Politeness Strategies Between Asian Students and an Indonesian Teacher in English-as-a-Foreign Language Interactions
Abstract
The use of politeness by teachers and students in classroom interactions is one of the pragmatics subjects that have drawn a lot of attention. Although considered under-researched, politeness remains one of the most interesting topics, including in Indonesia. This study investigates the politeness strategies used by students from different countries during the learning process with a native Indonesian tutor. A mixed-method approach was used: qualitative method mainly described the politeness strategies, meanwhile a quantitative approach was used to determine the distribution of each type of strategy. The participant was one English teacher, an Indonesian native speaker, and nine students from three different countries, i.e., China, India, and Indonesia. Data collection was conducted using video recordings, followed by a structured process of analysis which involved transcription of the recorded interactions, coding key linguistic and behavioral elements, classifying them based on identified themes, and conducting a detailed analysis. The findings showed that only three politeness strategies were employed within the teacher-student interaction, i.e., Bald on Record, Positive Politeness, and Negative Politeness. Meanwhile, the Off-Record strategy was not used, possibly due to the need for direct and clear communication in the classroom setting, where avoiding ambiguity is crucial for effective instruction and language learning. The study suggests that teachers and students can use the study's findings as a reference to enhance their interactions.
References
Adel, S. M. R., Davoudi, M., & Ramezanzadeh, A. (2016). A qualitative study of politeness strategies used by Iranian EFL learners in a class blog. Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research, 4(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.30466/ijltr.2016.20377
Aeni, T. ’. (2019). Politeness Strategy Used by Lecturer in Teaching Process. IDEAS Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 7(2), 212–220.
Anggraini, D., Rafiola, R. H., Sari, V. N., & Andriani, D. (2022). The Implication of Teachers’ Politeness Strategy In Teaching on Higher Institution. Jurnal Ilmiah Langue and Parole, 6(1), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.36057/jilp.v6i1.551
Arif, N., Iskandar, I., Muliati, A., & Patak, A. A. (2018). Male and female lecturers’ politeness strategies in EFL classroom. International Journal of Humanities and Innovation (IJHI), 1(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.33750/ijhi.v1i2.11
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/3587263
Erlinda, R. (2019). Positive Politeness Strategies in EFL Classroom Interaction. August, 378–989. https://doi.org/10.31227/osf.io/n69ps
Fitriyani, S., & Andriyanti, E. (2020). Teacher and Students’ Politeness Strategies in EFL Classroom Interactions. IJELTAL (Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics), 4(2), 259–273. https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v4i2.473
Geertz, C. (1976). The Religion of Java. In THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS. The University of Chicago Press.
Handayani, R., Rachmawati, & Arif, T. Z. Z. Al. (2022). POLITENESS STRATEGIES CONVEYED BY THE STUDENTS IN ONLINE DISCUSSIONS. Jambi-English Language Teaching Journal, 6(2), 74–87. https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/jelt/index%0Ae-ISSN:
Hastuti, D. M., & Wijayanto, A. (2020). Politeness Strategy by Indonesian EFL Teacher-Learners Classroom Interaction. Proceeding Aiselt (Annual International Seminar on English Language Teaching), 51–60. https://jurnal.untirta.ac.id/index.php/aiselt/article/view/11043/7073
Heriyawati, D. F., Siba, S. Y., & Sulistyo, T. (2019). LECTURERS’ POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN EFL CLASSROOM WITH MULTICULTURAL BACKGROUND. LITERA, 18(3), 447–464. https://synapse.koreamed.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/1006JKAN/jkan-37-44.pdf
Kasper, G., & Blum-Kulka, S. (1993). Interlanguage pragmatics. Oxford University Press.
Lestari, Yuni, I. G. A. A., Seken, Ketut, Putra, & Jaya, I. N. A. (2018). Politeness strategy preference of male and female teachers in classroom interaction during English classes. SHS Web of Conferences, 42(66), 1–5. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20184200066
Mahmud, M. (2019). The use of politeness strategies in the classroom context by English university students. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(3), 597–606. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i3.15258
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saladana, J. (2014). A Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (Issue 1). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Mulyono, H., Amalia, D. R., & Suryoputro, G. (2019). Politeness strategies in teacher-student whatsapp communication. A PASAA, 58(July-December), 295–318.
