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A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF REQUESTS EXPRESSED BY THE MAIN
CHARACTERS IN NANCY MEYERS’S THE INTERN MOVIE
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Attainment of a
Sarjana Sastra Degree in English Literature
Written by:
Dyotra Nurul Baiti
12211144006
ENGLISH LITERATURE STUDY PROGRAM
ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
YOGYAKARTA STATE UNIVERSITY
2017
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MOTTO
It’s never too late to start over. If you weren’t happy with
yesterday, try something different today.
Don’t stay stuck. Do better.
-Alex Elle-
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DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to
my beloved parents who always support me in
finishing this thesis.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, all praises be to Allah SWT by saying
Alhamdulillahirabbil’alamin for this blessed life to be gifted to me. Without His
blessings, I would never have finished my thesis.
In completing this thesis, there are many parties who have supported and
helped me. Therefore, I would like to give my deepest gratitude to:
1. Titik Sudartinah, M.A., my first supervisor, and Nandy Intan Kurnia, M.Hum.,
my second supervisor, for their support, advice, patience, and guidance in
helping me conduct this thesis, thus I could finish this thesis well;
2. Andy Bayu Nugroho, M.Hum., my academic consultant, for his motivation,
support, and patience in teaching and guiding me during my process of study;
3. all lecturers of English Education Department who have taught and guided me
during my years of study;
4. my parents, Drs. Agus Setyobudi and Ismalia Tri Ratnawati, S.Pd who always
love me sincerely, give their care to me, pray for me, teach me and support me
everytime.
5. my brother, Agra and sister-in-law, Nisa, for supporting me in the process of
writing my thesis;
6. the members of English Literature Study Program of 2012, especially E-lit G
class and Linguistics class for their support and experience;
7. the members of Sahabat Dahsyat: Cughin, Honi, Dea, Lindut, Hani, and Jehna
who always love and support me;
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ............................................................................................... i
APPROVAL SHEET .................................................................................... ii
RATIFICATION SHEET ........................................................................... iii
PERNYATAAN ............................................................................................... iv
MOTTO ......................................................................................................... v
DEDICATION ............................................................................................... vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................... vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................. ix
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ........................................................... xi
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................. xii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1
A. Background of the Research .............................................................. 1
B. Research Focus .................................................................................... 4
C. Objectives of the Research .................................................................. 6
D. Significance of the Research ............................................................... 6
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................ 8
A. Literature Review ................................................................................ 8
1. Pragmatics ...................................................................................... 8
2. The Scope of Pragmatics ............................................................... 9
3. Speech Acts .................................................................................... 12
4. The Act of Request ......................................................................... 14
a. Definition of Request ................................................................. 14
b. Types of Request ....................................................................... 16
c. Strategies of Request ................................................................. 19
d. Purposes of Request ................................................................... 24
5. The Intern Movie ............................................................................ 26
6. Previous Research ........................................................................... 28
B. Conceptual Framework ....................................................................... 29
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CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD ................................................... 32
A. Research Type ..................................................................................... 32
B. Form, Source, and Context of Data ..................................................... 33
C. Instruments .......................................................................................... 33
D. Techniques of Data Collection ............................................................ 34
E. Techniques of Data Analysis .............................................................. 35
F. Data Trustworthiness .......................................................................... 35
CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ...................................... 37
A. Findings ............................................................................................... 37
B. Discussion ........................................................................................... 39
1. Types of Requests Expressed by the Main Characters in The
Intern Movie ................................................................................... 40
2. Strategies of Requests Employed by the Main Characters in The
Intern Movie ................................................................................... 48
3. Purposes of Requests Applied by the Main Characters in The
Intern Movie ................................................................................... 61
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions ......................................................................................... 69
B. Suggestions ......................................................................................... 72
REFERENCES .............................................................................................. 73
APPENDICES ............................................................................................... 75
A. Data Sheet of Types, Strategies, and Purposes of Requests
Employed by the Main Characters in Nancy Meyers‘s
The Intern Movie ................................................................................. 75
B. Surat Pernyataan Triangulasi ............................................................. 89
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LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figure 1. The Cover of The Intern movie ....................................................... 27
Figure 2. Analytical Construct ........................................................................ 31
Table 1. Sample Data Sheet of Request Expressed by the Main Characters in
The Intern Movie .............................................................................. 34
Table 2. Frequency of Occurrence of Types, Strategies, and Purposes of
Request Expressed by the Main Characters in Nancy Meyers‘s
The Intern Movie .............................................................................. 38
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A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF REQUESTS EXPRESSED BY THE MAIN
CHARACTERS IN NANCY MEYERS’S THE INTERN MOVIE
Dyotra Nurul Baiti
12211144006
ABSTRACT
This research examines the speech acts of request presented in The Intern
movie using pragmatic approach. The objectives of this research are to find out
the types of requests used by the main characters, to examine the strategies of
requests used by the main characters, and to explain the purposes of requests
expressed by the main characters in The Intern movie.
This research used a combination method, in which the main method was
qualitative method that was supported by a qualitative method. The data were
utterances, in the form of sentences, phrases, clauses or words spoken by the main
characters in The Intern movie, while the contexts of the data were dialogues. The
source of the data was the script of the dialogues spoken by the characters in The
Intern movie. The primary instrument of this research was the researcher herself,
while the secondary instrument was the data sheet. The researcher used analysis
of documents by note-taking as a source of collecting data.
The results of this research are described as follows. First, there are four
types of requests found in the movie: unconventionally indirect request,
conventionally indirect request (hearer based), conventionally indirect request
(speaker based), and direct request. Conventionally indirect request (hearer based)
becomes the most prominent type of request because the main characters use this
to ask their request politely. Second, there are seven strategies of requests
expressed by the main characters: hints, questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness,
suggestory formulae, statements of speaker‘s wishes/desires, statements of
speaker‘s needs/demands, statement of obligation/necessity, and imperatives. The
most dominant strategy is questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness because the
main characters ask the ability to the requestee to perform the request. Therefore,
they do not force the requestee to perform an action. Third, there are four
purposes of request applied by the main characters: request for goods, request for
the initiation of action, request for the cessation of action, and request for joint
activity. The most dominant purpose of request is request for the initiation of
action because the main characters often use this purpose to demand a requestee to
perform an action.
