have believed that there is only God can be worshiped. They do not use the phrase to praise their Mora. Culturally, it has broken the culture of Mandailingnese which maintain the politeness but it is not being problem and everyone has done the change. The strategy to use the phrase of being polite has not being used not only in daily life but also in some cultural parties.

The strategy has been changed into the use of indirect speech and the use of pronoun to show their politeness to praise someone who is very honored.

Mandailing people usually use modesty as a one of the value in “Makkobar” . For example, anak boru (from the male family) said that “inda adong nataroban nihami, on maido nabisa hami oban indahan nasumargule” (It means that, anak boru said to mora that they just brought a rice without fish, but the fact, they brought rice and the fish). So, from this example anak boru use modesty maxim to show their appreciation to mora. Another example, anak boru (from the male family) said that “Sattabi sappulu maradopkon mora dijunjung do tuanna di dege – dege do tilakona tarlobi tu barisan ni namora na toras rap dohot raja i. Anggo hami do da barisan anak boru laing na totop do hami on manjuljukon morana. Muda na pade ning mora nami, na pade juo doi di hami”.

It means that mora always agree with mora‟s opinion. So, from this example anak boru use agreement maxim to show their appreciation to mora. It shows that in Mandailingnese culture, the indicator of being polite has been changed.

Related to makkobar, the relatives of group of people from the woman or bride are called Mora to the relatives of the man or bridegroom called anak boru. Therefore,

anak boru tries to be polite as good as possible in wedding ceremony where the oral

communication happens during this party. For this reason, it is better to know the politeness expressed in Makkobar.

There are many theories of politeness. But in this study the politeness focus in Makkobar will be analyzed based on the maxims purpose by Leech (1983: 132) state that politeness language basically have to pay attention to the six maxim of politeness, there

are tact maxim, generosity maxim, approbation maxim, modesty maxim, agreement maxim and sympathy maxim.

1.2 The Problems of the Study

Based on the background of the study, the problems to be investigated formulated as the following.

1. What types of politeness strategies are used by Mandailingnese in Makkobar? 2. How are the politeness strategies expressed?

3. What types of politeness strategy is dominantly used? 4. Why is the type dominantly used?

1.3 The Objectives of the Study

In relation to the problems, the objectives of the study are:

1. To elaborate the types of politeness strategies applied by Mandailingnese in Makkobar

2. To describe the politeness strategies expressed

3. To elaborate the dominant types of politeness strategy used

1.4 The Scope of the Study

The main aspect of this study is to see the politeness strategies used by Mandailingnese people in “Makkobar”. And the realization of types of politeness strategies in Makkobar. Based on explanation above, this study focused on politeness strategies by leech theory, there are six maxim of politeness strategies there are tact maxim, generosity maxim, approbation maxim, modesty maxim, agreement maxim and sympathy maxim. The location of people who use the politeness strategies is the Mandailingnese people who live in Mandailing

1.5 The Significance of the Study

The findings of this study are expected to be significantly relevant, theoretically and practically. Theoritically, the research findings are expected to enrich the theories of linguistic politeness strategies, specifically the spoken language is spoken medium by certain community, mainly the Mandailingnese society. This study considered being useful initially to provide the information of what politeness strategies used by Mandailingnese native speakers when they express their oral communication in cultural party context of situation. Consequently, it will give better understanding and new insight of how politeness strategies are related to the aspect of pragmatic study. This contribution will in turn give tentative framework for a comprehensive analysis of politeness.

Practically, since the research focuses on Mandailingnese native speakers in

Makkobar, hopefully it is useful for teachers and lectures of sociolinguistics to apply the

politeness strategies specifically to sociolinguistics students either University or high school which occur in daily conversation. This will accelerate to speak Mandailingnese,

thus they will not be clumsy to speak directly to the Mandailingnese native speaker. Politeness in language is used to maintain the language, practically when the native speaker of Mandailing language uses the politeness strategies in communication, the language is still maintained.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

5.1 Conclusions

This thesis is about the politeness strategies in Mandailingnese language, in the context of Makkobarin wedding ceremony. There are four politeness strategies in Mandailing Language. They are the using of kinship, pronoun, indirect speech and greeting. And There are five maxim used by Mandailingnese people in order to be polite in the party. The types of politeness strategies are Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim and Sympathy Maxim. In analysis the type of politeness strategies, there are some useful insights on the dominant type of politeness strategy used by the speaker of Mandailing language in the party. There are some points to be exposed in relation to the types of politeness strategies.

