ANALYZING POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN “DJANGO UNCHAINED” MOVIE
Rozan
Ibnu Muammar Tifa
(ibnurozan@gmail.com)
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Abstract This mini research
analyzed the characters from Django Unchained movie in using politeness
strategies. There is a research questions proposed by the researchers as
follows: Which politeness strategies are most used by some character of Django
Unchained movie?
In conducting this mini research,
the theory from Brown and Levinson (1987) was used the main theory to analyze
and classify the utterance produced by the some character in Django Unchained
movie. For analyzing the factors which influence the choice of politeness
startegies, the researchers also used the same theory from Brown and Levinson (1987). The researchers used qualitative research by applying content analysis
method in conducting the research. The script was used by the reseracher as the
source in analyzing the utterances produced by the characters in Django
Unchained movie.
In conclusion, the results of this mini research showed that the characters used all of four politeness strategies. The most common strategies were negative politeness and off record, where positive politeness and bald on record were the least strategies used by the characters in this movie.
Keywords : Django Unchained Movie, politeness strategies, face threatening act, sociological variables, payoffs.
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INTRODUCTION
Communication is one of the most important
aspects in our daily lives. People share ideas, feelings, evaluations, and many
things using language. Hence, language is perceived as a communication tool
among speakers and hearers. In order to convey meanings, people may use both
spoken and unspoken forms. Utterances, gestures, and sign languages may become
alternatives how speakers convey meanings through language. However, utterance
is the most effective way for speakers to convey meanings since not all hearers
are able to interpret sign languages and gestures accurately.
The ways speakers convey utterances as well as
meanings will certainly differ from one another. Education background,
ethnicity, age, power, gender, context, and many other aspects may influence
the ways of speaking. Indeed, various social situations the speakers and the hearers
possess may influence the speakers’ utterances.
Speakers should be able to choose appropriate language
choice, in which the meanings will be successfully delivered and to choose
appropriate ways to do so. For instance, speaking to a boss who has more
relative power using performative sentence, such as “Do this!” may be
considered rude. Another utterance when a friend is asking for opinion about
her outfit and the hearer simply answers: “Red. Not your color. It’s too
flashy.” will be considered appropriate if the parties involved have known each
other well. In conclusion, it is obvious for speakers to adjust their languages
to fit the situations. Inappropriate language choices may cause problems since
the hearers are being insulted by the speakers. Thus, appropriate language
choice is closely related to politeness.
In accordance with the issue and the significance of politeness elaborated in the case above, the study on politeness is worthy-analyzed as it provides benefits for English language learning. It provides politeness theory as well as the examples as a learning source for learners who are eager to learn sociolinguistics, principally politeness. Therefore, the writer is interested in investigating politeness phenomenon as it does not only deal with a matter of using certain expressions, such as “sorry” in the right place. In fact, using certain politeness strategy may depend on several factors. As a result, it is important for the writer to understand politeness factors as well.
As a result, those politeness phenomenon led the
writers into a complete understanding in classifying utterances concerning
politeness for analyzing the factors which influence the choice of politeness
strategies and find the factors influenced in choosing the politeness
strategies which are payoffs and social variables.
This study focused on analyzing Django Unchained
movie. In analyzing the movie, Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness was used
as the basis theory as it provided sufficient information on politeness phenomenon.
As a result, all main characters utterances concerning politeness were categorized
into four politeness strategies as Brown and Levinson (1987) suggested. Based
on the description above, researchers interest did a research about politeness
in Django Unchained Movie. The researchers do a research entitled “Analyzing Politeness Strategies in Django
Unchained Movie”
In
conducting this study, the writer formulate research problems dealing with
politeness. The problem focuses on the politeness strategies applied in the
subject of the study. In brief, this research problems are formulated as
follows : Which politeness strategies
are most used by the characters of Django Unchained movie? From the explanation above, The Objectives of this Research is to
analyze the politeness strategies contained in the Django Unchained Movie.
The writers presents two major parts namely,
sociolinguistics and politeness. Sociolinguistics is presented in order to
figure out the topic discussed. Moreover, politeness, as the basis theory, is
used to discuss Django Unchained movie. Spolsky (2004) defines sociolinguistics
as “a field that studies the relation between language and society (p. 3).” It
provides evidence and researches about various human languages in the society.
It also explains why speakers say the same thing in different ways. Holmes (2001) emphasizes “language provides a variety ways of saying the same thing
(p. 3).” Varieties may occur due to various factors, such as age, gender,
relation, social class, ethnicity, and context. In brief, sociolinguistics
primarily focuses on the study of language use. Utterances do not only provide
information as the literal meanings, but also clues to nonlinguistic
information. An utterance, for instance, can indicate the society or community
in which a speaker coming from. Thus, in order to convey meaning successfully,
the speaker of a language should be able to apply the sociolinguistics
competence to produce appropriate language.
Based
on Leech’s point of view, politeness may function as a way of controlling
potential threats between speakers and hearers. It is even more similar to politeness
definition proposed by (Brown and Levinson, 1987) in (Konrad, et al., 2005). “Politeness is rational behavior aimed at the strategic softening (or
mitigation) of face-threatening acts.” Politeness, however, has little to do
with good manners, such as saying “Please” or “Sorry”. As a conclusion, being
linguistically polite simply means paying attention to others’ feelings.
