CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the introduction of the general explanation of the

research. It provides the background of the research, statement of the problem,
research purposes, research significances, conceptual framework, and definition
of key terms.

1.1 Background of the Research

Language is one of the most important parts of human life, because

without language it is difficult for humans to communicate with each other.
Humans can express, emotions, feelings, ideas, opinions, and so on through
language (Fitria et al., 2020). Through language humans can express thoughts,
emotions, and feelings in an effective and better way. According to Chomsky
(1986) language is a system of sounds and a system of interconnected concepts.
This means that humans as language users can easily communicate with each
other and share information thanks to these “sounds”. In using language,
sometimes humans do not speak politely, or even violate certain aspects of
politeness when they communicate with others. In this case, of course, it can
hurt the feelings of someone who hears it. The study of the phenomenon of
politeness in language is discussed in the branch of linguistics, which is
pragmatics.

When talking about “politeness” in the field of pragmatics studies, it

does not refer to rules of social behavior such as letting others through the door
first, or wiping the mouth with a napkin rather than using the back of the hand.
Rather, politeness here refers to a choice made in language use, a linguistic
expression that gives space to others and shows a friendly attitude towards them
(Cutting, 2001). In other words, politeness is a way to interact with others to
show a friendly attitude.

In an interaction, politeness is the means used to show awareness of the

other person's face (Yule, 1996). Face here is not face in the literal sense, but is

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a term that means one's public self-image. It refers to the emotional and social
sense of self that everyone has and expects everyone to recognize. When having
conversation, strategies are needed to create a comfortable interaction between
the speaker and the hearer. The speaker must know the appropriate ways to
speak, according to Yule (1996) this is called “polite social behavior”. It is one
of the ways people keep face and the feelings of others in communication. In
general, being polite means being considerate of other people's feelings. A
positive relationship will develop between two people when they feel
comfortable with each other. To ensure a productive conversation, politeness is
essential. As speakers, people should be able to plan what they say to sound
good to the people listening and avoid words that may hurt their feelings.
According to Brown & Levinson (1987), politeness strategies should be used
by speakers and hearers to respect each other. Therefore, in speaking, using
politeness is needed.

Politeness is a strategy to maintain respect and avoid conflict (Azmi,

2022). Meanwhile, as cited in Wartini (2023) also explains that politeness is
considering others' feelings to make oneself more comfortable. In addition,
Culpeper (2009) defines politeness as a strategy that people use to build
harmonious communication. In language politeness, there are strategies that can
be used to speak with hearers, which are politeness strategies. According to
Brown & Levinson (1987), politeness strategies exist and are developed to save
the face of the hearer. In other words, this politeness strategy is a way to save
the positive or negative face of the hearer. In this case, being polite itself is an
effort to save the face of others so that oneself also feels comfortable.

Brown and Levinson (1987) explain there are four politeness strategies,
which are Bald on Record, Positive Politeness, Negative Politeness, and Off
Record. These strategies are very important to use, because often when
speaking, speakers have the potential to hurt their hearers, as expressed by
Brown and Levinson (1992) that every speech act has the potential to threaten
the face of the hearer. Which means, this concept shows that being polite is very

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difficult to do without knowing the strategies, because it requires language
learning, as well as the development of strategies to consider the emotions of
the hearer.

Regarding the use of politeness in language, many studies conducted in

the field of language politeness and gender have found similar conclusions that
there are actually differences in language politeness patterns between men and
women (Nurjanah et al., 2017). Moreover, Đenana (2019) explains that the way
men and women speak shows differences in various ways, such as the use of
words or lexicon, intonation and voice tone, prosodic phenomena, in sentence
structure and other syntactic elements. In addition, according to Coulmas
(2005) in the context of conversational norms, differences exist between men
and women. According to Lakoff (1975) in (Đenana, 2019), women tend to use
more polite sentence patterns more often than men. This is largely because
women are taught from an early age to avoid conveying opinions and attitudes
directly. Female speaking is characterized by the inclusion of elements such as
“tag questions that express uncertainty, mitigation, and doubt”, while in male
speaking, the main features are “assertiveness, directness, confidence, and the
use of features such as direct and unambiguous statements and interpretations”
(Keikhaie & Mozaffari, 2015). The use of politeness can be found anywhere,
one of them is in talk shows. In talk shows, the host and guest stars will tend to
use politeness when communicating to respect each other.

Talk shows is one of the most watched programming genres today.

