Expression and politeness are important for communication
Expression
and politeness are important for communication
In daily activities
humans use language to communicate. Dialogue is typical of many everyday
interactions that function socially or informatively. In this case, this
interaction serves to build a relationship between one human and another. Then,
the interaction is oriented to an appropriate level of relationship and respect
between those interacting.
Language has various
functions, usually the speech is adapted to the social context of the speech.
The language we speak to children may be different from the language we speak
to adults. In addition, differences in the purpose of speech can also affect
the form of language and a variety of ways.
According to Mustain
(2011) that apart linguistic factors, there are non-linguistic factors that are
considered to influence the communication process, namely politeness.
Politeness is much more influenced by the sociocultural aspect of the speaker. According
to lakoff (in Mustain, 2011) offers three principles of politeness in
communication, namely:
1) Don't impose,
2) Give option, and
3) Make your receiver
feel good
According to Hudson (in Mustain, 2011) that the relationship between the role of factors, age, and social stratification plays a very important role in social interactions. The role relationship factor in a social interaction is considered very important. Example, an employee must consider communicative strategies when he talks to his boss; besides that a student must consider his communicative strategy when he talks to the teacher.
In an interaction the speaker must determine what expressions are polite to use in order to maintain a relationship between the speaker and the person speaker is talking to. According to Holmes (2013) that there are several ways to categorize the function of speech, The following list has proved a useful one in sociolinguistic research:
1. Expressive utterances express the speaker’s feelings. This function serves the declaration of a speaker’s ambiance.
e.g:
I’m
feeling great today
No
problem, it is very nice
Very lovely day
2. Directive utterances
attempt to get someone to do something. In Indonesian communication, directive
function can be articulated by imperative sentences, interrogative sentences as
well as declarative sentences. According to Mustain (2011) that the standard of
polite utterances in requesting people to do something, somehow, is not only
seen from the form of interrogatives or declaratives, but intonation, tone’ of
voice, and context also determine it.
e.g:
Clear
the table!
Bring
this bag!
Could
you sit down?
3. Referential utterances
provide information. Politeness in these utterances can be seen from the
substance of cooperative principles quality, quantity, relation and manner. The
value of politeness, in the same way, a great deal depends on intonation, tone of
voice and context too.
e.g:
At
the third stroke it will be three o’clock precisely.
We will leave for Jakarta tomorrow at 9 a.m.
4. Metalinguistic
utterances comment on language itself. The principle purpose of metalinguistic
is to make sure that the addressee understands the meaning of the code which
the addresser is using. In Indonesian communication, we often find
metalinguistic function of speech in scientific discussion.
e.g:
‘Hegemony’
is not a common word.
Poetic
art is the art of writing a literary work.
Stylistics is science about language style in a literary work.
5. Poetic utterances
focus on aesthetic features of language. This speech function is rarely used in
daily conversation (a poem, an ear-catching motto, a rhyme)
e.g:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
6. Phatic utterances
express solidarity and empathy with others. This speech function always exists
in all community, but the form is different. In other words, this expression is
culturally linked.
e.g:
Hi,
how are you, lovely day isn’t it!
Please drop in.
Based on the explanation
above, the purpose of communication is not just conveying messages, but also
means maintaining social relationships. A speaker not only chooses the
appropriate formulas of grammar and diction, speaker must also consider the
cultural values associated with the expressions speaker performs. In order to
maintain social interactions, one needs to do so by understanding the
principles of politeness. That is why the study of speech function and
politeness in many language communities is considered important.
References:
Holmes, J. (2013). An introduction to sociolinguistics. Routledge.
Mustain, K. (2011). SPEECH FUNCTIONS AND POLITENESS IN INDONESIAN
COMMUNICATION. State Polytechnic of Malang. ISSN:2088-2025
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