Keywords: request, types, strategies, purposes, The Intern movie
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of background of the research, research focus,
objectives of the research, and the significance of the research.
A. Background of the Research
As human beings, people need communication to socialize with others in
the society. Through it, people can share information, ask something, express
feeling, suggest anything and so forth. To achieve an effective communication,
people should understand the existence of language. Language itself basically has
two types: spoken language and written language. Written language is usually
used in texts. Meanwhile, spoken language is found in people‘s conversation.
Conversation is a real form of language use. It is part of communication which
involves few people who are doing an interaction in one situation with one topic.
A related concept of language that used as intended meaning of conversation is
known as speech acts.
According to Yule (1996:47), an action is performed through saying
something in a certain language known as a speech act. It implies that when a
speaker utters something, he/she actually wants to deliver the meaning of the
utterances, the action, and the effect of the utterances. Based on the speaker who
produces an utterance, it consists of three kinds of acts. They are locutionary act
(basic of utterances by saying something), illocutionary act (the intention via
saying something), and perlocutionary act (the result of saying something).
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The example is when the speaker directly says I want a book to the hearer.
The locutionary act is when the speaker utters the statement (directives) that
she/he needs a book. The speaker makes an order or demand that serves as the
illocutionary act or the intention of the speaker. After the hearer understands the
intention, he/she performs an action by giving the book to the speaker in order to
comply the demand. The effect of saying something is called perlocutionary act.
There is one thing that often happened in a conversation between one
person and another in a certain situation, when a person expresses the need or
demand for hearer to fulfill it. This case is called as speech act of request. A
request can be stated by people in many occasions. It mostly happens in public
services like in the office, café, hotel, or any others. For example, when the
speaker is in the café, he/she says Could you serve me a cup of hot cappuccino? In
an indirect way, the guest makes a request to order a cup of coffee and the
waiter/waitress serves him/her. It is a natural phenomenon in the society because
the guest can request many things to the waiter/waitress in the café. Thus, in
performing a request, the addressee can carry out the demand from the speaker or
not to carry out the demand based on the reason behind it.
Trosborg (1994:187) states that a request is an illocutionary act in which
the speaker wants the hearer to carry out an action that has advantages for the
speaker and, sometimes, for the hearer. It can be expressed in two ways; they are
verbal and non verbal goods and services. The verbal goods and services are a
request for information, whereas the non verbal goods and services are a request
for an object, action or some kind of services. The purpose of requests is the
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hearer performs a future action which is an order from the speaker that has
advantages for the speaker and sometimes for the hearer. The request can be said
in direct and indirect ways. It depends on the speaker‘s utterances and what action
that the hearer may perform. Then, when a speaker utters a request, he/she needs a
strategy to convey the meaning of the request because every person is different in
understanding the utterances. Subsequently, the requester has purpose in uttering
the request which is to explicate the meaning of it.
The speech act of requests is an interesting problem to be discussed
because it can be found in daily conversation. For the representation of real life,
the researcher uses a movie because what happens in the movie mostly portrays
the society. Related to the movie, the researcher chooses The Intern as the object
in this research. The story is about an old man named Ben who gets a job as an
intern and a woman named Jules who is the founder/boss in the office. Ben is a
responsible old man and he has a mature thought whereas Jules is a workhorse
and careless woman. In this movie, Ben helps his boss as an intimate intern to
accompany Jules in every occasion because she is very busy with her work and
cannot handle all of it. Jules often requests Ben to do something to fulfill her
needs any time. To cover Jules‘s activities, Ben always complies the needs of his
boss surprisingly even in the marriage or family problems which are faced by
Jules.
There are some reasons for choosing this movie as the object. First, the
researcher is interested in Jules, one of the main characters, which portrays Jules‘s
struggle. It is shown by Jules who becomes a successful woman to grow up a
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fashion company which has 220 coworkers. However, her husband decides to be a
house husband. Second, the main characters are employees and boss who have
different positions in the office. The researcher assumes that the speech acts of
requests occur in the movie. Third, the movie won an award in AARP Movies for
Grownup Awards 2016 and some nominations for the best actor and actress.
Hence, this movie is considered as a great movie to be analyzed.
B. Research Focus
There are two types of communication; they are verbal and non-verbal
communication. Both of those types of communication are found in The Intern
movie. The verbal communication can be seen through the dialogues or
conversations among the characters, whereas non verbal communication can be
found in the written language which is in the script of this movie. Based on the
background of research, two topics of pragmatic approach can be used to analyze
the problems from The Intern movie.
First, the topic of politeness means a person‘s manner to avoid hurting
people. In term of politeness, the utterances in The Intern movie can be discussed
since there are sociological factors such as rank of imposition, power, and degree
of intimacy which are shown by the main characters.
Second, it can be analyzed using speech acts. There are many utterances
expressed by the characters in order to deliver the purpose of the conversation.
Based on Yule (1996:53), there are three kinds of speech acts, namely
locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary acts. The illocutionary acts are
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divided into five types, i.e. declarations, representatives, expressives, directives,
and commissives.
Based on the identification related to the topics, the researcher limits the
research problem. The researcher chooses one type of illocutionary acts, namely
directives. Through this type, there are command, request, and suggestion. It is
impossible to analyze all the problems because it takes too much time and
plentiful explanation. Hence, the researcher only focuses on analyzing request.
The researcher is concerned with the types of request, strategies of request and
purposes underlying the request. Thus, there are some problems in The Intern
movie dealing with request as in the following.
The first problem is the types of request that are employed by the main
characters in The Intern movie. The main characters are an employee and his boss
that often demand to do something in direct or indirect ways to the other
characters.
The second problem is the strategies that are employed by the main
characters to express the request toward the other characters. To reveal the
utterances of request by the characters, there are some strategies of request that
need to be understood.
