Analysis of Politeness Principles in SpongeBob Movie Entitled Missing Identity

Kharis Subkhan
Universitas Negeri Semarang

Authors note
This research was conducted to fulfill the final assignment of Pragmatics subject that is lectured
by Dr. Issy Yuliasri, M.Pd.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kharis Subkhan, Department of
Education, Semarang State University, Semarang. E-mail: Khariss@live.com
 Abstract

Language is a medium for us to communicate to others. In order to have a good

communication, the interlocutors need to pay attention on some aspects, especially politeness
principles. It is important because it plays an important role in maintaining the relationship
between the speaker and the hearer. If the relationship among them are not good, it is sometimes
found that the communication get stuck because of the misunderstanding and losing connection
between them. As a teacher, we need to teach our students how to communicate well. Movie can
be a media to teach it because it provides the natural conversation just as real as in real life. The
movie that suitable for learning material should include politeness principles in the conversation.
Therefore, this research tried to show what kind of politeness principles used in SpongeBob movie
entitled missing identity.
This research used qualitative approach. The method of collecting data were
documentation method and non-participant observation because the writer did not include in the
conversation. The research subject in this study is the analysis politeness in SpongeBob movie
entitled Missing identity. While the object of the study is the conversation in the movie. The result
shows that there are six maxims of politeness principle applied which consist of 12 utterances in
total: 1 tact maxim, 3 generosity maxims, 2 approbation maxims, 1 modesty maxim, 3 agreement
maxims, and 2 sympathy maxims. It can concluded that this movie can be used as medium for
language learning because according to the findings, it had used the principles of politeness.
Keyword: Politeness principles, politeness maxim, politeness in movie
 Introduction

Language is a medium for us to communicate to others. There are some important aspects
in it that makes our communication runs well. One of them is the use of politeness principles. It is
important because it plays an important role in maintaining the relationship between the speaker
and the hearer. If the relationship among them are not good, it is sometimes found that the
communication get stuck because of the misunderstanding and losing connection between them.
To have a good communication, therefore the speaker needs to consider with whom he is talking
to, and then decide how he will use the language. The appropriate language will make him
understood and respected by others.

As an English teacher, we need to teach our students how to communicate well. There are
so many ways to teach it. One of them is by using movie as the teaching medium. The benefits of
using movie is that it use the language to communicate just as similar as the real conversation in
the real life. From this point of view, students may learn how to use the language properly in order
to avoid the misunderstanding and losing connection that makes the conversation get stuck.
However, not all movie apply politeness principles in its conversation, therefore the researcher
was interested to analyze the politeness principles in a SpongeBob movie entitled missing identity.
This paper would try to show what kind of politeness principles proposed by Leech (1983) used
in the movie.

Theoretical Framework

Politeness principle is minimizing (all thing being equal) the expression of impolite beliefs;
maximizing (all things being equal) the expression of polite beliefs (Thomas, 1995: 159). While
Leech (1983: 132) states that politeness concerns a relationship between two participants; self and
other. Self has to be more polite in referring to others spouse that in referring to selfs own spouse.

There are six politeness principles proposed by Leech (1983: 132). He asserts that, in
conversation, the politeness does not only concern with the relationship between two participants,
self and other, turn-taking but it also considers the existence of the third parties, who may or may
not be present in the conversation. The six maxims of politeness principles are briefly presented
in pairs as follows:
 1. Tact Maxim

The tact maxim is defined as follows: minimize the expression of beliefs which imply cost
to other; and maximize the expression of beliefs which give benefit to other (Leech, 1983: 109).
This tact maxim is applied in directive and commissive categories of illocutions (Leech, 1983:
107). For example the utterance Wont you sit down?. It is the directive/impositive utterance.
This utterance is spoken to ask the hearer sitting down. The speaker uses indirect utterance to be
more polite and minimizing cost to the hearer. This utterance implies that sitting down is benefit
to the hearer.

2. Generosity Maxim

This maxim is used to minimize the expression of benefit to self and maximize the utterance
of cost to self. It is used in directive and commissive illocutionary act. If in the tact maxim the
focus is on other-centered, in generosity maxim, it focuses on self-centered (Leech, 1983: 133). In
the utterance You must come and dinner with us., it is actually an advice utterance that is
involved in directive illocutionary act. In this case the speaker implies that cost of the utterance is
to his self. Meanwhile, the utterance implies that benefit is for the hearer.