Whether on television or on digital platforms, talk shows have a special appeal
to viewers. Talk shows are well-loved because they often include interviews
with experts in a particular subject, famous individuals, or those with inspiring
stories. According to Hutchby (2003), a talk show is an interactive conversation
show, talk show, or dialogue show that brings guest stars into the talk show
studio to talk about or discuss a topic. Through the topic discussed in the talk
show, viewers can find out information, especially information that is being
discussed. In addition, Rovita & Gulo (2022) argues that talk show is a

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television program where individuals or groups discuss one or more topics
proposed by the Talk Show host. Personal stories or hot issues are topics that
are usually discussed in talk shows.

The Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube channel is one of the YouTube

channels whose content involves talk shows. In his content, Jay Shetty discusses
something interesting and provides benefits to his audience, which are sharing
motivation, how to live happier and how to improve mental health. This
YouTube channel, which joined on July 31, 2020, has 1.62 million subscribers
and has been viewed approximately 110,393,713 times. The conversations
between Jay Shetty and his guest stars are focused on discussing a particular
theme or issue, mainly related to providing motivation to his viewers, especially
topics related to mental health. In addition, each guest star invited in the Jay
Shetty Podcast talk show comes from different backgrounds such as culture,
profession (such as athletes, doctors, models, singers, speakers, writers and
actors who are famous in these fields) and different genders, so understanding
the use of politeness strategies through talk shows will be very interesting to do,
because it can see and learn how Jay Shetty as the host uses politeness strategies
in communication, especially how to apply politeness strategies to male and
female guest stars.

Based on the background above, this research belongs to the field of

pragmatics. The objects chosen by the author in this study are the six most
popular talk show videos on the Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube channel, which
are Jay Shetty’s interview videos with Will Smith, Joe Dispenza, Tom Holland,
Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez and Kim Kardashian.

The reason the author chooses the Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube channel
as the object of research is because the Jay Shetty Podcast channel is one of the
well-known talk show YouTube channels. This YouTube channel has several
advantages compared to other YouTube channels that carry the same theme,
including the Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube channel presenting inspirational
content, a variety of topics that are relevant to modern life today, exceptional

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quality of guests and interviews such as inviting inspirational and influential
figures, professional production, and displaying simplicity and honesty. So that
by analyzing how Jay Shetty uses positive politeness strategies will help in
applying politeness strategies in everyday life, and can also provide additional
new insights related to the use of positive politeness strategies in conversation.

The analysis focus on the use of positive politeness because positive

politeness strategies are strategies used to show familiarity to hearers who are
not close (Azmi, 2022). As stated by Brown & Levinson (1987) positive
politeness is used as a metaphorical way to extend familiarity, with the intention
of indicating likeness or sharing intentions to some extent, even between
individuals who are initially strangers to each other. It aims to facilitate
interaction, even if in a way that is reminiscent of similarity. In a talk show, the
host and the guest stars may not always be familiar with each other in advance,
but there is also a possibility that the host and the guest stars are familiar or even
friendly in advance. However, if the host and the guest stars are not very close
or familiar, then they will instinctively use positive politeness strategies to save
each other's face. Even though the host and the guest stars are not very familiar
in advance, the host and the guest stars may be able to form a good relationship
during the show, when they speak to each other using positive politeness
strategies, because this strategy seeks to minimize the distance between the
speaker and the hearer by expressing concern and friendship.

Research related to politeness strategies have been conducted by several

researchers in various objects, including the following: The first was the
research of Eva Azahrawati (2018) in a study titled “Positive and Negative
Politeness Strategies in Zootopia Movie Script”. This study described pragmatic
studies, namely the politeness strategies included in the Zootopia movie script.
The politeness theory of Brown and Levinson (1987) was the theory used by
the author in this study. The results of this study found 43 data, 30 positive
politeness strategy data and 13 negative politeness data. 30 positive politeness
strategy data that the most dominant strategy is the “use in group identity

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markers”. Then, the 13 data that used negative politeness strategies were
analyzed, the most dominant are 3 data on the “give deference” strategy and 3
data on “be conventional”. This research contributes to the author as a basis for
research related to the use of politeness strategies in movie scripts.

The second was Muhammad Taofik Adriansyah (2019) with the title
“Positive and Negative Politeness Expressions Used in Blackkklansman
movie”. This study focused on analyzing the reasons actors and actresses adopt
positive and negative politeness methods in the Blackkklansman movie as well
as the strategies' utilization in the movie. Theories from Brown and Levinson
(1992), and Thomas (1980) were the main theories used by the author in this
study. The findings of the data analysis led to the conclusion that, with 29 data,
positive politeness techniques outnumber negative politeness tactics in the
Blackkklansman movie. The reason for using the strategy is more heavily
influenced by social distance, according to 36 data, because of the traits that
exist in people who must essentially be social, particularly in the police force
with a variety of traits, thoughts, and social statuses faced by the community.
This study contributes to the author's research on how the reasons for using
positive and negative politeness strategies based on the theories of Brown and
Levinson (1992) and Thomas (1980).