The third problem is the purpose of requests expressed by the main
characters to the other characters. It focuses on the intention of request which is
addressed to the other characters. The purposes of request are request for goods,
request for the initiation of action, request for the cessation of action, and request
for joint activity.
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From the identification and limitation of the problems, the formulation of
the problems can be arranged as follows.
1. What types of request are used by the main characters in The Intern movie?
2. What are the strategies of requests used by the main characters in The Intern
movie?
3. What are the purposes of the requests expressed by the main characters in The
Intern movie?
C. Objectives of the Research
Based on the problems formulated, the objectives of the research can be
stated as follows:
1. to find out the types of request used by the main characters in The Intern
movie,
2. to examine the strategies used by the main characters to express their requests
in The Intern movie, and
3. to explain the purposes of request expressed by the main characters toward the
requestee‘s in The Intern movie.
D. Significance of the Research
This research is expected to be useful and give contribution to the
following parties.
a. The Students of English Literature Study Program
It is expected that this research will serve as a valuable source of reference
in pragmatics especially in the speech act of requests. Hopefully, the students can
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enrich their knowledge and they can understand more about speech act of requests
related to the types, strategies, and the purposes of requests.
b. Readers in General
After reading this research, it is expected that this research will give more
information about speech act of requests to the readers. The researcher wants them
to understand the use of requests in daily life.
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CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
This chapter deals with literature review which covers some theories on
pragmatics concerning with speech act of requests and conceptual framework
which explains the concept of this research in accordance with the problems also
the analytical construct.
A. Literature Review
1. Pragmatics
Language is an essential part of communication. It is used to interact with
other people in daily life to share the ideas, to give opinions, or to ask someone to
do something. The use of language for communication is explained in linguistics
study which is called as pragmatics. According to Mey (2001:6), in
communication, pragmatics is the study of language used by people in order to
show the effects of the language use towards other people. It means by studying
pragmatics, people will understand how language plays a role in their lives.
There are several points of view of pragmatics proposed by Yule (1996:
3). According to him, firstly, pragmatics is the study of the speaker‘s intention. It
requires the analysis of what people mean by their sentences, phrases or words.
Secondly, pragmatics is the study of language through the intentional context. It
takes consideration on how a speaker arranges what he/she wants to say in
particular circumstances. The last, pragmatics is the study of language through the
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distance. It is assumed as the study of the relationship between the speaker and the
hearer.
In line with the definition proposed by Yule, Cruse (2006:3) states that
pragmatics concerns with the meaning of an utterance which relies on context.
Therefore, context is a necessary concept in pragmatic analysis. It is because
pragmatics focuses on the meaning of utterances or interaction which is involved
by some people to communicate with the utterances they said to others in a
particular situation.
There are two types of context offered by Nunan (1993:8), i.e. linguistic
context that is the words, sentences, or utterances accompanying a text, and non
linguistic context that is the real situation in which the text comes off. The
components of non linguistic context are the type of communication event, the
topic, the purpose of the event, the setting, the participants and the relationship
between them, and the background knowledge also the assumption underlying the
communicative event.
In short, pragmatics is the study of language use which involves how the
speaker produces his/her utterances, delivers their intention, and how the hearer
interprets them in a certain context.
2. The Scope of Pragmatics
Pragmatics as a branch of linguistic study covers several topics. They are
deixis, politeness, speech acts, presupposition, and implicature. The first topic is
deixis. Yule (1996:9) states that deixis is an expression to indicate or point
something by language. He adds that the linguistic form which is used to point
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something or to refer something is called deictic expression. There are three types
of deixis. The first type is personal deixis which is used by a speaker to refer to a
person using several pronouns such as I, you, he/she, and it. The second type is
spatial deixis which is used to point to a location such as there and here. The third
type is temporal deixis which is an expression used to indicate the distance of
time. The terms such as now, yesterday, and tomorrow are pointing to the specific
time.
The second topic is presupposition. According to Yule (1996: 25), a
presupposition is something before making an utterance which is considered by
the speaker to be the case. It means when a speaker delivers the utterances, he/she
believes that the hearer understand his/her utterances. There are six types of
presupposition. They are existensial, factive, non-factive, lexical, structural, and
counterfactual.
The third topic is implicature. Grice (in Davis, 1998:5) defines implicature
as interpreting particular things by telling different things. It explains about a
speaker‘s intended meaning behind an utterance. He divides implicature into two
types; conventional implicature and conversational implicature. Conventional
implicature talks about specific words which have correlation to the additional
meaning. Conversational implicature is the implication of the utterances based on
the context.
Politeness is the fourth topic in pragmatics. It is derived from the term
polite which is included as the behavior of a person. Related to this, Mey (2009:
709) states that politeness is described as a person‘s behavior which is expected
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by the others. In addition, Yule (1996: 60) states that to reveal the consciousness
of other person‘s public self image or face is known as politeness. There are two
types of face namely face threatening act and face saving act. Face threatening act
means the utterances of a speaker that express a threat expression to attack another
person faces whereas face saving act means the utterances of a speaker which
prevent a potential threat to another person‘s face.
Speech act is a part of the fifth topic of pragmatics deals with the meaning
of an act performed by the speaker‘s utterance in a certain context. Nunan
(1993:65) says the speaker is not only delivering the statement pointed to an
object but also conveying the functions of the statement such as requesting,
denying, introducing, apologizing, and further. In order to produce an utterance,
the circumstances are needed, thus, the hearer can recognize the intended meaning
of the utterance. The circumstances are called speech events. According to Yule
(1996: 47), speech event is used for determining the interpretation of an utterance
as related to speech act. An example is in winter situation, when someone serves a
glass of tea, thus, the speaker believes that a glass of tea is hot. On the contrary,
the speaker says This tea is really cold! The speaker‘s utterance is interpreted as a
complaint. If the situation is changing into a really hot summer and the speaker is
given a glass of iced tea. The utterance of This tea is really cold! is interpreted as
a praise.
