An Analysis of Politeness Strategies Used by the Main Character in Military Environment

Abstract

This study analyzed the types of politeness strategies based on Brown and Levinson's (1988) theory used by the main character, Ender Wiggin. The researcher interprets and identifies utterances containing politeness to find out how these strategies can be used in a military environment with high authority using qualitative descriptive methods. The results of this study indicate that there are four types of politeness strategies such as bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, and off record used by Ender Wiggin in the film. The bald on record strategy appears most dominantly, depicting clear and firm communication in a military environment. Positive and negative politeness strategies are used to maintain harmony between characters so they can work together, foster empathy and to show respect for the highest authority, especially when Ender develops his leadership skills. Meanwhile, off record strategies appear less frequently but can reflect the emotional state of the characters in the film indirectly. Overall, this study in analyzing politeness strategies can show that these strategies not only function as linguistic tools, but can also be used to develop leadership character, respect, power relations, and communication in leadership.