The third was Rivaldi Abdillah Setiana (2021) with the title “Positive
politeness strategies used by Niki and Zach in Zach Sang show’s interview”.
This study focused on research on positive politeness strategies. The interview
between Zach and Niki in the Zach Sang Show is used as the object of his
research. The theory of Brown and Levinson (1987) was the theory used by the
writer in this study. The results of this study found that there were at least 82
data and 14 types of positive politeness strategies in Zach Sang Show's
interview with Niki and both implemented these strategies by considering
rewards and circumstances: sociological variables. This research contributes to
the author's research as a provider of the same theory as the theory the author
uses.

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 The fourth was Muhamad Fauzan Fikri (2022) with research entitled
“Positive Politeness Strategies in Women's Language of Transgenders in
YouTube Interviews and TV Shows”. In this study, the transition from male to
female is the main focus. The author used Lakoff's (2004) theory and Brown &
Levinson's (1987) positive politeness strategies in this study. This study found
that Laverne Cox used 12 intensifiers, 11 lexical hedges, 4 emphatic stresses, 1
tag question, 3 empty adjectives, and 1 avoidance of swear words along with 1
notice/attend to H, 4 use in-group identity markers, 11 exaggerations, 3 avoid
agreeing, 1 give (or ask for) reasons, 8 presuppose/raise/asset common ground,
2 jokes, and 3 assert/presuppose S's knowledge of and concern for H's wants.
On the other hand, Caitlyn Jenner applies 30 emphatic stresses, 20 lexical
hedges, 7 empty adjectives, 3 rising intonations, and 13 intensifiers. He also
uses 12 exaggerations, 8 avoid disagreement, 1 notice/attend to H, 1 use in-
group identity markers, 21 presuppose/raise/assert common ground, 8 seeking
agreement, 7 give (or ask for) reasons, 1 includes both S and H in the activity,
and 2 offer or promise. This research provides the author with an understanding
of the relationship between politeness strategies and women's language.

The fifth was the research of Agil Nofri Azmi (2022). His research is
titled “Positive Politeness Strategies Used by Jimmy Fallon In The Tonight
Show's YouTube Channel”. This research focused on examining one topic,
namely positive politeness strategies in interviews between Jimmy Fallon and
guest stars of The Tonight Show. The theory of Brown and Levinson (1987)
was the theory used by the author in this study. The results of this study, found
112 data, and found 14 types of positive politeness strategies in Jimmy Fallon's
interview with guest stars on The Tonight Show. In The Tonight Show, Jimmy
Fallon dominantly used the positive politeness strategy of exaggeration with a
total of 50 data. Meanwhile, 62 positive politeness strategies with exaggeration
and giving (or asking for) reasons were dominantly used by the guest stars, and
they implemented these strategies by considering rewards. and circumstances:
sociological variables. This research contributes to the author's research as a

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comparison in terms of findings, so that this research can help evaluate the
significance or novelty of the author's research.

From these previous studies, the author is inspired to do the same thing,
which is to examine the use of positive politeness strategies, but the difference
is that this study is more focused on categorizing how the use of positive
politeness strategies to male and female, because many studies that have been
conducted in the field of language and gender politeness conclude that there are
actually differences in language politeness patterns between men and women
(Nurjanah et al., 2017). The way men and women speak shows differences such
as in the use of words or lexicon, intonation and tone of voice, prosodic
phenomena, in sentence structure, and other syntactic elements (Đenana, 2019).
Thus, based on this explanation, the author is interested in examining the
positive politeness strategies used by Jay Shetty to male and female guest stars
on the Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube channel. In this study, the research objects
that the author chose are the six most popular talk show videos on the Jay Shetty
Podcast YouTube channel. The theory of positive politeness strategies
proposed by Brown & Levinson (1987) is the theory used in this study.
Therefore, the author decided to propose “Positive Politeness Strategies Used
by Jay Shetty in Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel” as the title of the
study.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

There are limitations in previous studies that research positive politeness

strategies, they only focus on analyzing the use of positive politeness strategies
in general and not specifically. Therefore, in this study the authors are interested
in examining the same thing, which is related to the use of positive politeness
strategies, but more focused on categorizing how the use of positive politeness
strategies to male and female based on the theory proposed by Brown &
Levinson (1987), because many studies that have been conducted in the field of
language and gender politeness conclude that there are actually differences in
language politeness patterns between men and women (Nurjanah et al., 2017).