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3. Speech Acts
Austin (in Cutting, 2002: 16) defines speech acts as the actions that are
performed by utterances. It implies that people can use language by speaking
particular things to carry out something. In accordance to Austin, Yule (1996:48)
divides the speech acts into three related acts. First, a locutionary act is the
primary utterance in saying something. Second, an illocutionary act is the
intention or purpose of an utterance through saying something. The last, a
perlocutionary act is the outcome of an utterance over saying something. In other
words, a locutionary act means a simple act of saying words which are formed to
be an utterance and the meaning of saying the utterance which is uttered by the
speaker. Meanwhile, an illocutionary act means the intention behind an utterance
which is expressed by the speaker. It conveys the purpose of saying something.
Then, a perlocutionary act means the effect that emerges when the speaker says
something.
Related to the three acts above, Yule (1996: 53) also divides illocutionary
acts into five major categories, i.e. representatives, directives, expressives,
commissives, and declaratives. Representative is a kind of speech acts which have
function to describe states. The purpose is to commit the speaker to something‘s
being the case. The action are arguing, asserting, boasting, claiming, complaining,
criticizing, denying, describing, informing, insisting, reporting, swearing, etc, for
example, The earth is flat. The speaker here says about the earth which is already
known by people.
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Meanwhile, directive is a kind of speech acts that a speaker uses to get the
addressee to do something. Directives express what the speaker wants toward the
hearer to commit an action. The acts of directives are ordering, commanding,
requesting, and suggesting, for example, Could you open the window, please? In
this example, the speaker requests the hearer to open the window.
Then, commissive is a kind of speech acts that the speaker uses to perform
him or herself to do some future action. It expresses the speaker‘s intention to
carry out an action in a certain time. The acts are commiting, guaranteeing,
offering, promising, refusing, threatening, volunteering, vowing, etc, for example,
I’m going to get it right next time. In doing the type of commissives, the speaker
promises to the hearer to get it right next time.
Thereafter, expressive is a kind of speech acts that expresses the feeling of
the speaker. Expressives express psychological states of mind such as the
pleasure, pain, like, dislike, joy or sorrow. The acts of apologizing, appreciating,
thanking, complaining, and congratulating belong to expressive, for example,
Congratulations! By presenting the example, the speaker shows his/her statement
of happiness.
Later, declarative is a kind of speech acts that conveys the utterance to
bring about a change in reality. The acts are approving, betting, blessing,
christening, confirming, cursing, declaring, disapproving, dismissing, naming,
resigning, for example, I pronounce you husband and wife. By telling so, the
speaker declares to the hearer/audience that there are two persons here becoming a
husband and a wife.
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4. The Act of Request
a. The Definition of Request
Directive covers three illocutionary forces, i.e. request, command, and
suggestion. The function of directives act is to get somebody to do something.
According to Searle (1979: 3), commands and requests have a similar purpose
which manages the hearer to carry out something. However, the illocutionary
forces are totally different. Command states directly that the speaker wants
something and the hearer should complete the desire because the hearer has a duty
to perform it. According to Cruse (2006: 62), a power should have by a
commander to control the command above the comandee.
According to Bach and Harnish (in Shams, 2011: 280), request is a part of
speech acts which express the requester‘s desires for the requestee why the
requestee should perform the action as a reason to act. Thus, requests are
performed by the requester in which aims to perform a certain thing. It is believed
that a request mostly about the requester‘s demands and the requestee‘s responses.
In addition, request is an action that is used to communicate with people in
society (Wang, 2007:11). In fact, request is usually used by people to conduct a
conversation such as someone who asks for help. People often use some verbs to
indicate a request such as ask, order, command, request, beg, plead, pray, entreat,
invite, permit, and advise (Sofwan, 2011:69). A person uses request as a way to
ask help when he/she needs a particular thing. By the definitions, it can be
concluded that request happens in daily life. It is to fulfill the requester‘s desires
which need to be done by the requestee.
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In requests, when the requester wants someone to carry out him/her
interest, this is called cost of the requestee. The requester imposes on the
requestee in certain ways to comply the desires of the requester. It seems that by
imposing the requestee, the requester gets the benefits from the latter
performance. Haverkate (in Trosborg, 1995:188) states that in impositive speech
act, the requester carries out a speech act towards the requestee for gaining the
performance which has advantages for the requester. By this statement, impositive
speech act imposes the requestee to perform the requester‘s desires which is to get
lot of advantages for the requester by the circumstances. The degree in which the
requester enforces on the requestee is called degree of imposition. It makes
difference compared to demanding acts.
Imposition is determined by a number of factors. For example, if the
requester asks for something expensive such as diamond, the financial burden on
the requestee may be big. In such a case, the degree of imposition of the requested
act is high. A burden is not always financial, but it is also psychological about the
thing.
Request should be performed in appropriate circumstances. The
circumstances of speech acts are known as felicity conditions. Felicity conditions
are the conditions that need to apply in performing speech acts in order to be
appropriate (Cruse, 2006:62). Moreover, Searle (in Trosborg, 1995:191) explains
the conditions are participant roles and propositional contents. Participant roles
are actors that participate in a conversation, i.e. the requester and the requestee. A
propositional content in request means the future acts performed by the requestee.
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There are four assumptions of performing request. First, the requester
wants the requestee to perform an action. Second, the requester assumes the
requestee can perform an action. Third, the requester assumes the requestee is
willing to perform an action. Last, the requester assumes the requestee will not
perform an action in the absence of the request. By these conditions, it conveys
the illocutionary forces of a request. In line with Searle, Labov – Fanshel (in
Trosborg, 1995:191) add the requester has the capacity to tell the requestee to
perform the desired act and the requestee has the responsibility to realize it.
In conclusion, request has three results. Firstly, the requester says his/her
request and wants the requestee to carry out the desired act. Secondly, the
requester may perform the desired act. Thirdly, it is indefinite that the requestee
will carry out the desired act.
b. Types of Request
Trosborg (1995) states there are two types of requesting, they are indirect
request and direct request. Indirect request is divided into three, i.e.
unconventionally indirect request, conventionally indirect request based on the
speaker, and conventionally indirect request based on the hearer. Each of them is
explained below.
