POLITENESS STRATEGIES COMMONLY USED BY

THE EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS

Prepared by
Jimenez, Bernard B.
Zuñiga, Zarah Cecilia S.

Summitted to
Proffesor Joventina Madriaga
Professor, IE Faculty

In partial fulfillment in the requirements for the course

ENG14N Introduction to Stylistics

at the

Far Easter University – Institute of Education

Nicanor Reyes Street, Sampaloc, Manila
I. Introduction

Whenever we are in a situation of any type of communication, there will

always be a discourse which the speakers and listeners are gathering to
participate in a said communication sphere. An interactive communication
needs polite exchanges of linguistic competence in order to save the face of
who or she is talking to thus that’s not the usual case as it also mean of
mitigating someone faces triggering face threatening acts (FTA) toward the
listener – Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson (1987), Politeness theory
refers for the redressing of affronts to a person’s ‘face’ by face – threatening
acts – F. William. He also defined it as the battery of social skills whose goal is
to ensure everyone feels affirmed in a “social interaction”, as they give
importance about saving “public image” characterizing the positive and
negative faces minimizing damages from both speakers and listeners.1

There are four politeness strategies that were formulated to save the
hearer’s positive face. Bald – On – Record, it usually does not attempt to
minimize the threat to the hearer’s face. 2 Positive Politeness, it seeks to
establish a positive relationship between parties; respect a person’s need to be
liked and appreciated.2 Negative Politeness, make request less infringing and
respect a person’s right to act freely. 2 Off – Record (Indirect), it uses indirect
language and remove the speaker from the potential of being imposed. 2

II. Methodology

Two minutes conversations from two different scenarios were recorded.

First audio recording was conducted during a discussion between employees
while they are eating lunch in the food court.
The persons that involved in the aforementioned conversation are the
following: Joel and Zarah both Integrity Analyst with the same level of position.
 Glen, is an Intelligence Officer in their department, Karlo is the Integrity
Manager of Manila office while Ayessa is a Team Assistant.

The second audio recording was conducted when the proponent was fishing
together with his relatives in the province. It was all-boys conversation
composing of family relatives.

Due to Data Privacy Act that is recently implemented in the Philippines,

proponents need to asked a permission to the participants of the two different
conversation before it was recorded.

All the data that have been recorded were carefully transcribed and
classified according to the types of Politeness strategies. The analysis would
be done after critically interpreting the answer from the chosen utterance during
the recording.

III. Analysis

A. Middle – aged employees while eating lunch in the food court

 Ayessa (35 yrs. old, Team Assistant): Sayo yan Za?

Zarah (28 yrs. old, Integrity Analyst): Oo, grabe.
Off – Record (Indirect) is the politeness strategy used in the
utterance. The speaker intends to say that “ang takaw mo naman”.
However, it was indirectly said by simply asking the question, “Sayo
yan Za?” The utterance is a Face Threatening Act (FTA) which
threatens the positive face of the receiver because based on the
receiver’s facial reaction and tone of her voice while she’s answering
the question of her officemate it shows that she was pissed off and
she was disappointed that she was not appreciated of having lots of
food during lunch time.
 Glen (38 yrs. old, Intelligence): Oy! Diet ka?! HAHAHAHA
Zarah (28 yrs. old, Integrity Analyst): Di, gusto niyo ulam.
Off – Record (Indirect) is the politeness strategy used in the
utterance. Glen, indirectly stating that she should share her foods to
them. Rather than that, he also intends to say “ang takaw mo
naman”. The utterance is a Face Threatening Act (FTA) which
threatens the negative face, the receivers, understands what the
implicature of the speaker’s statement. Then, she was forced to
share her food even she really doesn’t like too (infelicitous statement
was made). The speaker imposing the receiver to do what she
doesn’t what to – “share her food”. This is the reason why the
receivers negative face was threatens.

 Joel (35 yrs. old, Integrity Analyst): Penge nito.

Bald-On-Record – he doesn’t ask for permission. Instead, the
speaker only informs the receiver.
Negative Face – he did not give her a chance to make a decision
instead she was force to do certain things which she really doesn’t
want too.

 Glen to Joel: Gusto mong umorder?

Positive Politeness – Glen asked Joel politely if he wants to order
some foods. Speak gave the receiver a chance to decide
NON-FTA – Since Glen gave Joel a chance to decide it shows that
he shows some respect, and this will not be going to affect any
aspect of the face.
  Ayessa (35 yrs. old, Team Assistant): Nicky! Ang konti lang ng kanin
eh.
Karlo (Manager, Integrity Services): Tang ina nito! Dun ka
magreklamo kay ate!
Bald-On-Record – Ayessa, directly saying to her officemate Nicky
that the rice he bought was not enough for them. She did not hesitate
to complain. However, that decision may affects Nicky’s Positive
face since he was not appreciated even though he already
volunteered to buy rice for both of them.
Everyone in the table was distracted to Ayessa’s attitude (continuous
complaining), then their manager voice out and did not hesitate to
express his feelings by using “Tang ina”. Bald-On-Record - These
words made Ayessa to keep quite and stop complaining. It was also
affecting the Negative face of Ayessa since their manager was
imposing her to do what he doesn’t want to – go to the vendor (ate)
and complain about the rice servings.