3. Approbation Maxim

The approbation maxim states that the speaker should minimize the expression of beliefs
which express dispraise of other; maximize the expression of beliefs which express appraisal of
other (Leech, 1983: 135). This maxim is used in an utterance that expresses the speakers feeling,
such as expressions of like, dislike, joy, sorrow or pleasure and is used in representative speech.
For instance, stating whether the speakers

4. Modesty Maxim

This maxim states: minimize praise of self as well as minimize dispraise of self. This
maxim is also used in expressive and representatives speech (Leech, 1983: 136). This utterance
for example Please accept this small gift as prize of your achievement.. In this case, the utterance
above is categorized as the modesty maxim because the speaker maximizes dispraise of himself.
The speaker notices his utterance by using small gift.
 5. Agreement Maxim

The agreement maxim proposes as follow: minimize the expression of disagreement

between self and other It is used in representative speech (Leech, 1983: 138). The example of this
maxim can be found in the following utterance:

A : English is a difficult language to learn.

B : True, but the grammar is quite easy.
From the example, B actually does not agree that all part of English language difficult to
learn. He does not express his disagreement strongly to be more polite. The polite answer will
influence the effect of the hearer. In this case, Bs answer minimize his disagreement using partial
agreement, true, but.

6. Sympathy Maxim

In sympathy maxim, the participant is expected to maximize the expression of sympathy to

their hearer and minimize the antipathy. This maxim is usually used in representative utterances
(Leech, 1983: 138). In this case, the achievement being reached by other must be congratulated.
On other hand, the calamity happens to other, must be given sympathy or condolences. For
example Im terribly sorry to hear about your father.. It is a condolence expression which is
expressed the sympathy for misfortune. This utterance is uttered when the hearer gets calamity of
fathers died or sick. This expression shows the solidarity between the speaker and the hearer.

Methodology

In this research, the writer used descriptive qualitative approach, which was intended to
give description on data obtained in utterance form. The method of collecting data used were
documentation method and non-participant observation because the writer did not include in the
conversation. The research subject in this study is the analysis politeness in SpongeBob movie
entitled Missing identity. While the object of the study is the conversation in the movie.

The analysis would be done step by step. The writer firstly watched the movie and then
transcribed conversation. After that, the transcription would be observed to explore its linguistics
element. The result of the observation would be the basic sources to be matched with the theories
used in this research, politeness principles.
 Result and Discussion

The analysis shown that the all 6 maxims were found in the movie conversation. Here are
the examples of the findings of the politeness principles.

1. Tact Maxim

SpongeBob : Gary. Now that my horrific incident of terror is over, how about some breakfast?
After having some accidents before, SpongeBob offer Garry to have some breakfast asking
him using question strategy. This kind question can be included in tact maxim because SpongeBob
try to offer Garry some meal which mean it maximize benefits to others.

2. Generosity Maxim

Ted : Oh, no, I lost my pen.

Waitress : You can borrow mine.
Ted express his feeling that he do not have pen with bald off record strategy, then the
waitress generously offered her pen to be used by Ted. This conversation minimize the benefits to
the Waitress and maximize the cost to her because she was willing to lend her pen to Ted.

Patrick : That is the stench of discovery. Come on, buddy. I'll give you a boost. Hop on,
pal.
SpongeBob : I'll give you a hint. Two words. First word: my. Second word: name tag.
3. Approbation Maxim

Squidward : SpongeBob, if you really want to find your name tag, just retrace your steps.
SpongeBob : Retrace my steps? Squidward, you're a genius.

Squidward gave a suggestion to SpongeBob to retrace his steps on the way to Krusty Krab.
Then SpongeBob praise the Squidward suggestion by saying that he was a genius. This utterance
matched with the approbation maxim that maximize the expression of beliefs which express
appraisal of other by saying that Squidward was a genius.

4. Modesty Maxim

SpongeBob : Oh, Squidward, it's terrible! It's the most terrible thing that's ever happened to me.
I lost my name tag. Pourquoi!
SpongeBob was losing his identity card and then he expressed his feeling to Squidward by
saying that it was the most terrible thing that had ever happened to him. This utterance imply that
he maximized dispraise of self because in fact, losing identity card was not the worst thing that
had ever happened to him.

5. Agreement Maxim

SpongeBob : Cover me till I get back, okay?

Squidward : Oh, sure, sure.
SpongeBob was going to retrace his steps and asked Squidward to cover him at the job
until he got back. Then Squidward answer it with positive response by saying oh, sure, sure. The
answer means that he minimized the expression of disagreement between him and SpongeBob.

6. Sympathy Maxim

SpongeBob : Oh, Squidward, it's terrible! It's the most terrible thing that's ever happened to me.
I lost my name tag. Pourquoi!
Squidward : SpongeBob, take it easy! I'm sure you can get a new one.
SpongeBob was having terrible thing that he lost his identity card and he expressed his
feeling to Squidward. Then Squidward answer it by asking SpongeBob to calm down and take it
easy because he believed that SpongeBob will get the new identity card. This answer can be
included into sympathy maxim because he maximized the expression of sympathy to SpongeBob.

