Politeness Strategies in Directive Speech Acts: A Pragmatic Analysis of the Main Characters in the Movie Ghosbusters ; Frozen Empire (2024)

Abstract

This study analyzes the use of politeness strategies in directive speech acts by the main characters in the film Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Directive speech acts such as commands, requests, prohibitions, warnings, and suggestions are used to influence the actions of others, regulate cooperation within a team, and maintain social rules. This study applies descriptive qualitative methods using the theory proposed by Searle (1979) regarding directive speech acts and Brown & Levinson (1987) regarding politeness strategies to examine the interactions of the main characters: Callie, Phoebe, Gary, and Trevor. The analysis shows that the most dominant type of directive speech act is commands. In urgent situations that require a quick response and emphasize clarity, commands are generally conveyed using the bald on record strategy. Meanwhile, the use of negative and positive politeness strategies is generally used in requests and suggestions to maintain respect and build cooperation. In addition, warnings and prohibitions usually use the bald on record strategy so that the speaker gets a quick response and the listener can easily understand what the speaker is saying. Meanwhile, the off record strategy is not found, because the film Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has an action context that faces many urgent language situations that require quick responses. These findings emphasize how politeness strategies influence the way directives are conveyed, create cooperation, balance authority, and provide emotional support to the characters.