1) Unconventionally Indirect Request
According to Trosborg (1995: 192), unconventionally indirect request
means a requester does not state what he/she wants to say. It has discrepancy
between what he/she says as his/her true intentions behind those utterances. It
means a requester indirectly implies the different meaning when he/she states
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something. The utterance must be recognized by the requester as an utterance that
conveys not only the surface meaning. In order to get the intended meaning of
request from the requester, both of the requester and the requestee must pay more
attention in a certain situation when the utterance is being produced. It is because
an indirect request has more than one meaning. In addition, both of requester and
requestee also should be aware about the intimate knowledge which is happened
in a certain situation. This type can be applied by using strategy of hints, for
example, It’s cold in here. By telling the situation, the utterance of an example
may result in few interpretations.
2) Conventionally Indirect Request (based on the hearer)
A conventionally indirect request based on the hearer shows that the
requestee manages the request whether he/she will perform or refuse the request.
This type is more polite than requests formulated on request based on the speaker
(Trosborg, 1995:197). When a requester utters what he/she needs, the requestee
occupies the substantial position. A requester already knows the consequence that
he/she does not take the request. Therefore, the requestee can refuse in a polite
way to answer the request. This type can be applied on the strategies of request
which are questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness and suggestory formulae. An
example is Could you close the window? By presenting the example, the requester
asks the requestee‘s willingness to close the window. In this case, the request
might be complied or not by the requestee.
18
3) Conventionally Indirect Request (based on the speaker)
Trosborg (1995: 201) says that a conventionally indirect request based on
the speaker is the requester placing his/her wishes above the requestee in order to
make the requestee perform an act as a wish from the requester. The requester
takes an important position in this type rather than the requestee. It is because the
requester becomes the main actor of the interaction. In cooperative way, the
requestee mostly accepts the wish rather than disagrees with the requester‘s
desires. The requester has control to request; it is called demand. Thus, it makes
the requestee difficult to refuse, for example, You should wash my clothes. In this
example, a requester demands to perform an action by washing his/her clothes
which is needed to comply. It is hard for the requestee to refuse the demand.
Related to this type, the statement of speaker‘s wishes and desires and the
statement of speaker‘s needs and demands are applied.
4) Direct request
Direct request is the type of request in which the requester and the
requestee instantly understand what the requester said (Trosborg, 1995:202). It is
because the requester directly says the desire to the requestee in an explicit way.
In accordance with the definition, Clark (in Achiba, 2003:7) says the illocutionary
force of direct request is only one. It clearly stated by the requester‘s utterance. In
direct request, the requester expects compliance from others. The requester tends
to have a higher position than the requestee by using performatives and imperative
statements or modal verb expressing obligation or necessity which expresses to be
an order. An example is A cup of coffee, please. By saying so, the requester
19
directly says to the requestee. The context is in the coffee shop, there are a guest
and a waiter. A guest, as the requester, orders a cup of coffee, thus, a waiter, as the
requestee, should comply an order from the requester. This type can be applied in
the three strategies such as statement of obligation and necessity, performatives,
and imperatives.
c. Strategies of Request
There are eight strategies of requesting stated by Trosborg (1995: 192).
They are hints, questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness, suggestory formulae,
statements of speaker‘s wishes/desires, statements of speaker‘s needs/demands,
statement of obligation/necessity, performatives, and imperatives. These strategies
are explained below.
1) Hints
Trosborg (1995: 192) states that hints strategy is a request strategy which
implicitly tells the requester‘s utterance for the desired action. This strategy can
be used for making a statement or asking a question. Thus, the requester can
express the needs to the requestee. According Achiba (2007:39), hints means that
the utterances have certain references to the object of desires for conveying the
action. By applying this strategy, the requestee should find out the intention
behind the requester utterances with certain references on the context or situation.
An example is The kitchen is a total mess. The example is clearly seen that the
requester does not state the request explicitly. The requester asks the requestee to
clean the kitchen because the kitchen looks dirty.
20
This strategy involves some conditions; they are reasonableness,
availability, and obviousness. Reasonableness indicates the reason of request
which implicitly expresses its purpose of request. To make a successful request,
the requester should put a reason after the utterance of desire/demand is produced.
Availability is interpreted by questioning the available/existence circumstances in
request. Obviousness implies that the request is uttered through questioning an act
which has not already been performed.
According to Blum Kulka (in Jalilifar, 2009: 47), hint is divided into two
propositions. They are strong hints and mild hints. Strong hints mean the requester
says his/her wish which contains partial reference to the object. Meanwhile, mild
hints mean the requester says his/her wish which is not containing reference to the
object. The examples of mild and strong hints are I have to be at the airport in
half an hour. It shows that the requester only expresses the desired action in
which the requester will be at the airport in half an hour. Thus, the requestee
interprets that he/she escorts the requester to the airport before boarding. In other
examples, My car has broken down. Will you be using your car tonight? When
interpreting strong hints, a requester adds his/her wish partially by completing an
utterance with Will you be using your car tonight?
2) Questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness
Trosborg (1995: 197) explains that when a requester states his/her request,
the requestee should consider that a question leads to his/her ability/willingness is
a request in order to perform the desired action. This strategy expects the
requestee to understand that the question belongs to his/her is a request. The
21
requestee can choose whether he/she wants to comply or not. When applying this
strategy, the requester uses some intensification through lexical marking such as
kind, mind, and object can enlarge the willingness pre-condition, for example,
Would you be so kind as to refrain from smoking. Here, the requester asks the
requestee not to smoke near him/her.
