Language Politeness between Teachers and Students in Learning

Process at SMP 1 Ternate City

Suhardi Kasim and Anwar Ismail

Universitas Khairun, Ternate, Indonesia

Keywords: Politeness, Language, Learning.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to identify the types of speech (utterances) that are not polite spoken by the

Indonesian teachers and students in the learning process and identify the types of politeness maxims that are

violated by the teacher and students in the learning process at SMP Negeri 1 Kota Ternate, and use

politeness scale approach to determine the types of polite speech. The method used in this research is

descriptive qualitative method. This study uses three data collection techniques, namely; 1) observation

technique. 2) taking note techniques. 3) record technique. The results of the study show that; six (6) the

maxim of politeness conveyed by Leech, all maxims are violated by the teacher and students in the learning

process in the class. Maxim which is often violated is the maxim of approbation and the least violated is

maxim of compatibility / agreement. Violations of language politeness maxims are violated more by

teachers than students. All violations of these maxims are carried out in the learning process in the

classroom. The politeness scale is a measure to determine the level of politeness in a speech. The politeness

scale is used as a measure of politeness in speaking in a context adapted to the context of speech.

1 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of communication is to establish social

relations using several strategies. Thus, after the

communication process is completed between the

speaker and the interlocutor have a deep impression,

for example: the impression of being sympathetic,

polite, friendly, and polite.

Creating a communication by using polite

language in an educational environment is very

important because school is a place where there are

various kinds of learning activities between teachers

and students, so in situations like this there are

various kinds of utterances that contain the value of

politeness and courtesy occur both inside and

outside the classroom conducted by teachers and

students in the learning process.

In politeness, there is a principle of politeness

that is used by the principle of politeness known as

the maxims of politeness. The purpose of this study;

(1) types of language politeness maxims used, (2)

types of violations of language politeness maxims

that are violated by teachers and students in the

learning process.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Principles of Politeness

In politeness of language, Leech’s (1993) politeness

of language theory is based on the principle of

politeness, which is described to be six maxims

(provisions, teachings); (1) Maximizing wisdom or

wisdom outlines that each participant must minimize

the loss of others, or maximize profits for others. (2)

the maxim of acceptance requires each participant to

maximize losses for themselves and minimize self-

profit. (3) the mercy maxim requires each participant

to maximize respect for others and minimize

disrespect to others. (4) the maxim of humility

requires each participant to maximize self-respect,

and minimize respect for oneself. (5) the maximal

match requires that each speaker and opponent to

speak maximize the agreement between them; and

minimize disagreements between them. (6) the

maxim of conclusions requires all participants to

maximize their sense of love, and minimize the

sense of antipathy towards their opponents. When

116

Kasim, S. and Ismail, A.

Language Politeness between Teachers and Students in Learning Process at SMP 1 Ternate City.

DOI: 10.5220/0008898001160119

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Teaching and Learning (ICTL 2018), pages 116-119

ISBN: 978-989-758-439-8

opponents say they have good luck or happiness, the

speaker is obliged to give congratulations. If the

opponent says he has a problem or disaster the

speaker should properly convey grief or condolences

as a sign of sympathy.

2.2 Level Politeness

Robin Lakoff (1973) states that there are three

conditions for fulfilling their obligation in speaking;

(1) the formality scale states that in order for the

participants of speech (speakers and opponents to

speak) to feel comfortable in speaking activities,

then the utterances used should not be forced and

should not seem arrogant. In the discussion, each

participant must maintain each other's formalities

and maintain a reasonable and natural distance

between one another. (2) the scale of uncertainty

also called the optionally scale shows that speakers

and opponents of speech can feel comfortable with

each other in speaking, so the choices in speaking

must be given by both parties. We must not be

overly tense or too rigid in speaking activities

because it will be deemed not polite (3) the scale of

volunteerism shows that in order to be polite, we

must always be friendly and must always maintain

friendship between speakers and opponents of

speech. Speakers must always assume that the

opponent said is a friend, and vice versa. This sense

of friendship is one of the prerequisites for achieving

politeness.