Brown
and Levinson divide face into two notions, namely positive and negative faces. Brown and Levinson (1987) define positive face as “public self-image that a person
wants for himself.” Positive face covers one’s desire to be liked, admired, and
approved positively by others in their community. It, sometimes, refers to
self-esteem. On the other hand, according to Brown and Levinson (1987),
negative face is “the want of every ‘competent adult member’ that his actions
be unimpeded by others” or “the basic claim to territories, personal preserves,
rights to non-distraction. The freedom of action and freedom from imposition.”
It simply refers to one’s freedom to act.
Brown
and Levinson (1987) suggest that everyone has two types of face: negative and
positive faces. When people communicate and interact with others, speakers and
hearers want to maintain their positive face as well as the negative one. On
the other hand, sometimes faces cannot be simply maintained as what one
interactional party wants. The speakers and hearers’ faces are usually
threatened by one another to varying degrees. As a result, the speakers and the
hearers do an act that damages the face of others in opposition to their face-saving
and desire. This act is called Face Threatening Acts (FTAs). Brown and Levinson
(1987) define FTAs as “acts run contrary to the face wants of the hearers
and/or the speaker.” FTAs are usually done within verbal communication, through
utterances for instance. However, tone, intonation, andother non-verbal
communication can also cause FTAs as well.
Brown
and Levinson (1987) propose four politeness strategies to minimize the
possibility of face-damaged, namely Bald-On Record, Positive Politeness, Negative
Politeness, and Off-Record. Speakers can choose one of those four politeness strategies
when they want to do the FTAs in which the degree may vary. The more speakers
want to use “highernumbered” strategy, the more polite it is. The elaborations
of each strategy as well as the examples are presented as follows.
a).
Bald-On Record Strategy
According to Brown and Levinson (1987), Bald-On Record
strategy is “a direct way of saying things.” It does not lead hearers to
misunderstanding and misinterpretation. The utterances are spoken in a direct,
clear, unambiguous, and concise way. This strategy is applied without any
minimization to the impositions to the hearers. Further, Brown and Levinson
states that this strategy have many category such as emergency; task oriented,
request, and alerting. Emergency in
that urgent condition this strategy conversation often using by speaker and
interlocutors, as example ‘’Hey, watch out!’’. Task oriented is conversation strategy when what is mean by speaker
to follow interlocutors, example ‘’turn the TV off!” Request is strategy for extend interlocutors urge immediately way.
Example ‘’lend me your duty!’’. Alerting
is strategy category bald and record used by speaker to give warning or
sentence alert to interlocutors, example is ‘’Beware! Don’t drink while
walking.
b).
Positive Politeness Strategy
Positive politeness is strategy politeness used by
speaker and interlocutors, and they who are close and familiar to us. The
sentence used is usually a friendly language. This strategy has too much
strategy there are attend to the hearer, avoid disagreement, assume disagreement,
and hedge opinion. Attend to the hearer used when speaker want to be more
friendly with interlocutors. The sentence which is spoken make listener or
interlocutors feel comfortable or respected. Avoid disagreement be used when
they want avoid debate because has dissent with interlocutors. Assume agreement
is strategy be used for achievement and draw conclusion that interlocutors
agreed with speaker. Hedge opinion is where speaker objective adjust from
conversation to give suggestion interlocutors to avoid interlocutors from feel
uncomfortable and offended.
c).
Negative Politeness Strategy
Negative Politeness is the acts that directly for the
hearer with indicate the speaker doesn’t intend to avoid impeding hearer
freedom of action, for example: orders, requests, suggestion, offers, promises,
compliments, etc. Negative politeness strategies are oriented towards the
hearer's negative face and emphasize avoidance of imposition on the hearer. By
attempting to avoid imposition from the speaker, the risk of face-threat to the
hearer is reduced. These strategies presume that the speaker will be imposing
on the listener and there is a higher potential for awkwardness or embarrassment
than in bald on record strategies and positive politeness strategies.
There are two kinds of another threatening act may
happened to the speaker : Offend speaker negative face and Directly damage
speaker positive face.
· Offend speaker negative face such as expressing thanks, acceptance of
hearer thanks, acceptance of hearer apology, acceptance of offers, response to
hearer faux pas, unwilling promises and offers.
· In
other hand, directly damage speaker
positive face such as apologies, acceptance of compliments, break down of
physical control body, self-humiliation, confessions, and emotion leakage.
d).
Off Record Strategy
The final politeness strategy outlined by
Brown and Levinson is the indirect strategy; This strategy uses indirect
language and removes the speaker from the potential to be imposing. The
strategy of doing off-record to express something general or different than the
speaker’s true meaning and relies on the hearer's interpretation to have the
speaker's purpose get conveyed. You are removing yourself from any imposition
whatsoever. The speaker can get credit for not imposing on the hearer or give
the hearer a chance to be helpful and generous. This strategy relies heavily on
pragmatics to convey the intended meaning while still utilizing the semantic
meaning as a way to avoid losing face.