1. Mandailingnese people have different ways to express politeness in communication

2. The type of politeness strategy which is dominantly used by Mandailingnese people in the party is Modesty Maxim. The reason for applying Modesty Maxim strategy as the dominantly typed used by Mandailingnese people in Makkobar wedding ceremony is speakers who are involved in that party try to be modest to save the hearer’s face by getting closer to the hearer. As there is anak boru or the

prohibition to talk directly, the speaker tries to avoid the recklessness in the party.

3. Something which is polite in one culture can be perceived as impolite in another culture. Although, there will be the tendency that every culture also has the similarity of using politeness strategy.

5.2 Suggestion

It is suggested to those who concerned with Mandailing language to learn about politeness strategy.

1. It is suggested to Mandailing native speakers to preserve their culture by preserving the values of politeness, because politeness strategies help people especially Mandailing native speakers as the language users to communication well in daily communication and in cultural parties.

2. It is also suggested to all parents especially Mandailing native speakers as the real model of good educator to use and to teach their children from the beginning to use politeness strategies in order to be polite in communicating to others.

3. It is suggested to the lectures who play an important role in teaching pragmatics and sociolinguistics to give attention in teaching politeness strategies especially about politeness strategies inter ethnic in North Sumatera. The lecturer should understand the politeness strategies used by one community or ethnic group in order to create good

communication. This guides the lecturers and students to have politeness consideration.

4. It is also suggested to the reader who read this thesis in order to understand that being polite is very important. The use of the strategies is different between one culture to other cultures. Polite for one community can be perceived as impolite to other communities, because the strategy which are used is different. So, If we have understood this point of view, we will be able to avoid misunderstanding in communication.

63

REFERENCES

Bogdan, R.C and S.K Biglen (1992). Qualitative Research for Education. Syracuse University. United State of America. Allyn and Bacon

Brown, Penelope and S.C Levinson. (1987). Politeness: Universal in Language

Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

F.X. Nadar.2009. Pragmatik & Penelitian Pragmatik. Yogyakarta; Graha ilmu Goff man. 1967, Interaction Ritual: Essays in Face-to-face Behavior, Chicago:

Aldine.

Gunarwan, Asim. 1994, Persepsi Nilai Budaya Jawa di Kalangan Orang Jawa:

Implikasinya Pada Penggunaan PELBA Atmalib .p. 205-240.

Kraft and Ronald Geluykens (eds.), Cross-Cultural Pragmatics and Inter

language English, Munich: Lincom Europa, p.3-20

Leech, Geoffrey. (1993: 206-207). Principles of Pragmatics, London: Longman Leech, Geoffrey. (1983). Prinsip-Prinsip Pragmatik, terj, M.D.D. Oka

Leech, G.N. 1983. Principles of pragmatics. London and New York: London. Levinson, S.C. 1983. Pragmatics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E. G. 1985. Judging in the quality of case study reports. Qualitative Studies in Education. 3 (1). 53-59.

Mey, J. L. 1993. Introduction to Pragmatics. Oxford: Blacweel Publisher.

Miles, M. B. &Huberman, A. M. 1982. Qualitative Data Analysis. California: Sage Publication, inc.

Murni, Sri Minda dan Deborah JAH. 2006. Strategies of Politeness in Short Message Language. Medan: Kumpulan Makalah Pertemuan Linguistik Utara 5

(4-5Desember 2006)

Nasution, B. 2006. Morfologi Bahasa. Jakarta:P dan K Peccei. J. S. 1991. Pragmatics. London: Routledge

Sembiring, Puan Sari. 2009. Politeness Strategies in Javanese: Thesis: Sekolah Pasca Sarjana Universitas Negeri Medan

64

Tanjung, N. K.2008. Politeness Strategies in Apologizing by French native

speakers. Unpublished M.Hum Thesis. Medan: English Applied Linguistic

Study Program, State University of Medan

Watts, Richard J., Sachiko Ide, Konlrad Ehlich. 2005. ”Introduction” Politeness

in Language. Richard Watts, Sachiko Ide, Konlrad Ehlich (ed), New York:

Mounton de Gruyten

Watts, Richard J, 2003. Politeness. Key Tropics in Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Yule, George. 1987. Pragmatics. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. Zamzani. 2008

--- 1985. The study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Zamzani. 2008

thus they will not be clumsy to speak directly to the Mandailingnese native speaker. Politeness in language is used to maintain the language, practically when the native speaker of Mandailing language uses the politeness strategies in communication, the language is still maintained.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

5.1 Conclusions

This thesis is about the politeness strategies in Mandailingnese language, in the context of Makkobarin wedding ceremony. There are four politeness strategies in Mandailing Language. They are the using of kinship, pronoun, indirect speech and greeting. And There are five maxim used by Mandailingnese people in order to be polite in the party. The types of politeness strategies are Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim and Sympathy Maxim. In analysis the type of politeness strategies, there are some useful insights on the dominant type of politeness strategy used by the speaker of Mandailing language in the party. There are some points to be exposed in relation to the types of politeness strategies.

