POLITENESS IN TOURISM-SERVICE REGISTER IN CENTRAL JAVA: A SOCIOPRAGMATIC STUDY

• Main Authors: , BUDI PURNOMO, , Dr. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U.
• Format: Theses and Dissertations NonPeerReviewed
• Published: [Yogyakarta] : Universitas Gadjah Mada 2011
• Subjects: ETD
• Online Access: https://repository.ugm.ac.id/90578/; http://etd.ugm.ac.id/index.php?mod=penelitian_detail&sub=PenelitianDetail&act=view&typ=html&buku_id=52588
• Institution: Universitas Gadjah Mada

This research is intended to investigate the use of politeness expressions in tourism-service register in Central Java. This qualitative and quantitative study (mixed methods research) is presented within the framework of sociopragmatics which can be broadly defined as the study of speech acts and the contexts in which they are performed with social and pragmatic approaches. The goal of this study is to describe and explain politeness markers, principles, strategies, norms, levels and cross-cultural perspectives on politeness in tourism-service register used by tourism service providers in Central Java. To achieve the goal above, data on utterances expressing tourism-service register were collected through observation and field notes, recordings, questionnaires, in-depth interviewing and document analysis. The data in the forms of conversation between tourism service providers and tourists were obtained from these activities: (1) receiving reservations, (2) meeting tourists at the airport/railway station, (3) providing information upon arrival on the way to the hotel, (4) helping tourists with their registration, (5) handling telephone enquiries, (6) giving directions, (7) giving information about art performances and entertainment, (8) beginning a tour and describing the itinerary, (9) describing points of interest on the tour route, (10) serving meals at restaurants, (11) describing processes used in making art objects, (12) bargaining for souvenir prices and (13) describing tourist sites. Furthermore, the data were analysed by using the parameter of politeness markers (Spencer-Oatey, 2008), politeness principles (Leech, 1983), politeness strategies (Brown & Levinson, 1987) which come from Western nuanced politeness theories, unggah-ungguh �politeness norms� (Poedjosoedarmo, 2009) which is derived from Javanese nuanced politeness theory, politeness levels based on the tourists� perceptions and cross-cultural perspectives on politeness (Chan, 1992a). The findings of this research can be summarised as follows: Firstly, the findings show that tourism service providers in Central Java use various politeness markers in tourism-service register to serve their tourists on one occasion but violate them on another occasion. The politeness markers they use from the most to the least frequency are: (1) politeness markers to greet and offer assistance, (2) politeness markers to agree, (3) politeness markers to apologise, (4) politeness markers to express gratitude, (5) politeness markers to request, (6) politeness markers to give compliments, (7) politeness markers to give notice, (8) politeness markers to give alternative suggestions, (9) politeness markers to refuse and (10) politeness markers to command. The absence of politeness markers from the most to the least frequency happen in: (1) commanding, (2) refusing, (3) agreeing, (4) giving notice, (5) requesting, (6) giving compliments, (7) giving alternative suggestions, (8) apologising, (9) expressing gratitude and (10) greeting and offering assistance. Secondly, tourism service providers in Central Java use typical nonverbal politeness markers in tourism-service register to serve their tourists. The nonverbal politeness markers they use from the most to the least frequency are: (1) smiling