3 RESEARCH METHODS

This research method is a descriptive qualitative

method. The type of research data consists of three,

namely (1) taking note, (2) data records, and (3)

documentation. This study uses three data collection

techniques, namely; (1) observation (observation)

technique, (2) taking note techniques, and (3) record

technique.

The data analysis technique used in this study is

the Miles and Huberman models. According to

Miles and Huberman in Ridwan (2010: 246) there

are three activities in data analysis, namely; data

reduction (data reduction), data display (data

presentation) and conclusion drawing / verification

(concluding / verifying data).

4 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Maxim of Tact / Wisdom

Speech data 1. The Violation of Tact/Wisdom

Maxim

Teacher (1) : Before learning begins, I ask

assignments are all collected now.

Student A (2) : Sorry sir, I forgot to take the

assignment.

Teacher (3) : Where is your assignment?

Student B (4) : I have made it but it hasn't finished,

sir.

Teacher (5) : You both came out!!

Speech (5) You both come out on top to show

impoliteness that is done by the speaker (teacher) to

the addressee (student). This speech is very

detrimental to students because they are not allowed

to take part in learning. This is a violation of the

maxim of wisdom / wisdom carried out by the

teacher in this discussion.

Speech data 2. The Level of Politeness

Teacher (1) : Before learning begins, I ask

assignments are all collected now.

Student A (2) : Sorry sir, I forgot to take the

assignment.

Teacher (3) : Where is your assignment?

Student B (4) : I have made it but it is not finished,

sir.

Teacher (5) : Both of you are given the

opportunity to get together tomorrow.

Speech (5) Both of you are given the opportunity to

gather tomorrow's assignments which are told by the

teacher to be polite and not detrimental to students,

because students are still given the opportunity to

gather assignments and be able to attend learning.

Students feel cared for and appreciated by the

teacher. So thus, this utterance does not violate the

maxim of wisdom / wisdom.

4.2 Maxim of Acceptance / Generosity

Maxim

Analysis of speech data (6) and (7) below is speech

data which is a form of violation of the maxim of

acceptance / generosity carried out by the teacher

towards students in the learning process in the

classroom.

Language Politeness between Teachers and Students in Learning Process at SMP 1 Ternate City

117

Speech data 1. The Violations of acceptance/

Generosity Maxim

Teacher (6) : School is a place of learning, not a

place to be stylish.

Teacher (7) : Come to school in clothes neat and

active learning while on school.

Student (8) : Yes, sir.

Speech (6) school is a place of learning, not a place

for style, in sentences or phrases not a place for style

is a speech that contains the value of impoliteness,

because speakers (teachers) make the speaker

(students) feel afraid and not confident. This is very

detrimental to students. So this speech is a form of

violation of the maxim of acceptance / generosity.

The level of politeness analysis in speech data (6)

and (7) below is an advanced analysis of the same

speech data in the analysis of violations of

acceptance / generosity maxims analyzed above.

Speech data 2. The Level of Politeness

Teacher (6) : School is a place of learning and

self-development.

Teacher (7) : So please, if you come to the school

wear clothes neat and always study

hard.

Student (8) : Yes, sir.

Speech (6) School is a place for learning and

development provided (7) So please, if you come to

school, wear neat clothes and always study hard,

these speeches become more polite because they

benefit students. These utterances students have

confidence and do not feel afraid of the teacher in

the learning process in the classroom. This is desired

by the maxim of acceptance / generosity, that is,

each participant of the meeting to maximize losses

for themselves and minimize their own profit.

4.3 Maxim of Approbation

Speech data 1. The Violations of Approbation

Maxim

Teacher (9) : Have questions?

Student A (10) : There is a mother, what is the

symbol difference and

emblem?

Teacher (11) : Anyone want to answer?

Student B (12) : I tried to answer...

Teacher (13) : False. Any other?

Student C (14) : In my opinion...

Teacher (15) : Still wrong.

Speech (13) Wrong. There are others and utterances

(15) Still wrong to be disrespectful and to violate the

maxim of mercy. Both utterances do not respect or

respect students. The wrong word in the above

speech should not be uttered by a teacher to

students, because the impression is not polite. The

level of politeness analysis in speech data (13) and

(15) below aims to classify the level of politeness in

speaking between teacher and student in the learning

process in the classroom.