Nugrahanto, A. D., & Hartono, R. (2019). Politeness Strategies in Lecturer-Students Classroom Interaction at the Biology Class Sanata Dharma University. 443(Iset 2019), 727–731. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200620.148
Rahayuningsih, D., Saleh, M., & Fitriati, S. W. (2020). The Realization of Politeness Strategies in EFL Teacher-Students Classroom Interaction. English Education Journal, 10(1), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.15294/eej.v10i1.33822
Sembiring, E. M. B., Simanjuntak, F. M. P., Tarigan, K. J., & Silalahi, V. (2023). Politeness in the EFL classroom interaction: Strategies in avoiding face threatening act (FTA). Journal of Classroom Action Research, 1(2), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.52622/jcar.v1i2.73
Sembiring, E., & Sianturi, S. (2019). Politeness Strategies in EFL Classroom Context: Avoiding Future Conflict and Maintain the Harmony of Diversity. Journal of Ultimate Research and Trends in Education, 1(3), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.31849/utamax.v1i3.6257
Senowarsito. (2013). Politeness Startegies in teacher-student interaction in an EFL classroom context. TEFLIN Journal, 24(1), 82–96. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v24i1/82-96
Sudeni, L. M. S. (2022). an Analysis of Students-Educator’S Politeness Strategy Toward Online Communication in Efl Context. E-Link Journal, 9(1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.30736/ej.v9i1.608
Sudirman, A. M. (2018). the Application of Politeness Strategies Among Teacher and Students in Classroom Interaction At Sma 1 Pamboang, Majene. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 6(1), 26–43. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v6i1.16
Sunra, L., Nengsi, S. A., & Halim, A. (2022). Politeness Strategies used by the First Semester EFL Students in Online Classroom Interaction at UNISMUH Makassar. Celebes Journal of Language Studies, 2(1), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.51629/cjls.v2i1.85
Suwarni, A., & Bestari, A. (2022). The students’ talk on politeness and impoliteness interaction in classroom. Proceedings of the International Congress of Indonesian Linguistics Society (KIMLI 2021), 622(Kimli), 146–150. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211226.030
Watts, R. J., Ide, S., & Ehlich, K. (2005). Politeness in Language: Studies in its History, Theory and Practice. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Widana, I. M., Swandana, I. W., & Wedhanti, N. K. (2018). an Analysis of Politeness Strategies Used By Teacher and Students of X Ibb in Sman 1 Sukasada During English Classroom Interaction. Journal of Psychology and Instructions, 2(2), 77. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpai.v2i2.15980
Yusuf, R., & Anwar. (2019). An Article Review on “The Use of Politeness Strategies in the Classroom Context by English University Students". Elsya : Journal of English Language Studies, 1(2), 69–73. https://doi.org/10.31849/elsya.v1i2.3530
Zakaria, B. N. A., Fakih, M. N., Saifuddin, S., Imani, A., & Said, H. (2022). Politeness Strategies Employed in Communication with Santri and Ustadz in an Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia. Al-Hijr: Journal of Adulearn World, 1(2), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.55849/alhijr.v1i2.14
Zulianti, H., & Nurchurifiani, E. (2021). Speech Acts and Politeness: A Case Study on Indonesian EFL Learners in Teaching and Learning Practice. Pedagogy : Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(1), 59–75. https://doi.org/10.32332/joelt.v9i1.2479
Aeni, T. ’. (2019). Politeness Strategy Used by Lecturer in Teaching Process. IDEAS Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 7(2), 212–220.
Anggraini, D., Rafiola, R. H., Sari, V. N., & Andriani, D. (2022). The Implication of Teachers’ Politeness Strategy In Teaching on Higher Institution. Jurnal Ilmiah Langue and Parole, 6(1), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.36057/jilp.v6i1.551
Arif, N., Iskandar, I., Muliati, A., & Patak, A. A. (2018). Male and female lecturers’ politeness strategies in EFL classroom. International Journal of Humanities and Innovation (IJHI), 1(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.33750/ijhi.v1i2.11
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/3587263
Erlinda, R. (2019). Positive Politeness Strategies in EFL Classroom Interaction. August, 378–989. https://doi.org/10.31227/osf.io/n69ps
Fitriyani, S., & Andriyanti, E. (2020). Teacher and Students’ Politeness Strategies in EFL Classroom Interactions. IJELTAL (Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics), 4(2), 259–273. https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v4i2.473
Geertz, C. (1976). The Religion of Java. In THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS. The University of Chicago Press.
Handayani, R., Rachmawati, & Arif, T. Z. Z. Al. (2022). POLITENESS STRATEGIES CONVEYED BY THE STUDENTS IN ONLINE DISCUSSIONS. Jambi-English Language Teaching Journal, 6(2), 74–87. https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/jelt/index%0Ae-ISSN:
Hastuti, D. M., & Wijayanto, A. (2020). Politeness Strategy by Indonesian EFL Teacher-Learners Classroom Interaction. Proceeding Aiselt (Annual International Seminar on English Language Teaching), 51–60. https://jurnal.untirta.ac.id/index.php/aiselt/article/view/11043/7073
Heriyawati, D. F., Siba, S. Y., & Sulistyo, T. (2019). LECTURERS’ POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN EFL CLASSROOM WITH MULTICULTURAL BACKGROUND. LITERA, 18(3), 447–464. https://synapse.koreamed.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/1006JKAN/jkan-37-44.pdf
Kasper, G., & Blum-Kulka, S. (1993). Interlanguage pragmatics. Oxford University Press.