There are two conditions included in this strategy. The first is the
condition of ability; it refers to the requestee‘s ability to perform the request. In
order to indicate ability condition, there are two indicators; the inherent capacities
of the requestee, both physical and mental, also the external circumstances related
to time, place, etc of the action. The second condition is willingness. It focuses on
the requestee‘s willingness as fulfillment to conduct the request. The example is,
Can you reach the jar for me, please. By saying so, the requester asks the capacity
of the requestee whether the requestee can reach the jar or not. Another example is
Will you do the shopping today? It is a question that indirectly asking to the
requestee in which the requester invites his/her to go shopping today.
3) Suggestory formulae
Achiba (2003:38) states a suggestory formulae is the utterance which
contains a suggestion to perform an action. It implies that the requester does not
ask a question directly to the requestee but he/she gives suggestion through a
question as an action of request towards the requestee. Therefore, the requester
asks the requestee‘s cooperation about certain conditions that influence the action.
The requester employs this strategy to make the request suitable to his/her own
interests which has advantages for the action. However, the requester should
22
anticipate the refusal from requestee. An example is How about lending me some
of your records? By presenting this example, the requester intends to be
cooperative to the requestee in borrowing the records by stating how about. This
request does not force the requestee at all.
4) Statement of speaker‘s wishes and desires
As stated by Trosborg (1995:201), the statements of wishes uttered by a
requester are commonly expressed in polite but in direct way. Therefore, the
requestee thinks that he/she should comply the wishes/desires, for example, I
would like to have some more coffee. From the example, the requester orders to
get more coffee as his/her wish.
5) Statement of speaker‘s needs and demands
In this strategy, the requester is the focal point of the interaction.
Statement of speaker‘s needs and demands strategy contains a high degree of
impositions. Therefore, the requester expresses impolitely when requesting
something to the requestee. Trosborg (1995: 202) mentions that the direct request
by the requester above the requestee is called as demand. Demand is the
requester‘s interest that wants to be done by the requestee. Then, the requestee
feels burdened by the request, thus, it makes more difficult for the requestee to
refuse. An example of this strategy of the statement of needs and demands is I
need a pen. By saying that he/she needs a pen, the word need is the main point of
the utterance. A requester states his/her need and demand indirectly. It seems
impolite because the requestee cannot refuse it.
23
In addition, this strategy can be softened by adding please, excuse me or
other mitigating devices, for example, I so much want to see that film, please (let
me go). By stating the utterance, a requester asks to leave the requestee because
he/she wants to watch a movie. The requester makes the request more polite
because it adds please as the mitigating device.
6) Statements of obligations and necessities
In this strategy, the authority is the important point to conduct the request.
According to Trosborg (1995: 202), the requester employs his/her own authority
or authority from the outside such as institution. In addition, Blum Kulka (in
Jalilifar, 2009:47) says that the utterance consist of obligation statement to
perform an action. To show the request clearly, the strategy uses auxiliary verbs
such as should, ought to, have to, and must. To indicate moral obligation, it needs
to use the verbs should and ought to, for example, You should/ought to leave now.
In this sentence, the requester imposes his/her authority to the requestee since
he/she has a higher position than the requestee. Moreover, to show obligation
which delegated to the requester is using must, for example, You must leave now
(because I want you to). By saying so, the requester asks the requestee to leave
immediately and also it is as the requester‘s wish. Thus, the requester obliges the
requestee to comply the request. Furthermore, by applying have to, it needs to
involve few obligations from outside of the requester.
7) Performative
Performative implies the illocutionary force of the utterance that is
explicitly stated (Jalilifar, 2009: 47). By presenting a requestive intention through
24
a performative, it obviously shows an utterance as a request. The requestive
intents are asking, requesting, ordering, demanding, and commanding, etc. The
performatives is directly and usually authoritative. It seems impolite since the
authoritative element is used for requesting, for example, I request you to leave.
Here, the requester asks directly to the requestee to leave as soon as possible.
However, the requester is possible to hedge the illocutionary force which is called
as hedged performatives (Jalilifar, 2009: 47). Hedged perfomatives is used to
soften the utterance such as would, for example, I would like to ask you to leave
me alone. The utterance intention is to request the requestee to leave. With the use
of would, it sounds more polite.
8) Imperative
When employing imperative as a strategy, a requester directly shows that
the utterance is an order (Trosborg, 1995: 204). It seems authoritative since order
cannot be refused. The requestee must perform the requester desired to obey an
order because the requester has authority over the requestee, for example, Get out
of here. It interprets that the requester demands to leave the place immediately to
the requestee.
By adding tags or please and will you marker, it may softened the
utterances and seems less authoritative, for example, Open the door, please. By
telling so, the requestee obviously says to open the door for him/her. It sounds less
authoritative.
25
d. The Purpose of Request
The condition of the requester tries to get the requestee to do something is
called request according to Searle (in Achiba, 2003:6). Achiba (2003:94) explains
there are four purposes in conducting a request. They are requests for goods,
requests for the initiation of action, requests for the cessation of action, and
requests for joint activity. The purposes are presented below.
1) Requests for goods
The purpose of requests for goods is questioning stuff or goods by the
requester (Achiba, 2003:94). There are two contexts behind an example of the
utterance, Could I please have one choco chip? In the first context, the requestee
is asked to give a chocolate chip to the requester. In the second context, the
requestee is being asked to give the requester an approval for taking a chocolate
chip. The main purpose in this type is request for delivering goods to the
requester. This purpose is achieved by focusing on the object of goods.
2) Requests for the initiation of action
Request for the initiation of action is to begin the request by saying
utterances which contain the demand for doing actions. This type is expecting
non-verbal action on the requestee (Achiba, 2003:94). The example is Could you
please go to your room? A requester said so to ask the requestee to go to his/her
room and the requestee carries out the request by moving to his/her room.
Meanwhile, it can be used to ask verbal action as in the utterance Say something.
When uttering that example, a requester tries to ask the requestee to say
something. Then, he/she performs it by talking some utterances. This type deals
26
with the response of the requestee to the utterances by performing an action. To
have more statement, requests for the initiation of action is classified above
requests for goods. This purpose is achieved by focusing on the performance not
the object.
