Compliments in the film entitled Sweet November (a socio-pragmatics approach)

Oleh :
Surani - C1306530 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

ABSTRACT 2008. This research focuses on the compliments used by the characters in the film entitled Sweet November. This research is conducted to describe the types of topics of compliment employed by the characters in the film entitled Sweet November, the functions of each type of topics of compliment, and also the compliment responses expressed by the addressees in the film. This research is a descriptive qualitative research. This research uses a socio-pragmatics approach. The sampling technique used in this research is purposive sampling. All conversations containing compliments and compliment reponses are taken as data. Based on the data analysis, the researcher draws conclusions as follows: There are four types of topics of compliment employed by the characters in the film entitled Sweet November, namely: personal appearance, possession, general ability, and specific-act ability. There are six functions of compliment employed by the characters in the film entitled Sweet November, namely: to affirm solidarity, to create or maintain rapport, to express admiration or approval, to encourage, to express positive evaluation, and to strengthen or to replace other speech act formulas. Each type of topic of compliment has its own function which is appropriate with its context. Most of the addressees in the film entitled Sweet November respond to the compliments by employing appreciation token. The appreciation token includes verbal and nonverbal acceptance. In verbal acceptance, the addressees deliver the word thanks to respond to the speaker’s compliment. Meanwhile, the addressees respond to the compliment by smiling in the non-verbal acceptance. Other compliment responses used by the addressees are comment acceptance, question, and no acknowledgement. In the comment acceptance, the addressees accept the compliment and offer a relevant comment on the compliment. Meanwhile, the addressees respond to the compliment in the form of question to confirm about the topic complimented. In no acknowledgement, the addressees give no indication of having heard the compliment, shift the topic, and even give no response. Based on the conclusions above, the researcher hopes that this research gives a contribution to the students in studying the speech act of compliments. There are still many cases on the study of compliments. It is suggested to other researchers who are interested in Socio-Pragmatics study to conduct a further research on compliments depicted in other movies or other sources such as novel and drama.