POLITENESS ANALYSIS

Salwa Failasifa Azzahra.

Abstact

Politeness is one of the prominent issues in pragmatics. This is a major issue

in the world of education because of the implementation of the 2013 curriculum
which focuses on character education. This study aims to analyze the realization
of politeness events through whatsapp chat between students and lecturers of the
majors. This study uses qualitative research in the form of class discourse
analysis. The participants were student and lecturer. The research instrument was
made based on Brown and Levinson's (1987) politeness strategy framework. The
results showed that the study provide an example of how imposition will affect
politeness strategy selection. students and lecturers use very standard politeness
strategy, namely positive politeness. That lecturer and student use additional
capital hedging "possible" and politeness marker "please" to minimize effect from
FTAs. In relation with the realization of positive politeness between student and
lecturer, the findings showed that out of 15 sub-strategies of positive politeness, 9
strategies are found in the data. These are: interest, approval, sympathy; intensify
interest to lecturer; seek agreement; avoid disagreement; offer, promise; be
optimistic; and include both student and lecturer in the activity. The use of
positive politeness in the classroom is important in order to maintain the positive
relationship between the student and lecturer. In addition, through the use of
positive politeness, teachers can establish a respectful lecturer-students
relationship and comfortable classroom atmosphere, which motivates the students
to engage in the classroom activities without the fear of embarrassment for their
mistakes.
A. INTRODUCTION
In Indonesia, politeness is an important aspect in education. Politeness is
used to make a harmonious interaction between teacher and students in teaching
and learning process (Zaenul, 2016). Nuh (cited in Mariani, 2016), the education
minister of Indonesia, asserts that politeness of Indonesian students is in a state of
decline. Therefore, it is important to implement politeness strategy in education as
it in line with curriculum 2013 which emphasize on good character education. In
addition, Indonesia‟s education regulation No 20, Year 2003, Article 3 states that
national education functions to develop capacity, character, and a dignified
society by enhancing its intellectual capacity (Mariani, 2016). Thus, politeness
become one of the crucial issues in education, specifically in a classroom
interaction.
One of the most prominent work in the context of interlanguage pragmatic
research, which was widely used, was the theory of politeness proposed by Brown
and Levinson (1978, 1987). According to Brown and Levinson (1987) Politeness
is defined as redressive action taken to counter-balance the disruptive effect of
face-threatening acts (FTA). The theory mainly focused on how politeness is
expressed to protect participants‟ face. According to them, there are four
politeness strategies. These are: (1) bald on record, when the FTA is performed
“in the most direct, clear, unambiguous, and concise way possible‟ (Brown and
Levinson, 1987); (2) positive politeness, orients to preserving the positive face of
other people; (3) Negative politeness, orients to preserving the negative face of
other people; and (4) Off records, a communicative act which is done in such way
that it is not possible to attribute one clear communicative intention to the act.
Aside from politeness strategies, Brown and Levinson (1987) explained
the factors influencing the choice of politeness strategies.
According to them, there are two factors that influence the choice of politeness
strategies. These are the payoffs of politeness and sociological factors (Brown and
Levinson,1987, p.71). It is important to know the factors of politeness strategies
in order to assess the appropriacy of politeness strategies in relation with the
 context and circumstances. The sociological factors are distance (D), power (P),
and rank of imposition (R). These three aspects will influence the weight of Face
Threatening Acts (W) which can be used by the speaker in deciding on what
politeness strategies that will be employed. Furthermore, payoffs of politeness
strategies and sociological factors will be important in order to reveal why a
certain politeness strategy is frequently used in communication
Several studies have been conducted on politeness strategies in EFL
classroom. Some of those studies focused on teachers‟ politeness strategies
(Jiang, 2010; Senowarsito, 2013, Peng et al., 2014; Zaenul, 2014; Sulu, 2015;
Draginic, 2017; Arief et al., 2018), students‟ politeness principle (Huang, 2008),
students‟ politeness strategies (Benham and Niroomand, 2011; Wijayanto et al.,
2013; Mahmud, 2018), and politeness in classroom interaction (Manik &
Hutagaol, 2015; Mariani, 2015; Suwartama & Fitriati, 2017; Haryanto, Weda, &
Nashruddin, 2018).

B. LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Pragmatics
Pragmatics is related to human’s interaction. In interaction with others, people
have to respect each other in order to make good interaction. To respect others,
people have to consider politeness. Therefore, politeness becomes one of the units
to be studied in pragmatics. Here are many definitions of pragmatic from linguists
view:
According to Yule (1996:3) states that pragmatics is the study of contextual
meaning. Next, Crummings in Cruse (2000:2) says that pragmatics deals with
information aspects that are conveyed through language which is not
decoded conventionally that socially agreed in the linguistics form that is used,
but it also appears naturally from and depends on the meaning.
In addition, Horn and ward (2006:16) defines pragmatic as the study of those
context-dependent aspects of meaning which are systematically abstracted away
from the construction of content or logical form. Meanwhile, Mey (2001:6)
defined pragmatics as the study of the use of language in human communication
as determined by the conditions of society.
Furthermore, Bublitz in Schauer (2009:6) defines pragmatics as the study of
communication principles to which people adhere when they interact rationally
and efficiently in social context speakers/writers follow these principles to imply
additional meaning to a sentence, and hearer/readers follow these principles to
infer the possible meaning of an utterance out of all available options in given
context.