The
director of this film is Quentin Tarantino, who made Pulp Fiction in 1994 and
was excited because it contained a lot of swear words in it. Not only that,
Quentin Tarantino is also famous for his bloody scenes in his films. So don't
be surprised if in the early minutes the bloody blood scene has appeared
convincingly. Django Unchained is divided into two story sessions. The first
story is about a German named Dentist King Schultz who hunts fugitives and the
second story is about Django's efforts to save his wife. The film with a fairly
long duration of 165 minutes is enough to show the atmosphere of slavery which
is identical to black or negro.
Two
years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave, finds himself
accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz
(Christoph Waltz) on a mission to capture the vicious Brittle brothers. Their
mission successful, Schultz frees Django, and together they hunt the South's
most-wanted criminals. Their travels take them to the infamous plantation of
shady Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), where Django's long-lost wife (Kerry
Washington) is still a slave.
Quentin
Tarantino presents a different cowboy atmosphere in general. Many shooting
scenes with bullets scattering here and there are presented in this film. Blood
and blood spurting complete the awesomeness of this film as well as become the
hallmark of the director. Country songs as a characteristic of cowboys are
quite pleasant to hear, but don't be surprised if there are also rap songs in
this film. The comedy element is also there as a complement so you don't get
bored when watching for a long duration. This film is worth watching for
adults.
The
study particularly aims at analyzing the use of politeness strategies in the
utterances produced by the two main characters of Django Unchained movie and
the factors affecting the choice of politeness strategies. The writer summaries
and synthesizes all theories related to the study to answer the two formulated
research questions. In order to analyze the use of politeness strategy in
Django Unchained Movie, politeness theories as well as sociolinguistics have
been presented previously.
This
study presents politeness strategies proposed by (Brown and Levinson, 1987) to
answer the first research problem; “What are Brown and Levinson’s politeness
strategies used by some characters of the Django Unchained movie?” Brown and
Levinson’s politeness theory is used as the basis theory as it provides politeness
strategies classification and detailed explanation of each strategy. The writer,
as a result, classifies the characters’ utterances of Django Unchained movie into
four politeness strategies as (Brown and Levinson, 1987) proposed. Those are Bald-On
Record Positive Politeness, Negative Politeness, and Off-Record.
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RESEARCH
METHOD
Content
Analysis was used as the research method. Documents as a source of data may
take a variety of forms. The documents can be either printed materials, such as
textbook, newspaper, magazine, script, or recorded materials, such as movie,
documentary film, and any other types of recordings. Content analysis is a
qualitative approach whose focus was qualitative data, such as words and
pictures rather than numbers. Further, Ary, Jacobs, and Sorensen (2010)
mentioned that Content analysis study is conducted to learn about human behavior. Thus, some characters of Django Unchained movie’s utterances were analyzed and
interpreted descriptively to learn about human behavior, primarily speaking
politely.
This
study employed purposive sampling as the method of sampling. Babbie (1990: 97)
as cited in Latham (2007) define purposive sampling as selecting a sample on
the basis of your own knowledge of the population, its elements, and the nature
of your research aims. In this study, the writer took a movie and a movie
script entitled Django Unchained as the data source.
The
writer analyzed the Django Unchained movie script as well as the movie. All
utterances produced by some characters related to speaking politeness were
collected as the source of data. Afterwards, those utterances were identified
in order to find out which utterances applied a certain politeness strategy.
Besides, how the characters uttered the utterances should become a
consideration as well. Furthermore, the writer categorized each utterance
concerning politeness into four politeness strategies as Brown and Levinson
(1987) proposed. In conducting the study, the writer took some steps. They were
(1) collecting references and data, (2) categorizing the data, (3) analyzing the
data, and (4) writing up a report.
The
main focus of this study was the use of Brown and Levinson’s politeness
strategies in a movie. Therefore, selecting a movie containing a lot of politeness
strategies was necessary to do. As Django Unchained movie tells us about racism
history, sarcasm and violence, utterances related to politeness strategies are
commonly used in the dialogues, specifically Positive Politeness, Negative
Politeness, Bald-On Record and off record. There were two instruments used in the
study : the researcher as human instrument and Django Unchained movie script as
the document.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter presents the research findings of the
study. It discusses the research results and interprets them concerning the two
formulated research questions. The research question is about Brown and
Levinson’s politeness strategies applied by the characters of the Django
Unchained movie.
Almost
all characters of Django Unchained movie employed all four Brown and
Levinson’s politeness strategies. Those were Bald-On Record, Positive
Politeness, Negative Politeness, and Off-Record. The characters utterances
concerning politeness were all analyzed based on Brown and Levinson’s politeness
(1987). The following list presents the politeness strategies of Django
Unchained movie.
1.
Bald-On Record Strategies in Django
Unchained Movie
(Brown and
Levinson, 1987) mention that a speaker who applies a Bald-On Record strategy is
likely to shock and to embarrass hearers. This strategy is a direct way of
saying things. It does not attempt to minimize the threats to the hearers’
notions of face. It is commonly employed in a situation whereby both interactional
parties involved have close relationships, such as family, close friend, or
colleague. Furthermore, it is employed when the speaker wants to show great
urgency, alert, efficiency, and impositions. Besides, it is also frequently
applied in task-oriented utterance, welcome, and offer.
