Politeness Strategies in Criticisms Used by The Overseas Students of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS)

Abstract

This research is aimed to (1) classify the strategies of politeness used by the overseas students of UMS in criticizing and (2) describe how power and distance influence the overseas students of UMS in using politeness in criticism strategies. There are 25 data which were collected through DCT. The data validity is taken through expert judgement. The results of this research shows that (1) the highest percentage belongs to positive politeness strategy with 87 times used (39%), followed by bald on record by 60 times used (27%) and 24% belongs to negative politeness with 55 times used. Off record becomes the least percentage. (2) there are patterns of how distance and power influence the overseas students' decision in choosing politeness strategies. The speakers who are close-higher, close-lower, familiar-lower, and unfamiliar lower toward the hearers tend to use positive politeness. Those who are close-equal, familiar-equal, and unfamiliar-higher to hearers tend to use negative politeness. Finally, those who are familiar-higher and unfamiliar-equal toward the hearers tend to use bald on record strategy.