Lestari, Yuni, I. G. A. A., Seken, Ketut, Putra, & Jaya, I. N. A. (2018). Politeness strategy preference of male and female teachers in classroom interaction during English classes. SHS Web of Conferences, 42(66), 1–5. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20184200066
Mahmud, M. (2019). The use of politeness strategies in the classroom context by English university students. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(3), 597–606. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i3.15258
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saladana, J. (2014). A Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (Issue 1). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Mulyono, H., Amalia, D. R., & Suryoputro, G. (2019). Politeness strategies in teacher-student whatsapp communication. A PASAA, 58(July-December), 295–318.
Nugrahanto, A. D., & Hartono, R. (2019). Politeness Strategies in Lecturer-Students Classroom Interaction at the Biology Class Sanata Dharma University. 443(Iset 2019), 727–731. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200620.148
Rahayuningsih, D., Saleh, M., & Fitriati, S. W. (2020). The Realization of Politeness Strategies in EFL Teacher-Students Classroom Interaction. English Education Journal, 10(1), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.15294/eej.v10i1.33822
Sembiring, E. M. B., Simanjuntak, F. M. P., Tarigan, K. J., & Silalahi, V. (2023). Politeness in the EFL classroom interaction: Strategies in avoiding face threatening act (FTA). Journal of Classroom Action Research, 1(2), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.52622/jcar.v1i2.73
Sembiring, E., & Sianturi, S. (2019). Politeness Strategies in EFL Classroom Context: Avoiding Future Conflict and Maintain the Harmony of Diversity. Journal of Ultimate Research and Trends in Education, 1(3), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.31849/utamax.v1i3.6257
Senowarsito. (2013). Politeness Startegies in teacher-student interaction in an EFL classroom context. TEFLIN Journal, 24(1), 82–96. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v24i1/82-96
Sudeni, L. M. S. (2022). an Analysis of Students-Educator’S Politeness Strategy Toward Online Communication in Efl Context. E-Link Journal, 9(1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.30736/ej.v9i1.608
Sudirman, A. M. (2018). the Application of Politeness Strategies Among Teacher and Students in Classroom Interaction At Sma 1 Pamboang, Majene. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 6(1), 26–43. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v6i1.16
Sunra, L., Nengsi, S. A., & Halim, A. (2022). Politeness Strategies used by the First Semester EFL Students in Online Classroom Interaction at UNISMUH Makassar. Celebes Journal of Language Studies, 2(1), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.51629/cjls.v2i1.85
Suwarni, A., & Bestari, A. (2022). The students’ talk on politeness and impoliteness interaction in classroom. Proceedings of the International Congress of Indonesian Linguistics Society (KIMLI 2021), 622(Kimli), 146–150. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211226.030
Watts, R. J., Ide, S., & Ehlich, K. (2005). Politeness in Language: Studies in its History, Theory and Practice. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Widana, I. M., Swandana, I. W., & Wedhanti, N. K. (2018). an Analysis of Politeness Strategies Used By Teacher and Students of X Ibb in Sman 1 Sukasada During English Classroom Interaction. Journal of Psychology and Instructions, 2(2), 77. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpai.v2i2.15980
Yusuf, R., & Anwar. (2019). An Article Review on “The Use of Politeness Strategies in the Classroom Context by English University Students". Elsya : Journal of English Language Studies, 1(2), 69–73. https://doi.org/10.31849/elsya.v1i2.3530
Zakaria, B. N. A., Fakih, M. N., Saifuddin, S., Imani, A., & Said, H. (2022). Politeness Strategies Employed in Communication with Santri and Ustadz in an Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia. Al-Hijr: Journal of Adulearn World, 1(2), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.55849/alhijr.v1i2.14
Zulianti, H., & Nurchurifiani, E. (2021). Speech Acts and Politeness: A Case Study on Indonesian EFL Learners in Teaching and Learning Practice. Pedagogy : Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(1), 59–75. https://doi.org/10.32332/joelt.v9i1.2479
Published
2024-10-09
How to Cite
KURNIARAHMAN, Iwan.
Politeness Strategies Between Asian Students and an Indonesian Teacher in English-as-a-Foreign Language Interactions.
EDUCATION AND LINGUISTICS KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL, [S.l.], v. 6, n. 2, p. 130-151, oct. 2024.
ISSN 2686-1860.
Available at: <https://ejournal.uniska-kediri.ac.id/index.php/EDULINK/article/view/5893>. Date accessed: 21 dec. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.32503/edulink.v6i2.5893.
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
This work is licensed under a 
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9166-6040