Bald-On Record strategy was applied by the characters of Django Unchained
movie who have good relationships such as Dr.King Schultz, Django, and
Broomhilda. Especially for Dr. King Schultz and Django obviously applied this
strategy as they had close relationships with many other characters in this
movie. Besides, the movie mostly revolved around their routines at works and
partnerships.
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Dialogue 1
First, we analyzed Django Unchained movie from scene 2 when Django and Dr. King Schultz enter a saloon.
Dr. Schultz : (returns inside) Alas, now we must act as
our own bartender. Sit down my boy.
Django : What kinda
dentist are you?
Dr. Schultz : (Laughs) Despite that cart I have not
practiced dentistry in five years. But these days I practice a new profession:
bounty hunter.
Dr. Schultz : Do you know what a bounty hunter is?
Django : No.
Dr. Schultz : Well, the way the slave trade deals in human lives
for cash, a bounty hunter deals in corpses. (Clicks his tongue to
signal Django to get his hat off the table)
Analysis
From the
dialogue, it can be seen that Django and Dr. King Schultz has a pretty good
relationship, with evidence of dialogue “Dr. Schultz : Alas, now we must act as our own bartender. Sit down
my boy.” At the the movie, Dr. King
Schultz was a dentist who become bounty hunter, while Django was a slave before
Dr. King Schultz bought him. Django position allowed him to apply Bald-On
Record commonly to his master, whereas as a master Dr. King Schultz applied
Bald-On Record frequently towards his partner Django in the movie just like a
son. Dr. Schultz in this scene offer Django a glass of beer and sit together
for talks.
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Dialogue 2
In the next
scene, we analyzed the dialogue between Broom Hilda and Dr.Schultz in Mr.
Candies Estate.
Dr.Schultz : They call you
Hildi, but your real name is Broomhilda, isn't it?
Broomhilda : Yes. How do you
know that?
Dr. Schultz : Stands to reason who ever taught you German would
also give you a German name. Can I pour you a glass of water, Broomhilda?
Dr. Schultz : Please drink.
Analysis
In the dialogue above, we can analyze that
Dr. King Schultz who had just met Broomhilda but had already shown intimacy and
a close relationship. In this scene we can see that Dr. King Schultz shows a
deeper bald on record politeness strategy. Dr.Schultz offer Broomhilda a drink
“Stands to reason who ever taught you German would also give you a German name.
Can I pour you a glass of water, Broomhilda?” and have a nice talk.
From the dialogues above, the number of
Bald-On Record strategy employed by Django, Dr.King Schultz and Broomhilda in
Django Unchained It is mostly applied by the characters in a situation when
great urgency, task-oriented, and no threat minimizing occurred.
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2.
Positive
Politeness Strategies in Django Unchained Movie
Brown and Levinson (1987)
define Positive Politeness as a strategy which is oriented towards the face
saving or the positive self-image of hearers. It satisfies the hearers’ notions
of positive face. As a result, it promotes solidarity and friendship between
the two parties involved. Compliment, optimism, agreement, and joke are some
examples of Positive Politeness strategy. Besides, it also puts positive values
on the hearers’ appearances, works, ideas, and other aspects. Bride Wars movie
figured out stories about friendship which turned out to be rivalry. Positive
Politeness strategy, thus, were frequently applied in the movie script.
In this film there are several positive politeness strategies because the
film focuses on the era when slave trading took place in the United States
before the civil war.
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Dialogue 1
Django : What'd ya mean partner up?
Dr.Schultz : You be my deputy, for real this time. A lot of
the big money is in outlaw gangs. Some of these fellas are worth fifteen
hundred or three thousand a piece. With one man, anything over three men is a
risk. But with a partner? Creating cross fire? It's fish in a. barrel. A lot of
these gangs hold up in the'hill for the winter.
Django : You
makin' another agreement?
Dr. Schultz : Yes. You work with me through the winter, the
snow melts. I give you a third my bounties. And while we're together, I'll teach you a few things you're going to
need to know.
Django : Can you teach me how to
make Tony do that head bow thing that Fritz can do?
Dr. Schultz : That among other things. We make some money this
winter, when the snow melts, I'll take you to Greenville myself, and we'll find
where they sent your wife. I'm pretty good at finding people. Is it a deal? No
white man has ever done anything for Django, just to him. So understandably,
he's a little suspicious.
Analysis
From dialogue 1, Dr.Schultz
applied Positive Politeness strategy by conveying an agreement. Dr. Schultz
initially made an offer for Django to join as a bounty hunter. Dr. Schultz
offers Django to hunt down three of the gang's most wanted members and the proceeds
from the bounty will go to Django and with the income from the three gang
members, Dr. Schultz. Schultz will teach Django things he doesn't know and then
after that Dr. Schultz will take Django to Greenville to find his missing wife
Django. After talking, Django finally agreed to the deal.
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Dialogue 2
Sheriff : (to Django and Dr. Schultz)
Now, why ya’ll want to come into my town and start trouble? And scare all these
nice people? You ain’t got nothing better to do than to come to Bill Sharp’s
town (Dr. Schultz approaches the sheriff as he speaks) and show your as*?