Conclusion

After analyzing the data taken from the utterances in SpongeBob movie entitled missing
identity, the researcher took a conclusion about the use of politeness principle the movie. There
are six maxims of politeness principle applied which consist of 12 utterances in total: 1 tact maxim,
3 generosity maxims, 2 approbation maxims, 1 modesty maxim, 3 agreement maxims, and 2
sympathy maxims. Generosity and agreement maxim are the most numerous maxim in the movie.
For the sake of learning language, it can concluded that this movie can be used as medium for
language learning because according to the findings, it had used the principles of politeness.
 Reference

Brown, P. & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.

Leech, G. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. London and New York: Long Man

Thomas, J. (1995). Meaning in Interaction: an Introduction to Pragmatics. London and New

York: Longman.

Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. New York: Oxford University Press.

 Appendix

SpongeBob Movie Entitled Missing Identity Script

Ted : Oh, no, I lost my pen.

Waitress : You can borrow mine.
Ted : Thanks.
SpongeBob : I lost something once. I lost something I couldn't live without-- my identity.
Ted : So, anyway, thanks for the pen.
Waitress : No problem, hon.
SpongeBob : It all started last week. Monday morning to be exact, the day I lost my identity.
Ted : I've gotta go.
SpongeBob : Good morning, world, and all who inhabit it. Awk! Gary, help! I can't see.
Gary! Gary, are you there? Ow! Gary? Gary, buddy? I need you to be my eyes,
okay? Am I near the bathroom? Gary? Gary? Gar?
Gary : Meow.
SpongeBob : Gary. Now that my horrific incident of terror is over, how about some
breakfast? The most important meal of the day, serving it up Gary's way-- pop!
Enjoy, buddy. Hmm, you know, I've been feeding this to Gary for years, and I
don't even know what it tastes like. Bleah! Bleah! Bleah!
Sadie : What is it, Peterson?
Peterson : I'm not sure. I feel... a disturbance.
SpongeBob : That was the worst thing I've ever tasted. Oh well, at least I'll never have to do
it again. Barnacles! All these shenanigans made me late for work. Uh oh. All
right!
Patrick : Hi, SpongeBob!
SpongeBob : Hi Patrick! La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la! La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Waitress : Wait a minute. When exactly did you lose your identity?
Ted : Yeah, and who's Patrick?
Diner Chef : And why did you eat Snail-Po?
SpongeBob : Ah, ah, ah, patience, good people. A great story can't be rushed. However, I
will skip ahead to the Krusty Krab. Order up! One Krabby Patty grilled with
the fiery warmth of my beating heart. Enjoy.
Customer : Thanks, uh... Oh.
SpongeBob : Is there a problem?
Customer : Well, you really should be wearing a name tag so I can thank you properly.
SpongeBob : While it is against my philosophy to disagree with the customer, I must point
out that I am in fact wearing a name tag, right here. Huh?
Squidward : Uh, SpongeBob?
SpongeBob : Oh, Squidward, it's terrible! It's the most terrible thing that's ever happened to
me. I lost my name tag. Pourquoi!
Squidward : SpongeBob, take it easy! I'm sure you can get a new one.
SpongeBob : But I don't want a new one, Squidward. My name tag is out there somewhere.
Lost... Hungry... Who will help it? What if someone's using it?
Bank Robber : Alright! Nobody move! This is a bank robbery! Attica!
SpongeBob : I'm innocent, I tell ya!
Squidward : Hmm? Oh, you fainted because you lost your name tag or something.
SpongeBob : Huh?
Squidward : SpongeBob, will you get a hold of yourself? Since when is losing your name
tag the end of the world?
Mr. Krabs : Attention, all employees! Just a quick heads-up, boys. There's going to be a
surprise uniform inspection in one hour. Anyone who doesn't pass gets the
boot! This boot, to be exact. It's very stinky, and you'll have to wear it all day.
See you in an hour.
Squidward : SpongeBob, if you really want to find your name tag, just retrace your steps.
SpongeBob : Retrace my steps? Squidward, you're a genius.
Squidward : Huh. Huh. A genius? Well, I don't know about that, but...
SpongeBob : Cover me till I get back, okay?
Squidward : Oh, sure, sure. A genius? Well, how about... Hey!
SpongeBob : Let's see, if I'm going to retrace my steps, I got to remember everything I did
this morning.
Patrick : Hi, SpongeBob.
SpongeBob : Oh, hi Patrick. You said hi to me this morning, right?
Patrick : As I do every morning.
SpongeBob : Well, I need you to do it again.
Patrick : That wasn't part of the deal, SquarePants!