1. Mandailingnese people have different ways to express politeness in communication

2. The type of politeness strategy which is dominantly used by Mandailingnese people in the party is Modesty Maxim. The reason for applying Modesty Maxim strategy as the dominantly typed used by Mandailingnese people in Makkobar wedding ceremony is speakers who are involved in that party try to be modest to save the hearer’s face by getting closer to the hearer. As there is anak boru or the

prohibition to talk directly, the speaker tries to avoid the recklessness in the party.

3. Something which is polite in one culture can be perceived as impolite in another culture. Although, there will be the tendency that every culture also has the similarity of using politeness strategy.

5.2 Suggestion

It is suggested to those who concerned with Mandailing language to learn about politeness strategy.

1. It is suggested to Mandailing native speakers to preserve their culture by preserving the values of politeness, because politeness strategies help people especially Mandailing native speakers as the language users to communication well in daily communication and in cultural parties.

2. It is also suggested to all parents especially Mandailing native speakers as the real model of good educator to use and to teach their children from the beginning to use politeness strategies in order to be polite in communicating to others.

3. It is suggested to the lectures who play an important role in teaching pragmatics and sociolinguistics to give attention in teaching politeness strategies especially about politeness strategies inter ethnic in North Sumatera. The lecturer should understand the politeness strategies used by one community or ethnic group in order to create good

communication. This guides the lecturers and students to have politeness consideration.

4. It is also suggested to the reader who read this thesis in order to understand that being polite is very important. The use of the strategies is different between one culture to other cultures. Polite for one community can be perceived as impolite to other communities, because the strategy which are used is different. So, If we have understood this point of view, we will be able to avoid misunderstanding in communication.

63

REFERENCES

Bogdan, R.C and S.K Biglen (1992). Qualitative Research for Education. Syracuse University. United State of America. Allyn and Bacon

Brown, Penelope and S.C Levinson. (1987). Politeness: Universal in Language Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

F.X. Nadar.2009. Pragmatik & Penelitian Pragmatik. Yogyakarta; Graha ilmu Goff man. 1967, Interaction Ritual: Essays in Face-to-face Behavior, Chicago:

Aldine.

Gunarwan, Asim. 1994, Persepsi Nilai Budaya Jawa di Kalangan Orang Jawa: Implikasinya Pada Penggunaan PELBA Atmalib .p. 205-240.

Kraft and Ronald Geluykens (eds.), Cross-Cultural Pragmatics and Inter language English, Munich: Lincom Europa, p.3-20

Leech, Geoffrey. (1993: 206-207). Principles of Pragmatics, London: Longman Leech, Geoffrey. (1983). Prinsip-Prinsip Pragmatik, terj, M.D.D. Oka

Leech, G.N. 1983. Principles of pragmatics. London and New York: London. Levinson, S.C. 1983. Pragmatics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E. G. 1985. Judging in the quality of case study reports. Qualitative Studies in Education. 3 (1). 53-59.

Mey, J. L. 1993. Introduction to Pragmatics. Oxford: Blacweel Publisher.

Miles, M. B. &Huberman, A. M. 1982. Qualitative Data Analysis. California: Sage Publication, inc.

Murni, Sri Minda dan Deborah JAH. 2006. Strategies of Politeness in Short Message Language. Medan: Kumpulan Makalah Pertemuan Linguistik Utara 5

(4-5Desember 2006)

Nasution, B. 2006. Morfologi Bahasa. Jakarta:P dan K Peccei. J. S. 1991. Pragmatics. London: Routledge

Sembiring, Puan Sari. 2009. Politeness Strategies in Javanese: Thesis: Sekolah Pasca Sarjana Universitas Negeri Medan

64

Tanjung, N. K.2008. Politeness Strategies in Apologizing by French native speakers. Unpublished M.Hum Thesis. Medan: English Applied Linguistic Study Program, State University of Medan

Watts, Richard J., Sachiko Ide, Konlrad Ehlich. 2005. ”Introduction” Politeness in Language. Richard Watts, Sachiko Ide, Konlrad Ehlich (ed), New York: Mounton de Gruyten

Watts, Richard J, 2003. Politeness. Key Tropics in Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Yule, George. 1987. Pragmatics. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. Zamzani. 2008

--- 1985. The study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Zamzani. 2008