Author/Authors :
Hamzah، Zaitul Azma Zainon نويسنده Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi, Universiti Putra Malaysia , , Mat Hassan، Ahmad Fuad نويسنده Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi, Universiti Putra Malaysia , , Md Adama، Mohd Nur Hafizudin نويسنده Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi, Universiti Putra Malaysia ,
Abstract :
Politeness refers to the use of language that is refined, courteous and gentle so as not to offend listeners. However, school-going youths are more likely to use a strategy of impoliteness in their conversation. This article seeks to identify and analyse the use of words and expressions by teenagers at secondary school using Pragmatic Theory. A total of 154 teenagers were selected from six secondary schools as a samples for this study. Data was obtained through interviews and was analysed using Leech’s Politeness Principle (1983). The findings showed that teenagers most frequently used the tact Maxim and the modesty Maxim in their conversations. The words most often used to demonstrate the value of manners were the word “boleh”, “ingin”, “nak” and “mahu”. Teenagers also said “maaf” or “sorry” as a strategy to be polite to their audience. The use of the word “hi” and of blunt speech were found to have violated Leech’s Politeness Principle.