Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

ANALYSIS OF POLITENESS STRATEGY FROM SUBTITLE IN MY SISTERS KEEPER MOVIE

A. Introduction In everyday conversation, there are ways to go about getting the things we want. When we are with a group of friends, we can say to them, "Go get me that plate!", or "Shut-up!" However, when we are surrounded by a group of adults at a formal function, in which our parents are attending, we must say, "Could you please pass me that plate, if you don't mind?" and "I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but I am not able to hear the speaker in the front of the room." I different social situations, we are obligated to adjust our use of words to fit the occasion. It would seem socially unacceptable if the phrases above were reversed and it usually called politeness. We can found this concept in pragmatics and sociolinguistics. The meaning of politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette. It is a culturally defined phenomenon, and therefore what is considered polite in one culture can sometimes be quite rude or simply eccentric in another cultural context. According to George Yule book, politeness, in an interaction, can be defined as the means employed to show awareness of another person’s face. Face means the public self-image of a person. It refers to that emotion and social sense of self that everyone has and expects everyone else to recognize.

Showing awareness for another person’s face when that other seems socially distant is often described in terms of respect or deference. According to Brown and Levinson, politeness strategies are developed in order to save the hearers' "face." Face refers to the respect that an individual has for him or herself, and maintaining that "self-esteem" in public or in private situations.

B. Theoretical BackgroundMany of theory about politeness but this analysis paper will be focused from Brown and Levinson Theory. Brown and Levinson’s ‘politeness’ theory was originally published in 1978. This theory is a direct extension of Goffman’s analysis of face and face-work. It is, in effect, a more precise specification of face (what it is and what threatens it) and face-work (the specific mechanisms used for its accomplishment).First, Brown and Levinson argued that face is comprised of two basic and universal desires; negative face, or the desire for autonomy, and positive face, or the desire for connection with others. Positive and negative face correspond to Durkheim’s (1915) concept of positive (approach based) and negative (avoidance based) rites, and these two desires match up quite well with basic wants postulated by other scholars such as agency (negative face) and communion (positive face; Bakan,1966) and power (negative face)and intimacy (positive face; Me Adams, 1985).Like Goffman (1967), Brown and Levinson argue that face is subject to continued threat during the course of social interaction. Positive face is under continuing threat because contact and connection with others is crucial to our existence. Negative face is threatened when one’s freedom to engage in various courses of action (including the most insignificant actions) is diminished.This is Typology of Face – Threatening Acts:

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Type of Face ThreatThreat focus : Negative face Positive FaceHearer

Speaker

RequestOffersCompliments

PromisesAcceptance of offerThanks

DisagreementCriticismsComplaints

ApologiesEmotional leakageCompliment acceptance

Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

It is an underlying pressure that affects in various ways the tone of our interactions with others. Unless one chooses to live in complete isolation (and hence avoid this conflict), one must engage in some degree of face- work or politeness.The Strategy to show Positive PolitenessThere are 15 of positive politeness in Brown and Levinson theory they are; Notice, attend to hearer (his interests, wants, needs, goods), Exaggerate (interest, approval, sympathy with hearer), Intensify interest to hearer, Use in-group identity markers, seek agreement, Avoid disagreement, presuppose or raise or assert common ground, Joke, Assert or presuppose speakers knowledge of and concern for hearer’s wants, Offer & Promise, Be optimistic, Include both speaker and hearer in the activity, Give or ask for reasons, Assume or assert reciprocity, Give gifts to hearer (goods, sympathy, understanding corporation). In this paper of analysis, the writer only focuses to takes some positive politeness strategy which appropriate with the title.

a. Use in-group identity markersThis is one of strategy which used to show a positive politeness. This is accomplished by conveying the idea that the speaker and hearer are connected by virtue of having something in common (e.g., group membership, similarity of interest, values, and attitudes). Group membership may be emphasized by using various in-group markers such as familiar address term (Mac, mate, buddy, sister, pal, dear, honey, luv, babe, sweet heart, guys, brother, mom, Blondie). For example:1. Come here, honey!2. Lend me a couple of bucks, OK?

b. Include both speaker and hearer in the activityInvite both of speaker and hearer to do an activity together. Example:1. Let’s have a cookie, then.2. Give us a break.

c. Give or ask for reasonsInvite someone to join an activity together with give some reasons expression like “why” in opening conversation. Example:1. Why don’t we go to the seashore?

d. Notice, attend to hearer (his interest, wants, needs, goods)The speaker gives attention to some conditions and express them use positive politeness. It can use to express interest with something or someone’s appearance. Example: 1. what a beautiful vase this is! Where did it come from?2. What a beautiful you are!

C. Focus of AnalysisThis paper wants to analyze about positive politeness and also the word meaning from subtitle in My Sisters Keeper movie which directed by Nick Casavetes, based on Jodi Picoult's novel of the same name, My Sister's Keeper was released in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom on June 26, 2009. The writer wants to analyze from dialogue which played by the actress in that movie.