Marshal : You in the saloon! We
got a hundred rifles aimed at every way out of that building. You got one
chance to get out of this alive. You and your nigg*r come out right now with
your hands over your head and I mean right now.
Dr. Schultz : (inside of the saloon) Is this the marshal I have
the pleasure of addressing?
The Marshal : Yes it is. This is U.S. Marshal Gill Tatum.
Dr. Schultz : Na wunderbar, marshal! I have relieved myself of
all weapons. And just as you have instructed I’m ready to step outside with my
hands raised above my head. I trust as a representative of the criminal justice
system of the United States of America, I shan’t be shot down in the street by
either you or your deputies before I’ve had my day in court.
The Marshal : You mean like did our sheriff? Shot him down like a dog in the street.
Dr. Schultz : Yes, that’s exactly what I mean! Do I have your
word as a lawman not to shoot me down like a dog in the street?
The Marshal : Well, much as we’d all enjoy seeing something like that, ain’t nobody
gonna cheat the hangman in my town.
Dr. Schultz : Fair enough, marshal! Here we come!
Analysis
From dialogue 2, Dr.Schultz
and The Marshall also applied Positive Politeness strategy by conveying an
agreement or negotiations. After the Beer Drinking Scene, Dr. Schultz and
Django have an encounter, first with a sheriff and then with the marshal. As the
sheriff brings them outside in front of the townsfolk to question them with an
arrogant attitude Dr. Schultz approaches him and shoots him dead in front of
everyone. Once again this action occurs very suddenly and seems completely
irrational and rushed. Django seems very shocked and worried about the turn of
the events, however Dr. Schultz does not seem fazed at all as he tells the
innkeeper to go get the marshal. Later it becomes clear why Dr. Schultz
requested the sheriff first and marshal after.
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Dialogue 3
Dr. Schultz : So, I would like the two of us to enter into an agreement. I’m looking for the Brittle Brothers. However, I heard this endeavor I’m in a slight disadvantage insofar as I don’t know what they look like. But you do, don’t you?
Analysis
Dialogue 3 also applied an
agreement. Dr. Schultz reveals that he needs Django’s help to recognize some
people who are on his wanted list. This revelation brings dimension to Dr.
Schultz’s character and his motives. Suddenly his actions are no longer done at
random but carefully calculated.
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Dialogue 4
Dr.
Schultz : Are these Broomhilda’s papers?
Mr.
Candie : Yes, they are.
Dr.
Schultz : May I?
Mr.
Candie : Of course.
Dr.
Schultz : Thank you.
Mr.
Candie : That is her bill of sale, her ownership history and of course her
freedom papers, doctor.
Dr.
Schultz : Would you have ink and pen for me?
Mr.
Candie : (points behind him) Right over there on that little table.
Dr.
Schultz : Thank you.
Analysis
Dialogue 4 show an agreement between Mr. Candie and Dr. Schultz for
buying one of candie’s slave. In the final scene where Dr. Schultz appears,
they have arrived at a plantation owned by Mr. Calvin Candie, who is a slave
owner. Dr. Schultz and Django have killed the Brittle brothers and Dr. Schultz
is in the process of buying the freedom of Django's wife Broomhilda, whom they
only recently found out to be a slave in the plantation. They are in a sitting
room with Mr.Candie, signing Broomhilda’s papers of freedom.
It can be concluded that in Positive politeness strategy, this film shows
more things about agreement and negotiation.
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3.
Negative Politeness Strategies in Django Unchained Movie
Brown and Levinson (1987) mention that Negative Politeness
strategy intends to create distance between a speaker and hearers to show
respect. It also performs the functions of minimizing particular impositions on
the hearers. Formality and indirectness, as a result, are some examples of
Negative Politeness strategy.
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Dialogue 1
Dr.
Schultz : So, I wish to parley with you.
Speck
Brother : Speak English!
Dr.
Schultz : Oh, I’m sorry. Please forgive me, it is a
second language. Now amongst your inventory, I’m led to believe is a specimen
I’m keen to acquire
Analysis
Dialogoe 1 show directly damage speaker positive
face that is emotion leakage and offend negative face for apologies. The Speck
brothers get visibly annoyed and they urge Dr. Schultz to “speak English”, by
which they mean their variety of English, which features less complex sentence
structures , a smaller vocabulary, and is delivered by the actors in a Southern
US accent. The accent simultaneously accurately situates them in the correct
time and place and also signals to the viewers that these characters are less
intelligent, as the southern US accent is treated as inferior in the public's
minds). Dr. Schultz speaks more educated English. Dr. Schultz also favours
challenging vocabulary, such as “parley”, “purchase” and “ascertain” instead of
simply saying that he wants “to do business with you” and “buy” and “make
sure”.
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Dialogue 2
Mr.
Candie : One more moment doctor!
Dr.
Schultz : What?
Mr.
Candie : It’s a custom here in the South, once a business
deal is concluded that the two parties shook hands. It implies good faith.
Mr.
Candie : Mr. Pooch! If she tries to leave here before this
nigg*r-loving German shakes my hand. You cut got her as* down.