2. The Concept of Politeness

In communication, politeness is an important aspect in the life of creating
better communication between speakers and opponents said. There are some
definitions of politeness based on linguists. Brown and Levinson (1987:61)
suggested that the reason why people choose to be polite is that people are
concerned about maintaining two different types of face:
a. positive face is crucially including the desire to be appreciated, approved of,
and respected by others
b. negative face is reflected in the desire not to be impeded, to have the freedom
to act as one chooses.
Mouton (2011:2) defines politeness is not a simple one but nevertheless hold
that it is possible to isolate utterances which are considered to be polite or impolite
by participants. Moreover, Lakoof in Eelen (2001:2) defines politeness as
a system of interpersonal relation designed to facilitate interaction by minimizing
the potential for conflict and confrontation inherent in all human interchange.
Meanwhile, Watts (2003:10) stated that politeness is not something we are born
with but rather it is learned in social contexts. In other words, Holmes (2001:4)
explains that politeness is an expression of concern for the feelings of others.

3. The Types of Politeness

a. Realization of Bald On- Record
 Bald on record is one of the strategies used when the speaker made no
attempt to minimize the threat to the other person‟s face. This strategy could be
used when the speaker had more power that the listener (Brown &Levinson,
1987).
b. Realization of Positive Politeness
In this strategy, the speaker recognized the friendliness in the relationship
with the listeners and their desire to be respected. In addition, this strategy
functions to flow the social relationship smoothly with others.
c. Realization of Negative Politeness
Negative politeness orients to preserving the negative face of other people.
This is much more likely if there is a social distance between speaker and hearer.
Negative politeness strategies are also intended to avoid giving offense by
showing deference. These strategies include questioning, hedging, and presenting
disagreements as opinions (Brown and Levinson, 1987).
d. Realization of Off-Record
Off Record can be recognized in situations where the speaker, for
example, poses an indirect utterance. Off record strategy is consider the most
polite strategies among all (Brown & Levinson, 1978) because it allows a speaker
to avoid the responsibility for the potentially face-damaging interpretations.

C. METHOD
The study used qualitative case study research in investigating politeness
event. Qualitative research was chosen because it allows researchers to identify
issues from the perspective of participants and understand the meanings and
interpretations that they give to behavior. Since this study focused on the
realization politeness strategies in whatsapp chats between student and lecturer.

D. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Realization of Bald On- Record
 Bald on record is one of the strategies used when the speaker made no
attempt to minimize the threat to the other person‟s face. This strategy could be
used when the speaker had more power that the listener (Brown &Levinson,
1987). It can be seen from the conversation bellow.

Conversation 1.

From the quote above, first, students and lecturer greet each other. Brown
and Levinson (1987) argues that most greetings are bald on record. However, in
this action, greetings done in Arabic to overcome Muslim. Therefore,
"Assalamu'alaikum" is an examples of positive politeness. Further, students
showed more positive politeness with complete the students "if you can" and end
the sentence with "Thank you very much". Finally, said the lecturer "Please do"
is an example positive politeness. Other Examples of positive politeness are as
follows
Conversation 2
 From the quote above first, students and teachers greet each other. Brown
and Levinson (1987) argues that most greetings are bald on record. However, in
this action, greetings done in Arabic to overcome Muslim. Therefore,
"Assalamu'alaikum" is an examples of positive politeness. Further, students
showed more positive politeness with complete the students "May I take".
Finally, said the lecturer "yes, please" is an example positive politeness then the
student answer with the sentence "Thank you"
Conversation 3

From the quote above first, students and teachers greet each other. Brown
and Levinson (1987) argues that most greetings are bald on record. However, in
this action, greetings done in Arabic to overcome Muslim. Therefore,
"Assalamu'alaikum" is an examples of positive politeness. Further, students
showed more positive politeness with complete the students "what time may I".
Conversation 4

From the quote above first, students and teachers greet each other. Brown
and Levinson (1987) argues that most greetings are bald on record. However, in
this action, greetings done in Arabic to overcome Muslim. Therefore,
"Assalamu'alaikum" is an examples of positive politeness. Further, students
showed more positive politeness with complete the students "May I submit".
Finally, said the lecturer "I am sorry but I don’t have a plan" is an example
positive politeness then the student answer with the sentence "Thank you"
Conversation 5
 From the quote above, first, students and lecturer greet each other. Brown
and Levinson (1987) argues that most greetings are bald on record. However, in
this action, greetings done in Arabic to overcome Muslim. Therefore,
"Assalamu'alaikum" is an examples of positive politeness. Further, students
showed more positive politeness with complete the sentence with "Thank you
very".
The results of the study provide an example of how imposition will affect
politeness strategy selection. students and lecturers use very standard politeness
strategy, namely positive politeness. That lecturer and student use additional
capital hedging "possible" and politeness marker "please" to minimize effect
from FTAs. However, in this study, researchers assume that the imposition rating
has less influence on the choice of decency strategy due to degree the overall
loading is almost the same.

E. CONCLUSION
In relation with the realization of positive politeness between student and
lecturer, the findings showed that out of 15 sub-strategies of positive politeness, 9
strategies are found in the data. These are: interest, approval, sympathy; intensify
interest to lecturer; seek agreement; avoid disagreement; offer, promise; be
optimistic; and include both student and lecturer in the activity. The use of
positive politeness in the classroom is important in order to maintain the positive
relationship between the student and lecturer. In addition, through the use of
positive politeness, teachers can establish a respectful lecturer-students
relationship and comfortable classroom atmosphere, which motivates the students
to engage in the classroom activities without the fear of embarrassment for their
mistakes.

F. APPENDIX
Picture 1.

Picture 2.
Picture 3.
Picture 4.

Picture 5.