D. Analysis

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Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

The writer wants to deliver data of analysis about dialogue of positive politeness in My Sister Keeper Movie. There are 15 of positive politeness in Brown and Levinson strategy but we take some which related with our analysis.a. Use in-group identity markers

1. This dialogue found when someone delivers a letter from court to Sara (Cameron Diaz) or Ann’s mother.Sara: “What is that? This for you Ann? Do you want to sue us?Ann: “yes, A got a lawyer.”Sara:” Well honey, what the hell is going on?”Ann:” I don’t to do anymore mom.”The dialogue which underline” well honey, what the hell is going on?” the word honey here it is not mean sweet sticky substance made by bees, but it means express the way addressing someone that you like or love. In word What the hell is going on? It is means what’s going on it is means what’s happen? It is means in that situation Ann’s mother ask what’s happen with Ann. In word mom it is used to call your mother. It is include in positive politeness strategy from Brown and Levinson strategy.

2. Brian (Jason Patric) or Ann’s father:” Sweetheart, you are going to live a long time .” the word Sweetheart it is not mean that heart which has sweet taste, but the word used to address someone in a way that shows affection. It is include in positive politeness strategy from Brown and Levinson strategy.

3. The dialogue found when Taylor (Thomas Dekker) asks Kate’s phone number.Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) or Ann’s sister:”my phone number is 555-0173.”Taylor:”Well, I gotta go. I will call you Kate.”In word which underlines it means that Taylor wants to go. The words gotta it usually called slang word and include in positive politeness strategy from brown and Levinson strategy.

4. The dialogue found when Kate asks to her mother that Taylor will call her or not.Kate:” Do you think He will call?Sara:” I don’t know baby, I….?

The word Baby it is not mean very young child but the word used affectionately to address your wife, husband your child or lover. It is include in positive politeness strategy from brown and Levinson strategy.

5. The dialogue found when Kate say a parting word to her sister, Ann.Kate:” This is the end, sissy. It just gets scarier from here on out. Mom’s gonna chop me and cut me till I am vegetable. Two cells in a Petri dish that she shocks with an electric cord.” Ann:” You are being all right.”Kate:” It is over. Time to go.”The word sissy it means sister. The sentence which underline Mom’s gonna chop me and cut me till I am vegetable. First, the word gonna means going to this is the slang word and include in positive politeness strategy from brown and Levinson strategy. Second, the sentence Mom’s gonna chop me and cut me until I am vegetable it means because Kate’s mother want to surgery herself so she feels like her mother wants to chop and cut her like a vegetable. b. Include both speaker and hearer in the activity

1. The dialogue found when Jessie (Evan Ellingson) or Ann’s brother invite Ann (Abigail Breslin) to meet their lawyer.

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Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

Jessie:” you ready? Come on, lets go!”Ann :”yeah.”The dialogue which underline “Come on, lets go!” it means Jessie wants to invite Ann to do an activity together. It is include in positive politeness in Brown and Levinson strategy.

2. The dialogue found when Taylor wants to invite Kate to go the party in hospital.Taylor:”…..well you are the patient and I am the patient we could go together.”Kate:”yeah.”The sentence which underline it show that Taylor wants to invite Kate to do an activity together and Kate agree with the invitation. It is include in positive politeness strategy from brown and Levinson strategy.1. Give or ask for reasonsThe dialogue found when Taylor wants to invite Kate to hang out together.Taylor:”Why don’t we hang out together Kate?”Kate:”Ok.”The sentence which underlines it means that someone wants to invite other person to do an activity together use “why”. It is include in positive politeness strategy from brown and Levinson strategy.2. Notice, attend to hearer (his interest, wants, needs, and goods)The dialogue found when Taylor look Kate can change her appearance when they going to go to party.Taylor:”That is just so beautiful. Look how beautiful! Doesn’t she look beautiful?”The sentence which underline it shows that Taylor very interest with Kate’s new appearance when they going to go to party in hospital. It is include in positive politeness strategy from brown and Levinson strategy.

E. ConclusionAfter analyze data, from five-teen only four politeness strategy that we can found in My Sisters Keeper movie. Such as, Use in-group identity markers, include both speaker and hearer in the activity, Give or ask for reasons, Notice, attend to hearer (his interest, wants, needs, and goods). From fourth of politeness strategy, Use in-group identity markers are very often used. Because in that movie often use slang word and the word like honey, baby, mom and sweetheart, sissy to call person who loved. Then, the writer only takes partly of that subtitle because in that subtitle many of repetition words.

F. References:Thomas M. Holtgraves, Language as Social Action: Social and physiology and language use. (London, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.: 2002)George Yule, Pragmatics (Oxford, Oxford University press: 1996)Brown, Penelope and Levinson, Stephen C. Politeness: Some Universals in language usage. (Cambridge: Cambridge University press: 1992)

Appendices

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Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

Sara:” Well honey, what the hell is going on? Ann:” I don’t to do anymore mom.”

Brian (Jason Patric) or Ann’s father:” Sweetheart, you are going to live a long time .”

Taylor:”Well, I gotta go. I will call you Kate.” Sara:” I don’t know baby, I….?

Kate:” This is the end, sissy. Mom’s gonna chop me and cut me…………….

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Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

……till I am vegetable. Jessie:” you ready? Come on, lets go!”

Taylor:”…..well you are the patient and I am the patient we could go together.”

Taylor:”Why don’t we hang out together Kate?”

Taylor:”That is just so beautiful. Look how beautiful! Doesn’t she look beautiful?”

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Merizka Elfiza: 4A (1110026000087) UAS General Linguistics

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