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Socio

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4 views4 pages

Socio

Uploaded by

gitapermatasarisihombing
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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INTRODUCTION

In the nature of conversation, simultaneously a message is organized and delivered among the speakers.
This organization of message is carried out in the act of speaking conducted by the participants in the
conversation. Messages in conversation, explained by Halliday (1994: 68) can be recognized as speech
role. The messages are conveyed in just two terms; giving and demanding. Either the speaker is giving
something to the listener of he is demanding something from him. To communicate effectively, we
should organize the messages that we want to convey through conversation clearly. The organization of
messages involves giving and demanding and this exchange might be more complicated than it seems. If
we are demanding something, it means we are inviting to give, and if we are giving something, it means
we are inviting to receive.
DISCUSSION

SPEECH FUNCTION

Language serves a range of functions. It is usually adjusted the speech to suit the social context of speech.
The language we talk to a child may be different from the language we talk to our customer or colleague
though the purpose is the same. The different purposes of talk can also affect the form of language and
the variety of ways. Why do we say the same thing in different ways? The answers to the question
basically imply the speech functions.

The Function of Speech

Dialog 1:

Boss : Good morning, Sue. Lovely day.

Secretary: Yes, it is beautiful. Makes you wonder what we are doing here, doesn't it?

Boss: Mm, that's right. Look I wonder if you could possibly sort this lot out by ten. I need them for a
meeting.

Secretary: Yes, sure. No problem.

Boss : Thanks. That's great.

This dialogue is typical of many everyday interactions in that it serves both an affective (or social), and
referential (or informative) function. The initial greetings and comments on the weather serve a social
function; they establish contact between the two participants. The exchange then moves on to become
more information-oriented or referential in function.

The types of speech function

1. Expressive utterances

Expressive utterances express the speakers' feelings. This function serves the declaration of a speaker's
ambiance. It used to express personal feelings, thoughts, ideas and opinions, with different choice words,
intonation, etc. These expressions are submissive to social factors and to the nature of the expression as
negative or positive. In Indonesian communication, expression is used to keep up social relationship.
When someone is meeting a friend or someone he/she is familiar with, he/she will greet him/her to make
sure "here, I am your friend or your neighbor".
The following are the form of utterances that serve expressive function:

 I'm happy today. (positive expression)


 I am afraid. (negative expression)
 I'm very gloomy tonight. (negative expression)
 I'm feeling very good today. (positive expression)
 I'm feeling great today. (positive expression)

2. Directive Utterances

Directive utterances attempt to get someone to do something. In Indonesian communication, directive


function can be articulated by imperative sentences, interrogative sentences as well as declarative
sentences. Orders and commands are normally expressed in imperative form.

Directives are concerned with getting people to do things which express directive force vary in strength.
We came to sit down, for instance, by suggesting or inviting or ordering or commanding them to sit
down. Orders and speech act which are generally expressed in imperative to get people to do something
tend to use interrogatives are following examples illustrate.

Sit down IMPERRATIVE

You sit down You IMPERRATIVE

Could you sit down? INTERROGATIVE with modal verb

Sit down, will you? INTERROGATIVE with tag

Won't you sit down? INTERROGATIVE with negative modal

I want you to sit down DECLARATIVE

I'd like you to sit down DECLARATIVE

You'd be more comfortable sitting down DECLARATIVE

It'd be better you to sit down DECLARATIVE

The list could go on and on. There are many way in directive. And although we can say that in general
declaratives are more polite than imperatives, a good intonation, tone of voice and context. A gentle sit
down more polite than a thundered I want you all sitting down now (a) in example I will be considered
normal, while (b) as sarcastic.
Example 1:

a. Box of matches

b. Could you possibly give me a box of matches

How do people decide which form to use in a particular of the social factors have been suggested between
participants, their relatives status, and the form (the

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