SpongeBob : Patrick, what are you talking about?
Patrick : My hellos aren't just some tape recording that you can rewind and play over
and over. They're special!
SpongeBob : Patrick, this is an emergency! I lost my name tag this morning, and I need to
retrace my steps.
Patrick : You lost your name tag?
SpongeBob : Okay, Patrick, you know the plan, right?
Patrick : I got it, I got it. You're gonna retrace your steps and when you walk by me I
say "hi", just like this morning.
SpongeBob : Perfect. Hmm, I guess I should start with when I woke up. I sure hope this
works. Good morning, world, and all who inhabit it! So far, so good. I don't see
my name tag up here. Now that my horrific moment of terror is over, how
about some breakfast? The most important meal of the day, serving it up Gary's
way. Bleah! Okay, next I just have to walk outside and say hi to Patrick.
Patrick!
Patrick : What?
SpongeBob : You were supposed to say hi to me.
Patrick : Hi.
SpongeBob : Oh. All right, let's take it from the top.
Patrick : Hi, SpongeBob.
SpongeBob : Don't forget your line this time!
Patrick : I won't.
SpongeBob : Good morning, world, and all who inhabit it. The most important meal of the
day. La-la-la... Gary's way. Bleah.
Patrick, why didn't you say hi to me?
Patrick : What's my motivation?
SpongeBob : Forget the motivation. Just say hi.
Patrick : Hi, Patrick! Oh wait, I'm Patrick! I'm sorry. Sorry. I'm sorry. Let's try it again.
Hi, SpongeBoob! Ha! SpongeBoob! I sai... I sai... Who's SpongeBoob? I said
SpongeBoob! Again, again. Sorry people.
SpongeBob : The most important meal of the day, lalala Garys way. Bleah.
Patrick : I've got the giggles.
SpongeBob : Oh, what's the use? I'll never find my name tag in time for inspection.
Patrick : Well, what did you do after I said hi to you this morning?
SpongeBob : Hmm, let's see. I skipped merrily to the Krusty Krab, said hello to Old Man
Jenkins, placed an apple on Mr. Krabs' desk... and that's about it. Oh, and these
two guys threw me in the dumpster. Good one, guys!
Patrick : That's it! Your name tag is in the apple on Mr. Krabs' desk!
SpongeBob : Patrick, you're a genius. Oh wait, he's probably thrown it away by now.
Patrick : Well, then we'll look in the dumpster!
SpongeBob : Eh, what is that stench?
Patrick : That is the stench of discovery. Come on, buddy. I'll give you a boost. Hop on,
pal.
SpongeBob : Hey, it's not so bad once you get used to it.
Patrick : I wish I had a nose.
SpongeBob : Come on in, buddy. The garbage is fine.
Patrick : Cannonball!
SpongeBob : You look over there and I'll look over here.
Patrick : Okay.
SpongeBob : Patrick?
Patrick : I'm looking. I'm looking.
SpongeBob : Patrick? Patrick?
Patrick : I'm looking as fast as I can.
SpongeBob : Patrick! Thank you.
Patrick : Here, let me get that. Hey, look! A Stingray 5000 single. Hey, these guys rock.
Why would anybody throw this away?
SpongeBob : Have you forgotten what we're looking for knee-deep in yesterday's Top 40
songs?
Patrick : Yes.
SpongeBob : I'll give you a hint. Two words. First word: my. Second word: name tag.
Patrick : Could I have another hint?
SpongeBob : Patrick, I would love to sit here and play Twenty Questions with you, but I've
only got one minute till inspection. One minute?! Hurry, Patrick, we don't have
much time.
Patrick : Hey, SpongeBob...
SpongeBob : Not now, Patrick.
Patrick : I know where your name tag is.
SpongeBob : Where?! Where?!
Patrick : Uh... I can't remember.
SpongeBob : Patrick, I don't have time for this!
Patrick : There it is!
SpongeBob : Where?!
Patrick : Uh... I forgot again.
SpongeBob : Patrick, are you with me or against me?
Patrick : Could you give me a hint? There! I see it!
SpongeBob : Yeah, yeah, yeah... the boy who cried name tag. If you're not going to help me,
then just go crawl back under your rock.
Patrick : Well, at least I don't wear my shirt backwards.
SpongeBob : My shirt backward... What the...? My shirt's on backwards! I had my identity
all along. Oh, and just in time. Thanks, Patrick.
Patrick : Don't mention it, buddy.
Mr. Krabs : Fall in for inspection! All right, you two... Hat and uniform seem to be in
order. Hmm, promise me you'll shave tonight and you pass.
Squidward : Hoorah.
Mr. Krabs : Okay, boy, your turn.
SpongeBob : I think you'll find everything shipshape.
Mr. Krabs : Jumpin' jellyfish! What's that stench?
SpongeBob : Uh... discovery? And that's how I got my identity back. Well, that's my story.
Waitress : Well, you managed to kill eleven minutes.
SpongeBob : Thanks, uh... Betty.
Waitress : What? Oh, sweetie, I'm not Betty. I just borrowed her uniform while mine's at
the cleaners.