B. Fishing with Relatives

 Kunin mo kasi yung bato sa loob!

Bald-On-Record – Directly stating the order and seems it is a must
to follow his directives. Sense of urgency and Task-Oriented.
Negative Face – Imposing others to do something which may affects
to their Negative Face. The receiver may not like to do what the
speaker was instructing.

 Alam ko ayaw mo mabasa, pero baka gusto mo bumaba para kung

yung isda?
Negative Politeness –Acknowledging the fact that he doesn’t want
to get wet. Then, I politely ask a favor from him get the fish inside the
fishnet.
 Negative Face – Although, the speaker is politely showing respect
to the receiver still he is imposing him to do go down and get the fish
even he doesn’t like to get wet

 Picture naman po, isa lang.

Positive Politeness – Asking a favor in a nice way.
NON-FTA – we both like to take pictures so there is no FTA in this
situation

 Ang pangit ng isdang ‘to.

Bald-On-Record – Quick sharing of information and did not hesitate
to say the truth that the fish is ugly
Positive Face – that may affect to the positive face of the listeners.
Although, the speaker is referring to the fish and not to his cousins
or brothers. Still, it should be noted that the others may still
appreciate the physical appearance of the fish and may threatens
their positive face.

IV. Discussions

A. Middle – aged employees while eating lunch in the food court

POLITENESS
OFFICESMATES
STRATEGIES
Bald – On – Records 3 50%
Positive Politeness 1 17%
Negative Politeness 0 0%
Off – Record
2 33%
(Indirect)
 Closeness may serve as the reason why this group of employees did not
hesitate to become straight forward and say whatever they want, and they are
being straight forward to one another. They can also express their selves freely
without thinking the impact of the words or statement being thrown to one another.
Bald-On strategy is also being use while they are inside the office so that the work
pressure or stress will be lessen. They are just being honest with each other and
it is not hard for them to correct if ever they made mistake/s. As we also see the
position of each employee, we can notice that the straightest forward is their
manager. Although he had the highest employee rank in their group, he levels his
attitude to them specially when they are just taking their lunch together. Being cool
and acting one of the groups is his strategy to get the trust and loyalty of his
employees or personnel and again to manage the work stress in their office. Why
is he doing that? As what was discussed before in their office, their work is already
stressful – all the reports and deadlines, including the daily analysis, checking and
investigating are too stressful to work in serious environment outside can judge
them. Having their own room in their office also help him to implement this kind of
strategy because they have their privacy and no one. Gender equality may also
serve as the reason why Bald-On-Record is the common politeness strategy use
in their group.

Off-Record (Indirect) is the second politeness strategy use in their group.

This was use when they intend to tease or make fun each other. Although at some
point they become harsh to each other, and a soft-hearted person/s may not able
to cope his self to this kind of group, still they give a respect to each other and did
not forget to use the positive politeness strategy as they do respect each other’s
decision.
 B. Fishing with Relatives

POLITENESS
RELATIVES
STRATEGIES
Bald – On – Records 2 50%
Positive Politeness 1 25%
Negative Politeness 1 25%
Off – Record (Indirect) 0

Bald-On-Record Strategy:

Given in the statements, Bald-On strategy was used a lot in both

different scenarios. I think the close reason behind that is due to closeness
of the interlocutors during the scene. The proximity or the degree of
differences really matters a lot as it stated directly the intention of the
utterance which is like an order, a state of urgency or quick sharing of
information. It doesn’t have also the intention of saving the faces of his
receiver by saying direct and vulgar words.

Positive Politeness Strategy:

It is quite used also often during the conversation which came to be

the second most strategy imposes by the people. This strategy came to be
the humblest as it tranquilized the feelings and interest of the receivers. It
doesn’t impose force labor or work while working on necessity.

Negative Politeness Strategy:

It was used once in 1 of our examples yet it was clear as the

utterance itself is really contrasting in both contexts. This strategy is the
combination of being respectful yet direct. The strategy uses opposing
 statements to nullify the intention of the speaker to save the face of his
receiver.

Off-record (indirect):

It was also used once in our examples and it was used completely to
remove the true intention of the speaker. It doesn’t emphasize clearly the
message but implies hidden agenda that may be concluded by the receiver
in many ways. It may sound funny like a joke but the true meaning while
being spoken is clearly concealed.

V. Result

In the analysis, it was shown 2 of the strategies (Bald-On and Positive

Politeness) were used a lot in two different scenarios. The proximity of the
people suggests that language varied according to their level. Some may find
it disrespecting but there’s always an underlying meaning from each message.
It is important for every interlocutor to think towards other people feelings and
faces. In addition to that, the other two strategies Negative Politeness and Off-
record were only used once as people confident in the closeness of themselves
doesn’t have to hide their true intention. Some people may use it casually to
save other faces or their own public image but the most common in these two
strategies are those sarcastic statements and jokes. This interpretation may
vary according differently to the perspective of another viewer. Some may think
differently because they can get the message across easily whether
intentionally hidden or not or maybe they’re just conscious and not ignorant of
these strategies.

References:

1 https://www.slideshare.net/indralovemaisha/pragmatic-politeness?next_slideshow=1

2 https://www.slideshare.net/TitinRohayati/politeness-30471331?next_slideshow=2