Dr.
Schultz : You really want me to shake your hand?
Mr.
Candie : I insist.
Dr.
Schultz : (mockingly) If you insist! (smiles and
approaches Mr. Candie and proceeds to shoot him in the chest)
(Mr. Candie falls down dead)
Servant : Nooo, Calvin! Calvin!
Dr.
Schultz : (turns to the other men with guns): I’m sorry. I
couldn’t resist.
(Dr. Schultz is shot dead by Mr. Pooch. Django shots
Mr. Pooch right after that. A gunfight with Django and other characters
ensues.)
Analysis
From dialogue 2, we can see that Dr.Schultz and Mr.
Candie show negative politeness of offend negative face for acceptance of
offers and break down of physical control body. Dr. Schultz attempts to leave
but Mr. Candie stops him and insists him to shake his hand, provoked by Dr.
Schultz's words to him. Dr. Schultz passive- aggressively denies him. After Mr.
Candie threatens to shoot Broomhilda Dr. Schultz asks one last time if Mr.
Candie wants to shake hands with him. It is as if Dr. Schultz gives Mr.Calvin
one more chance to retreat and preserve his life. After Mr. Candie insists, Dr.
Schultz once again calmly approaches him and abruptly shoots him dead.
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Dialogue 3
He also goes down on his own terms and lets nobody
tell him what to do. Before he is shot dead and shortly after he has killed Mr.
Candie and said :
Dr.
Schultz : “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist”
Analysis
Dialogue 3 happened after Dr.Schultz killed
Mr.Candie and he turn his face to Django face and said “I’m sorry, I couldn’t
resist” that show offend negative face and directly damage physical control
body for apologies. Because, he has knowingly accepted his faith because he
feels that he has freed Django and his wife Broomhilda, thus having fulfilled
his purpose of being against slavery. Immediately after his shocking demise
Django destroys Mr. Candie’s country house and kills everyone on the
plantation, apart from the slaves. This can be considered to be Dr. Schultz’s
ultimate legacy to Django and his death makes him an even more compelling
character. Dr.schultz could not stand Mr. Candie's racism and slavery business
and finally shot Mr. Candie. Candie even though Dr.Schultz already knew that
his fate would be the same, namely to die too.
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Dialogue 4
Dr.
Schultz : Who are they? (continues calmly)
Django : Big John, Ellis, Roger. Sometime they call him Little Rog.
Dr.
Schultz : (Nods)
Django : They were…
Dr.
Schultz : Not anymore. Tell me, if you were to see any of
these three gentlemen again would you recognize them?
Brother : Hey, stop talking to him like that.
Dr.
Schultz : Like what?
Brother : (points at them) Like that.
Dr.
Schultz : My good man I’m simply trying to ascertain-
Brother : (interrupting) Speak English, goddamnit.
Dr.
Schultz : Everybody, calm down I’m simply a customer
trying to conduct a transaction.
Brother : I don’t care. No sale. Now off with ya.
Dr.
Schultz : Pfft. Don’t be ridiculous, of course they’re for
sale
Brother : (Points a gun at Dr. Schultz) Move it.
Dr.
Schultz : My good man. Did you simply get carried away
with your dramatic gesture or are you pointing your weapon at me with lethal
intention?
Brother : (Loads his gun) Last chance, fancypants.
Dr.
Schultz : Oh, very well. (Suddenly drops his lantern and
shoots one of the brothers in the head and the other brother’s horse, so he
gets trapped under the horse)
Brother : (Screams in agony)
Analysis
There are more negative politeness strategy in
Dialogue 4. The dialogue above show that strategy are offend negative face with
showing apologies, response to hearer and disagreement while in directly damage
speaker positive face showing compliments, break down of physical control body,
and emotion leakage. Dr. Schultz does not appear threatening but the Speck
brothers seem cautious and surprised. The ambush starts from the beginning of
their dialogue as Dr. Schultz uses very formal English and a broad vocabulary.
He adds descriptive adjectives into his speech and greets them with good
manners and politeness. Dr. Schultz could use a simpler language, however he does
not abandon his sophisticated speaking for one moment.
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Dialogue 5
Dicky
Speck : Who’s that stumblin’ around in the dark? State
your business or prepare to get winged. (clicking his gun):
Dr.
Schultz : Calm yourselves, gentlemen. I mean you no
harm. I’m simply a fellow weary traveler. Whoa! (with a slight German accent) (Schultz
directs this to his horse for them to stop moving).
Dr.
Schultz : Good cold evening, gentlemen. I’m looking for a
pair of slave traders that go by the name of “Speck brothers”. Might that be
you?
Analysis
Dialogue 5 showed that offend speaker negative face
by apologies, offers, response to hearer, and promises with directly damage
speaker positive face by break down body control, emtion leakeage and
confessions and a little bit of awkwardness and embarassment. The Speck
brothers get frustrated with him having the upper hand in their conversation
using complex sentence structures as can be seen on line 2 in the transcript.