3) Requests for the cessation of action
Different from requests for initiation of action, request for cessation of
action is to stop a running action by saying utterances or avoiding certain
problems from an occurrence (Achiba, 2003:94). The example is Don’t move the
table okay. A requester delivers his/her utterance to prevent the requestee moving
the table. This purpose is achieved by the stoppage of action from the requestee.
4) Requests for joint activity (or invitation to join in an action)
Achiba (2003: 94) says requests for joint activity have purposes to invite
or engage the requestee to join the similar activity with the requester, for example,
shall we play with the doll-dollies? The utterance is in proposal form. By saying
so, the requester persuades the requestee to play doll-dollies together. This
purpose is achieved when the requestee joins in the same activity with the
requester.
27
5. The Intern
Figure 1. The Cover of The Intern Movie
The Intern is the title of an American comedy movie by Nancy Meyers
which was released on September 25, 2015 by Warner Bros. Some stars involve
in the production of this movie are Robert De Niro as Ben Whitaker and Anne
Hathaway as Jules. Both of them are the main characters. Meanwhile, the
supporting characters are Rene Russo, Anders Holm, Andrew Rannells, Adam De
Vine, Christina Scherer, and Zack Pearlman.
The Intern is a story about seventy-year-old widower named Ben
Whittaker who is accepted as an intern senior program. The name of the company
is About the Fit, located in Brooklyn. The company runs fashion mode, whose
founder and CEO is Jules Ostin. As an intern, Ben works with his boss, Jules. He
should accompany his boss in every situation, such as escorting her to meet some
clients, going to the warehouse, or staying in the office when Jules has to stay to
work overtime. Moreover, Ben and his coworkers help Jules to delete an email in
her mother‘s laptop that accidentally sent by her. Ben is not only close with Jules
28
but also with her family, her daughter, Paige and her husband, Matt. Matt gives up
on his career, thus, he becomes a house husband for Paige.
Jules has crisis about her company because her investor feels that she is
unable to cope with workload. Therefore, she should hire a CEO to develop the
company. After that, Jules and Ben go to San Francisco to have an interview with
CEO candidate. At night before the interview, Jules tells that she knows about
Matt‘s cheating behind her. The problem increases that Matt has an affair with a
mother of Paige‘s friends.
6. Previous Research
There are many researchers who conduct some analysis under the study of
pragmatics focusing on speech act. In this research, the researcher uses two
previous studies as the references. There are undergraduate thesis and
international journal.
The first research is conducted by M. Rifki Fahrurrozi. The title of the
research is A Pragmatic Analysis of Speech Act of Requests Expressed by the
Characters in Office Space (2015). The objectives of the research are to
investigate the types of request and to identify the strategies of request employed
by the characters in the movie. Then, the research mostly uses the type of
conventionally indirect request based on the hearer. Meanwhile, the characters in
Office Space mainly use the strategy of questioning hearer`s ability and
willingness.
The second research is conducted by Khalid Wahaab Jabber and Zhang
Jinquan. The title of the research is The Modal Verbs: A Speech Act of Request in
29
the Speech of the President of the United States Barak Obama (2013). The
objective of the research is to explore the speech acts of request of political speech
which has been delivered by President Obama. The results of the research are
speech acts of request is the most frequent prevailing in the political nominated
speech and the speech acts of request is mostly happened in an indirect way.
There are some differences between two previous studies and this
research. This research intends to analyze some purposes that are different from
both of the researches. This research adds the purpose of request and The Intern
movie as the object.
Different with the journal article and thesis, this research is entitled A
Pragmatic Analysis of Requests Expressed By the Main Characters in Nancy
Meyers’s The Intern Movie. The aims of this research are to describe the types of
requests expressed by the main characters in The Intern movie, to enlighten the
strategies of requests expressed by the main characters in The Intern movie, and to
explain the purposes of request expressed by the main characters in The Intern
movie.
B. Conceptual Framework
Since the research objectives are to find out the types, strategies and
purposes of request, this research is under the field of pragmatics in which the
researcher focuses on requests in The Intern movie. Analyzing the speech act,
especially requests, is a matter of making assumption that is an utterance
interpretation. Therefore, the researcher uses pragmatic‘s point of view to
30
interpret the meaning of the utterances expressed by the main characters in The
Intern.
Yule‘s classification of illocutionary act that is based on the criterion of
what a speaker wants to imply in his/her utterances is used in this study. The
classifications are declaratives, representatives, directives, expressive and
commisives. Requests fall under directives in which speakers and hearers attempt
to indicate their desires or needs.
To answer the first and second objectives, the research employs the theory
of request offered by Trosborg (1995) to explore the types and strategies of
requests expressed by the main characters in The Intern movie. There are four
types of request, i.e. indirect request, conventionally indirect request (based on
hearer), conventionally indirect request (based on speaker), and direct request.
Meanwhile, the strategies are hints, questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness,
suggestory formulae, statements of speaker‘s wishes/desires, statements of
speaker‘s needs/demands, statement of obligation/necessity, performatives, and
imperatives. In addition, to investigate the purposes of request expressed by the
main characters in the movie, the researcher uses a theory proposed by Achiba
(2003). They are requests for goods, requests for the initiation of action, requests
for the cessation of action, and requests for joint activity.
31
Figure 2. Analytical Construct
Suggestions
Presupposition
Pragmatics
The
Intern
Speech Act
Representatives Commissives Directives Expressive Declarative
Command Request
Types of Request Strategies of Request
1. Unconventionally
Indirect
2. Conventionally
indirect (based
speaker)
3. Conventionally
indirect (based hearer)
4. Direct
1. Hints
2. Questioning hearer‘s ability/
willingness
3. Suggestory formulae
4. Statements of speaker‘s
wishes/desires
5. Statements of speaker‘s
needs/demands
6. Statements of obligations/necessities
7. Performatives
8. Imperatives
Purposes of Request
A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF REQUESTS EXPRESSED BY THE MAIN CHARACTERS
IN NANCY MEYERS’S THE INTERN MOVIE
1. Requests for goods
2. Requests for the initiation
of action
3. Requests for the cessation
of action
4. Requests for a joint activity
Implicature Politeness Deixis
Context
32
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHOD
This chapter is presented to describe the research method. The researcher
divided this chapter into six parts. There were type of the research – describing
the approach in conducting this research; form, source and context of data –
describing the data clearly; instruments of the research; data collection technique
– dealing with how the data were collected; data analysis technique – showing
how the data were analyzed; and data trustworthiness – describing the validity of
the data.