Speech data 2. The Level of Politeness

Teacher (9) : Have questions?

Student A (10) : There is a mother, what is the

symbol difference and emblem?

Teacher (11) : Anyone want to answer?

Student B (12) : I tried to answer…

Teacher (13) : Good. Any other?

Student C (14) : In my opinion…

Teacher (15) : It's correct, but it's still lacking.

Good words in speech (13) and phrases in speech

(15) have clearly given politeness and positive

consequences for students. They feel they are not

divided but are valued and cared for by the teacher

even though their answers are wrong.

4.4 Maxim of Modesty

Speech data 1. The Violations of Modesty Maxim

Student A (16) : I invite the speaker to explain

our group material.

Student B (17) : I am not talking at length and

do not mean to patronize friends

all friends. I just went straight...

Teacher (18) : Please ask the group...

(19) : Why keep quiet.

(20) : Don't be a panako (cowardly)

like that!

Speech (20) Don't be a panako (cowardly) like that!

is a speech that does not have politeness value, the

phrase becomes panako (being cowardly) is a phrase

that does not motivate students, on the contrary it

makes students lose motivation. This speech is a

form of violation of the maxim of modesty.

Speech data 2. The Level of Politeness

Student A (16) : I invite the speaker to

explain our group material.

Student B (17) : I am not talking at length and

do not mean to patronize friends

all friends. I just...

Teacher (18) : Thank you for the presentation,

please ask the group...

Speech (18) Thank you for the presentation, please

ask the group ... to be polite, students are highly

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valued and cared for by the teacher. Motivate

students in the learning process. This speech fulfills

the principle of modesty, maxim of humility /

simplicity, so that no violation occurs in this maxim.

4.5 Maxim of Agreement

Speech data 1. The Violations of compatibility /

agreement

Maxim

Student A (19) : Thank you for the opportunity

given to us for present our

group assignments.

Student B (20) : Are there any questions?

Teacher (30) : Present your group not

according to topic...

Speech (30) Your group's presentation not on the

topic is polite speech. Phrases are not as synoptic as

the teacher giving less attention and appreciation to

students. They feel their opinions are undervalued

by the teacher. Although the results of their

assignments are not as expected, it is fitting for the

teacher to respect and respect the work of the

students by telling polite speech so that students still

have motivation in learning.

Speech data 2. The Level of Politeness

Student A (19) : Thank you for the opportunity

given to us for present our group

assignments.

Student B (20) : Are there any questions?

Teacher (30) : Thank you for the group

presentation.

This second speech (30) shows the value of

politeness and the awarding of teachers to students,

if this happens then it highly upholds the principle of

maxim of agreement. A very polite “thank you”

phrase if it is told by the teacher to students, students

will feel respected and valued by the teacher.

4.6 Maxim of Sympathy

Speech data 1. The Violations of Sympathy Maxim

Student (31) : Faldi is sick, mom.

Teacher (32) : If you are sick, you must have a

permit.

(33) : Don't make it sick as an excuse.

Seeing the example of speech (32) If there is

sickness, there must be a permit and utterance (33)

Don't make sickness as an excuse, show

impoliteness in the speeches because students feel

less attention is respected and there is no sympathy

from the teacher. Obviously this is a violation of the

maxim of confusion because it does not obey the

maximal principle described above.

Speech data 1. The Level of Politeness

Student (31) : Faldi is sick, mother.

Teacher (32) : May he get well soon.

(33) : Please make a permit if you are

sick.

Compare speech (31) and (32) there are differences,

the second recitation shows the politeness spoken by

the teacher. The teacher gives sympathy to students.

The above utterances are polite so they do not

violate the maxim of sympathy.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study can be summarized as

follows.

1) Violations of language politeness maxims are

violated by teachers than students. All violations of

these maxims are carried out in the learning process

in the classroom.

2) The scale of politeness is used as a measure of

politeness in speaking in a context adapted to the

context of speech itself.

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