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The way men and women speak shows differences such as in the use of words
or lexicon, intonation and tone of voice, prosodic phenomena, in sentence
structure, and other syntactic elements (Đenana, 2019). In addition, according
to Lakoff (1975) in (Đenana, 2019) women tend to use more polite sentence
patterns more often than men. Thus, based on this explanation, the author is
interested in examining the positive politeness strategies used by Jay Shetty to
male and female guest stars in the Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel.

Based on the background above, the author concludes that there are two
questions that are the focus of this study, they are:

1. What are the types of positive politeness strategies used by Jay

Shetty to male and female guest stars in talk show videos on the Jay
Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel?
2. What factors influence the choice of positive politeness strategies
used by Jay Shetty in talk show videos on the Jay Shetty Podcast
YouTube Channel?

1.3 Research Objectives

Based on the formulation of the research question, the objectives of this

study are as follows:

1. To find out the types of positive politeness strategies used by Jay

Shetty to male and female guest stars in talk show videos on the Jay
Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel.
2. To investigate the factors that influence the choice of positive
politeness strategies used by Jay Shetty in talk show videos on the
Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube channel.

1.4 Research Significances

The significance of this research is expected to be useful, both

theoretically and practically. Theoretically, this research is expected to
contribute to the field of linguistics studies, especially in the field of pragmatics

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in the related study of positive politeness strategies. Practically, this research is
expected to provide insight and knowledge for readers regarding how to apply
politeness strategies in speaking with interlocutors to be applied in daily
conversations. For example, in situations when communicating with people
who are not too close or with strangers, then as an example the speaker can use
the positive politeness strategy “lntensify interest to H” to create the impression
that the speaker is very enthusiastic about something proposed by the
interlocutor, so that the result can produce a positive reaction from the
interlocutor which makes it possible to build a closer relationship with the
interlocutor.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

The author in this study has two research questions. First, what are the
types of positive politeness strategies used by Jay Shetty to male and female
guest stars in talk show videos on Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel? The
second, what factors influence the choice of positive politeness strategies used
by Jay Shetty in talk show videos on Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel?

To answer the first question, the author uses Brown and Levinson's
(1987) politeness strategy theory to find out the types of positive politeness
strategies used by Jay Shetty to male and female guest stars in talk show videos
on the Jay Shetty Podcast YouTube Channel. According to Brown and
Levinson (1987) politeness strategies are divided into four types of strategies,
namely bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, and off record.
While the positive politeness strategy itself, according to Brown and Levinson
(1987) is divided into 15 strategies which are, notice/attend to H (goods, needs,
wants, interests), exaggerate (approval, interest, sympathy with H), use in-group
identity markers, , include both S and H in the activity, intensify interest to H,
seek agreement, assert/presuppose/raise common ground, give (or ask for)
reasons, avoid disagreement, joke, assert or presuppose S’s knowledge of and
concern for H’s wants, promise/offer, be optimistic, assume/assert reciprocity,
and give gifts to H (corporation, goods, understanding, sympathy).

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 To answer the second question, the author still uses the same theory
from Brown and Levinson (1987). There are two factors influence the choice
politeness strategies, namely Payoffs and Circumstances: Sociological
Variables.

1.6 Definition of Key Terms

The following are definitions of key terms to make it easier for readers
to understand the terms used by the author in this study.

1.6.1 Pragmatics

Yule (1996: 3) explains that pragmatics is the study of the meaning

of the speaker. In pragmatic, the meaning expressed by the speaker
(writer) and interpreted by the listener (reader) is analyzed to find
the real intention that the speaker himself wants to convey, rather
than looking directly at the words or phrases in the utterance itself.

1.6.2 Politeness

Cruse (2006:131) explains that politeness is an effort to reduce the

negative effects of one's words on the feelings of others and increase
the positive effects (this is also known as “negative politeness” and
“positive politeness”). Brown and Levinson (1987) said that
politeness strategies are designed so that the speaker does not make
the hearer feel uncomfortable with what the speaker utter.

1.6.3 Politeness Strategies

According to Brown and Levinson (1987) politeness strategies are

ways used in social interaction to maintain a positive face or self-
image both for oneself and for others.

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1.6.4 Positive Politeness Strategies

According to Brown and Levinson (1987), positive politeness

strategy is a strategy that avoids FTAs by means of saving faces or
keeping the hearer's positive face.

1.6.5 Talk Show

According to Hutchby (2003), a talk show is an interactive

conversation show, talk show, or dialogue show that brings guest
stars into the talk show studio to talk about or discuss a topic.

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