He usually adds adjectives to his sentences in order to make his speech more
descriptive. This also means that he is attentive and actively makes
observations about his surroundings. Rather than saying that he is also just
travelling around he states; “I’m simply a fellow weary traveller”. This
conveys information about him being an intellectual character. Dicky Speck also
said “State your business or prepare to get winged.” That showing offend
speaker negative face with response to hearer and threating Dr. Schultz.
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Dialogue 6
Mr.
Candie : Dumas...?
Dr.
Schultz : Alexander Dumas. He wrote "The Three
Musketeers." I figured you must be an admirer. You named your slave after
that novel's lead character. If Alexander Dumas had been there today, I wonder
what he would of made of it?
Mr.
Candie : You doubt he’d approve, huh?
Dr.
Schultz : Yes, his approval would be a dubious proposition
at best.
Mr.
Candie : Soft-hearted Frenchie?
Dr.
Schultz : Alexander Dumas is black.
Analysis
This dialogue 6 above showed offend the speaker
negative face by embarassment and awkwardness while in directly damage positive
face with self-humilation and compliments. With this line, Dr. Schultz
simultaneously points out Mr. Candie’s ignorance since Mr. Candie is a very
racist character in the film and tests out Mr. Candie’s knowledge by stating
that Alexandre Dumas is black. Candie’s reaction reveals that he had no idea
about the famous author’s race. It is very unlikely that he would have even
read a book from a black author, however, here he has done it unknowingly.
It can be concluded that in negative politeness
strategy, this film shows more things about offend speaker negative and
directly damage positive face and negative politeness strategies in this movie
are often used by the characters in the movie.
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4.
Off Record Strategies in Django Unchained Movie
(Brown and Levinson, 1987) mention that a speaker can apply Off-Record
strategy by using hint or statement. It allows hearers to interpret the meaning
themselves. The statement, as a result, is not directly addressed to the
hearers. The speaker can use Off-Record strategy to avoid the responsibility of
doing Face Threatening Acts (FTAs). In this movie, there are a lot of racism
statement, sarcasm, and joke. The writers analyzed some dialogues with off
record strategies.
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Dialogue 1
Dr.
Schultz : ” Now, as to you poor devils.”
Analysis
Dialogue 1 showed that off record strategies by doing blatant racism and
sarcasm. The statement above is expressed by Dr. King Schultz and the place was
taken in the forest when he met the two men with Django and other black people.
His statement is aimed to the black people without an apology even though he is
such a wise man.
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Dialogue 2
Dr.
Schultz : Good cold evening, gentlemen. I’m looking for a pair of slave
traders that go by the name of “Speck brothers”. Might that be you?
Analysis
Dialogue 2 showed off record for giving a hints, we see Dr.Schultz said
“Good cold evening……” when Dr.schultz met the speck brother, the weather was
very cold and they passed each other in the middle of the forest.
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Dialogue 3
Speck brother :
“Nigg*r, don’t you touch my brother’s coat”
Analysis
In Dialogue 3 above showed that off record politeness strategies with
blatant racism. The statement above is expressed by one of the Speck brothers
in the forest as Schultz asks Django to take the dead Speck brother‟s coat to
put on. His statement is aimed towards Django. He said nigg*r because Django is
a black guy and it is totally blatant of his saying such words without an
apology or confusion.
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Dialogue 4
Big Daddy : “ It’s against the law for nigg*rs to ride horses in this territory”.
Analysis
Dialogue 3 above showed that off record politeness strategies with
blatant racist statement. The statement above is expressed by Big Daddy as
known as Mr. Bennett. The place was taken in his house when Django and Schultz
arrived with their horses. The utterance of Big Daddy showed that he cannot
agree with black people riding a horse and he said that without saying sorry or
feeling guilty. He blatantly did it. He said that because he did not want to
see a black person on a horse at least on his property surrounded by other
black people.
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Dialogue 5
Dr.
Schultz : Good morning, innkeeper! Two beers for two weary travelers.
Innkeeper : (His back to Django and Dr. Schultz) It’s still a bit early. We won’t be
open for another hour. By then we’ll be serving breakfast-” (gasps upon seeing
Django) Whoa whoa whoa whoa! What the hell you think you’re doing boy? Get
that nigg*r out of here!
Dr.
Schultz : (Stares at the keeper incredulously)
(Innkeeper runs out of the saloon) Help! Help! Help!
Analysis
Still, in dialogue 5, strategies for off record politeness with blatant
racicm and sarcasm in it. The inkeeper said “(gasping) Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa …
what the hell you think you’re doing, boy? Get that nigg*r outta here!”
The statement is expressed by the innkeeper when Dr. Schultz and Django enter
the saloon for two glasses of beer. The statement was aimed towards Schultz to
get Django, the black guy, out of the salon. This expression is rude and he
said that without any guilty feeling. It is clearly that the innkeeper does not
let black people to be inside his salon because black people do not deserve to
be treated nice.
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Dialogue 6
Dr.
Schultz : Oh, maybe while we discuss business, you could
provide one of your loveliest black creatures to escort Django here around
your magnificent grounds.
Mr.
Bennet : Oh, well absolutely! Uh, Betina sugar? Betina :
Yessir, Big Daddy?
Mr.
Bennet : Could you take Django around Betina : Yes’m?
Mr.
