An Analysis of Politeness across Gender in Apologizing among

University Student

Authors :

Irma Nopianti NPM : 8820316012

Fauziah Fujiyanti NPM : 8820316009

Puspa Setra Binangkit NPM : 8820316022

Triska Nur Wulandari NPM : 8820316034

English Education Study Program

Faculty of Teacher Training and Education

Suryakancana University

-2017-

triskanurwulandari@gmail.com
1.1 Abstract
The paper is analyzing sociolinguistically the politeness across
gender in apologizing among University Student by using the DCT
method for analyzing the case, and due to this research, the writer is
analyzing about politeness strategies, gender and face as something that
common in daily conversation.
After analyzing the data, it is able to be concluded that male and
female have different way in giving expression in apologizing. This issue
is our main research.

Key words : politeness strategies, gender, face.

1.2 Introduction
The mighty one creates an extraordinary perfect creature among
the other creatures that is called human. Human being has a highly
developed brain since Adam who is the first mankind came to the earth.
When he was born, God gave him three potential gifts of life in order to
live on; they were physical needs, instincts and mind. Mind as one of three
potential gifts that human has, makes human different from other
creatures, with this gift makes mankind is able to have rationality in living
their lives. Human is also social creatures, it means that they cannot live
all alone because human need other to communicate. In communication,
sometimes they are making some mistakes and to be polite usually they
are asking apologize for the mistakes that they have made. Male and
female have different politeness level in apologizing.

1.3 Theoretical Framework

1.3.1 Politeness
Politeness is having or showing behavior that is respectful and
considerate of other people. Basically it is treating people with
respect. There are many reasons why politeness is important in life
but one of them is that if you are polite, you are more likely to
 achieve your objectives and get what you want, and people are
more likely to take you seriously and deal with you in a good way.
As the 19th century American writer Joss Billings said that
politeness is better than logic. You can often persuade when you
cannot convince.

1.3.2 Gender
Gender is defined by FAO as ‘the relations between men
and women, both perceptual and material. Gender is not
determined biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of
either women or men, but is constructed socially. It is a central
organizing principle of societies, and often governs the processes
of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution’
(FAO, 1997). Despite this definition, gender is often misunderstood
as being the promotion of women only. However, as we see from
the FAO definition, gender issues focus on women and on the
relationship between men and women, their roles, access to and
control over resources, division of labour, interests and needs.
Gender relations affect household security, family well-being,
planning, production and many other aspects of life (Bravo-
Baumann, 2000).

1.3.3 Face
The public self-image one wishes to claim about the ‘social
persona’. The linguists Stephen Levinson and Penelope Brown
were the first to sub-divide an individual's public self-image into
positive and negative face (concept) . This distinction is based on
Erving Goffman's definition of face. Levinson and Brown
distinguish two levels of face based on an individual's basic needs
as a social being ( negative face ) and an individual's personal
desires ( positive face ). In order to protect one's own and the
adressee's face, one has to take care of both levels. Positive and
negative face are defined as the two components of an individual's
 public self-image (face (concept) ). Both positive and negative face
describe the different levels of face needs.

1.3.3.1 Negative face

Negative face describes the basic personal rights of an
individual, including his/ her personal freedom as well as
freedom of action. One's negative face is a neglection of all
factors which represent a threat towards individual rights. One
popular example is the freedom of speech, which includes one's
need not to be interrupted by others while speaking.

1.3.3.2 Positive face

The positive face is defined as the individual desire of a
person that his/ her personality is appreciated by others.
Furthermore, this includes the way a person wants to be
perceived by his/ her social group. One example for positive
face is the appreciation of individual achievements. According
to this definition, a painter would, for instance, desire other
people's appreciation of his/ her paintings.

1.3.4 Three variables of The weightof a face-threatening act

 Power refers to perceived power dynamic between speaker
and hearer. As a speaker, is targeted hearer a superior,
subordinate, or at about social level?
 Distance refers to yhe amount of social distance between
speaker and hearer. As a speaker is targeted hearer a close
friend or a distant colleague.
 Rank refers to the cultural ranking of the subject – the
degree of sensitivity of the topic within a particular culture.

1.4 Methods
 Participants : The first grade of English education study program
students, we are involving 5 females and 5 males
  Site : in Suryakancana University
 Instrument : DCT (Discourse Completion Test)
 Date : December 8, 2017

1.5 Finding and Discussion

1.5.1 Finding

Situation 1

When you broke your female close friend’s ruler accidentally, what would
you say to your friend?

P : -
R : -
D : -

100
90
80
70
60 Column1
50
Positive Face
40
30
20
10
0
Male Female

Situation 2

When you broke your male close friend’s ruler accidentally, what would
you say to your friend?

P :-
 R :-

D :-

100
90
80
70
60
Column1
50
Positive Face
40
30
20
10
0
Ma l e Fema l e

Situation 3

When your friend asks your help to lend him some money to pay his
school fee because his money is not enough but you cannot help him, what
would you say to him?

P :-

R :+
 D :+

100
90
80
70
60 Column1
50
Positive Face
40
30
20
10
0
Male Female

Situation 4

When you accidentally step on stranger’s foot in the bus, what would you
say to apologize?

P : +

R : -
 120

100

80
Column1
60
Positive Face
40

20

0
Male Female
D : +

Situation 5

When you borrow Mr. Helmie’s book and then you are losing it, what
would you say to apologize?

P :+

R :+

D :+
 100
90
80
70
60
Column1
50
40 Positive Face
30
20
10
0
Male Female

Finding Male Female

using positive face politeness
56% 48%
strategies in apologizing.

using negative face politeness

44% 52%
strategies in apologizing.

1.5.2 Discussion

1. What politeness strategies are used by male?

2. What politeness strategies are used by female?

To answer our research questions above, we can conclude that :

1. Males are more using positive face when they are expressing apologize
than females.
 2. Females are more using negative face when they are expressing
apologize than males.

1.6 References

http://www.glottopedia.org/index.php/Positive_and_negative_face

http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5608e/y5608e01.htm

http://www.academia.edu/5612569/JURNAL_HELMIE_1

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-politeness-why-should-we-polite-
susan-hursey

https://www.universalclass.com/articles/business/communication/studies/p
oliteness-theory.htm