An analysis of the functions of tag questions in female and male speech in the tv series “gilmore girls” (A sociolinguistics study)

Oleh :
Bondan Pramusinta - C0300020 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

An Analysis of the Functions of Tag Questions in Female and Male Speech in the TV Series Gilmore Girls ABSTRACT 2006. This research has been conducted to figure out the functions of tag questions in female and male speech in the TV series GILMORE GIRLS and to describe the contexts of situation when the tag questions occur. This research is a descriptive qualitative research and it employs a purposive sampling technique. The data are all dialogues containing formal tag questions in female and male speech. The samples are the dialogues containing formal tag questions uttered by female and male speakers age 30’s and 40’s. Holmes’ classification of tag questions is used to classify the functions of tag questions in the TV series. Then, Hymes’ SPEAKING formula and Holmes’ social dimensions of communication are used as the guiding theories to find out the relation between the use of each function of tag questions and its context of situation. The results of the data analysis can be explained as follows: First, there are four functions of tag questions in female and male speech in the TV series GILMORE GIRLS i.e. epistemic modal/uncertainty, facilitative, softeners, and challenging tag questions. The findings of this research are different from Holmes’ findings. It is found that female speakers use more epistemic modal and softeners tag questions than use facilitative tag questions in their speech. In contrast, male speakers use more softeners tag questions than use epistemic modal tag questions in their speech. Furthermore, female speakers use more challenging tag question than male speakers. Second, the results of this research support Hymes’ SPEAKING formula. The use of each function of tag questions in female and male speech is influenced by the context of situation, such as the situation, the participants including their relationship and social status, the purpose of the conversation, the topic of the conversation, the way the speaker delivers the tag questions, the norms of the interaction, and the way the participants construct the conversation. The results of this research is expected to provide an additional view and information of the functions of tag questions for the students, lecturers, and other researchers who are interested in the field of tag questions study