The analysis of compliment expressions and their response in the film entitled bridesmaids: a pragmatics approach

Oleh :
Yossy Erviana - C0309069 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

This research is intended to analyze the use of compliment expressions in the film entitled Bridesmaids using Wolfson’s classification on types of topics of compliments, Wolfson’s classification of compliment functions, the summary of functions of compliment by Noriko Ishihara, and Herbert’s theory of compliment’s responses. The objectives of the research are: 1. To find out the types of compliment’s topics employed by the characters in the film entitled Bridesmaids. 2. To find out the functions of each type of compliment’s topics in the film entitled Bridesmaids. 3. To explain the compliment’s responses applied by the addressees in the film entitled Bridesmaids. The approach employed in the research is Pragmatics. The descriptive qualitative research and a total sampling technique are used in this research. The source of the data in this research is an American film entitled Bridesmaids. The data are the direct (face to face communication) compliment expressions and their response. The researcher takes all the dialogs containing direct compliments and their response expressed by the characters in the film Bridesmaids found in the data as the samples of the research. The results of the research are as follows. First, the characters of Bridesmaids employed all the types of topics of compliment based on Wolfson’s classification (personal appearance, possession, general ability and specific act ability). Second, all the compliments (personal appearance, possession, general ability and specific act ability) have many functions suitable with one of six Noriko Ishihara’s summary of the functions of compliment (to express admiration or approval of someone‘s work/appearance/taste), and all of Wolfson’s classification of the compliment functions. Third, the researcher uses Herbert’s classification of compliment responses to analyze the response of compliment employed by the character in the film entitled Bridesmaids. The compliment responses in the data use nine of twelve Herbert’s theory of compliment responses (except reassignment, request interpretation and qualification). This research is intended to bring benefit for students and other researchers who are interested in observing compliment expressions in any theories. This research can be used as reference or to give additional information about the use of compliment expressions in the application of Wolfson’s classification on types of topics of compliments, the functions of each compliment based on Wolfson’s classification of compliment functions and Noriko Ishihara’s summary of compliment functions and the responses of compliment based on Herbert’s theory of compliment’s response.