Bennet
: Django isn’t a slave. Django is a free
man, you understand? You can’t treat him like any of the other nigg*rs around
here cause he ain’t like any of the other nigg*rs around here. You got it?
Betina : You want I should treat him like white folks?
Mr.
Bennet : No, that’s not what I said.
Betina : Then I don’t know what you want, Big Daddy.
Mr.
Bennet : Yes, I can see that. Uh..( turn aside and hand gestures at a black woman
behind him) What’s the name of the peckerwood boy from town that works with the
glass? His mama work over at the lumberyard.
Black
woman : Oh you mean Jerry?
Mr.
Bennet : That’s the boy’s name. Jerry! You know Jerry, don’t
you sugar?
Betina : Yes’m, Big Daddy.
Mr.
Bennet : Well that’s it then. You just treat him like you
would Jerry.
Analysis
Dialogue 6 showed off record strategis with unintentional racism. The
dialog above occurs between Mr. Bennet and Betina as Betina is about to take
Django around to see all the pretty stuffs when Schultz reminds Mr. Bennet that
Django is a free man. He cannot be treated like a slave and must be treated as
an extension of Schultz. Schultz seems to be nice but Mr. Bennet is nice just
because Schultz does not want him to treat Django like a slave. And when Betina
asks him about treating him like white people, Mr. Bennet says that it is not
what he said. Betina should treat Django like a renowned person but still a
black person.
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Dialogue 7
Dr.
Schultz : (inside of the saloon) Is this the marshal I have the pleasure of
addressing?
The
Marshal : Yes it is. This is U.S. Marshal Gill Tatum.
Dr.
Schultz : Na wunderbar, marshal! I have relieved myself of all weapons. And just
as you have instructed I’m ready to step outside with my hands raised above my
head. I trust as a representative of the criminal justice system of the United
States of America, I shan’t be shot down in the street by either you or your
deputies before I’ve had my day in court.
The
Marshal : You mean like did our sheriff? Shot him down
like a dog in the street.
Dr.
Schultz : Yes, that’s exactly what I mean! Do I have your word as a lawman not
to shoot me down like a dog in the street?
Analysis
Dialogue 7 showing off record politeness with Joke and Sarcasm. Dr.
Schultz just shot dead a criminal who disguised himself as the sheriff of the
city like a dog on the streets. Then when Marshall arrived at the scene, Dr.
Schults negotiated not to be shot as he himself did to the fake sheriff. Dr. Schultz
has a strong natural authority which he uses in this scene. He is a charismatic
speaker who knows his business well and easily maintains the audience’s
attention. He is knowledgeable of the US justice system and uses that to
ascertain his own safety. He instructs Django to let him do the talking and the
way he routinely instructs Django gives the idea that he is used to these kinds
of situations. Django does not try to question his actions to his face.
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In conclusion, it can be seen that this film often uses off record
strategies and is very dominant in this film.
Django Unchained is a movie that shows a lot of racist actions which also
clearly shows that black people are lower than white ones. There are some
actions or scenes that we can divide them into three types of racism, blatant,
covert, and unintentional racism in off record. Also there are politeness
strategy used by the characters in this movie.
From the results, that the characters in this film often use politeness strategies with negative politeness and off record politeness which is very dominating in this film.
......................................................................................................................................................................
CONCLUSION
Politeness is a system of interpersonal relations
designed to facilitate interaction by minimizing the potential for conflict and
confrontation inherent in all human interchange. According to Goffman (1967)
stated that about Negative and positive face, Negative face is the need to be
independent to have a freedom of action and not to be imposed by others.
Positive face is the need to be accepted, even liked by others, to be treated
as a member of the group and to know that his or her wants are shared by others.
In conclusion, we can say that negative politeness is the need to be
independent and positive politeness is the need to be connected. According to
the data analysis, the researcher has found that there are four politeness
strategies such as bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness.
And off record in “Django Unchained Movie”.
In Django Unchained, a movie directed by Quentin
Tarantino is indeed talking about racism. The research revealed that Dr.
Schultz as supporting actor is dominant for showing all politeness strategies
such as his calm, charismatic and collective demeanor. Unlike the main
character, Django, who doesn't talk much in this movie, he showed politeness
strategies that are dominant to bald on record and positive politeness. For
Mr.Candie, we analyzed that Mr.Candie often using negative politeness and off
record because he is the most racist man in this movie and really ignorance.
Same like Mr. Candie, Mr. Bennet (Big Daddy), and Speck brother also dominant
in negative politeness and off record strategies.
In
conclusion, the results of this research showed that the characters in Django
Unchained movie used all of four politeness strategies. The most common
strategies were negative politeness and off record, where positive politeness
and bald on record were the least strategies used by the characters in this
movie.
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REFERENCES
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Brown,
P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: some universals in language
usage. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (1982). Qualitative research for education: an
introduction to theory and methods. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
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https://imsdb.com/scripts/Django-Unchained.html
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Christopher P. (2013) Film Theory and Approaches to Criticism, or WhatDid That
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Stein,
Atara. 2009. The Byronic Hero in Film, Fiction, and Television. Paperback ed,
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B. (2004). Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Institut d`etudes Theologiques