Politeness in Request Strategies Used by Male and Female EFL Learners

Abstract

This research aims to investigate following questions; (1) to identify the types of request strategies used by male and female EFL learners, (2) to identify the types of politeness strategies used by male and female EFL learners, (3) to describe the similarities and the differences of the request strategies used by male and female EFL learners, (4) to define the factors contribute in choosing the politeness strategies of request used by male and female EFL learners.

This research was a qualitative case study focuses on single case, request strategies phenomenon. Data were obtained through Discourse Completion Test (DCT) consisted of nine request strategies. Forty eleventh graders of MAN 1 Sragen were selected as participants. The data were analyzed by determining the request strategies based on Trosborgs theory (1995), politeness strategies based on Brown and Levinsons theory (1989), and factors contribute in choosing politeness based on Leechs theory (2014).

Results showed, there were four types of request strategies conducted by male and female learners; indirect request, hearer oriented conditions, speaker oriented conditions, and direct request. There were four types of politeness strategies conducted by male and female learners; bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, off record. In performing request strategy, male and female learners tended to be not imposing the request, the factors in choosing politeness depended on level of intimacy (close, familiar, unfamiliar) instead of gender. The data showed, gender does not give much impact on influencing the chosen of politeness strategy.