A. Research Type
This research was conducted by using mixed method, a combination of
qualitative and quantitative method. This research was included as descriptive
qualitative research in which the researcher described the phenomena of request in
The Intern movie by interpreting the data. According to Vanderstoep and Johnston
(2009:7), qualitative research explains the description of textual phenomena. It
refers to a research design which produces descriptive data. The researcher
described the data by explaining it deeply. Moreover, Denscombe (2007:248)
states that qualitative research described the data which were taken in the form of
words by certain techniques from observations, reports and recordings. It focuses
on the explanation using written texts.
Meanwhile, this research also used quantitative method to convey the
frequency of occurrences of each characteristic in the movie. Vanderstoep and
33
Johnston (2009: 7) state that quantitative research focuses on statistical or numeral
assignment in certain phenomena. By using quantitative research, the researcher
could obtain the number of frequency of data in order to support the researcher‘s
interpretation to the highest or lowest frequency. Hence, the researcher could gain
the conclusion completely.
B. Forms, Sources and Context of Data
According to Denscombe (2007:286), the words or images are the data
which are analyzed or produced in qualitative research. In this research, the data
were utterances, in the form of sentences, phrases, clauses or words spoken by the
main characters in The Intern movie, while the contexts of the data were
dialogues.
There were two kinds of sources namely primary source and secondary
source. The primary data source was the movie itself. Meanwhile, data sheet and
the script of the movie were the secondary data sources. In this research, the script
was taken from an internet source, i.e. http://www.ivanachubbuck.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/02/The-Intern-Ben-Patty-Entire-Screenplay.pdf.
C. Instruments
Lincoln and Guba (in Vanderstoep, 2009:188) say that the major
instrument for qualitative research is a human. Therefore, the major instrument of
this research was the researcher herself. Meanwhile, the secondary instrument of
this research was a data sheet of requests expressed by the main characters in The
Intern movie. The data sheet designed in this research can be seen as follows.
34
Table 1. Sample Data Sheet of Requests Expressed by the Main Characters
in Nancy Meyers’s The Intern Movie
Notes:
Ur: Unconventionally
indirect request
Hb: Indirect request
hearer based
Sb: Indirect request
speaker based
Dr: Direct request
Hi : Hints
Ab: Ability/Willingness
Sf: Suggestory formulae
Wi: Wishes/Desires
Ne: Needs/Demands
Ob: Obligation/Necessity
Pr: Performatives
Ip: Imperatives
Go: Goods
Ia: Initiation of action
Ca: Cessation of action
Ja: Joint activity
D. Techniques of Data Collection
Vanderstoep and Johnston (2009: 189) state that there are several data
collection techniques in qualitative research. They are interviewing, ethnographic
observation, analysis of documents and material culture, and visual analysis. In
conducting research, this research used analysis of documents by note taking as a
source of collecting data. The techniques of collecting data employed by the
researcher in this research were explained in the following steps below.
No
. Data
Types And Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr G
o
I
a
C
a
J
a Hi A
b
S
f
W
i
N
e
O
b
P
r
I
p
1
JULES: Oh, good! I forgot
about that. I want to figure out
a way for girlfriends to shop
together on line...make it less
of an alone thing. E-mail me
that idea, will ya?
BECKY: Yeah, I like that.
(writing quickly, takes out
Phone)
Is now a good time to call
your
Mother back?
√ √
Jules rides her bike in the office while
Becky is talking so fast the information
and also the schedule to her boss. This
data shows direct request in which Jules
straightly says E-mail me that idea,
will ya? by using imperative strategy.
The purpose of request is to ask Becky
to email Jules later, it is called by
initiation of action.
35
1. The researcher watched The Intern movie.
2. The researcher retrieved the script and checked the conformity between the
script and the dialogues in the movie.
3. The researcher took notes of the main characters‘ utterances from the dialogues
of the movie which were classified based on the objectives of the study.
4. The researcher recorded and transferred the data into the data sheet.
E. Techniques of Data Analysis
Qualitative research is included into inductive approach. Vanderstoep and
Johnston (2009:168) mention that data analysis is a process of reasoning that
observation goes first, and then followed by theory, hypothesis and interpretation.
After collecting all data, the researcher analyzed them through some processes.
1. The researcher classified the data based on the three objectives of the research.
2. The researcher applied data trustworthiness which was checked by consulting
to the linguistics students and lecturers.
3. The researcher analyzed, described, and interpreted the data.
4. The researcher obtained the conclusions from the result of the research.
F. Data Trustworthiness
According to Given (2008: 895) trustworthiness is a substantial construct
to describe the outside of qualitative terms. To gain data trustworthiness, the
researcher employed triangulation. According to Vanderstoep and Johnson
(2009:179), to produce reliability and validity of the data in the research,
triangulation is needed to reveal uncertainty of the data. It uses many
methodologies to refer the same questions in order to ensure the data. In
36
accordance to Vanderstoep and Johnson, Denscombe (2007: 296) adds that
verifying the data in qualitative research can be done through investigating the
validity, reliability, generalizability, and objectivity.
In this research, the triangulation was done by checking data source, the
method, and the theories employed in this research. The researcher used theory of
types and strategies of requests proposed by Trosborg. Meanwhile, the theory of
purposes of request was proposed by Achiba. Furthermore, the researcher
involved two experts and some of her peer reviewers to check the triangulation of
the data in this research. The researcher consulted the data to the experts who
were the researcher‘s supervisors. Moreover, the researcher also asked her peer
reviewers who were the students of linguistics major. The researcher‘s peer
reviewers read and reread the data carefully. The researcher could be helped by
the experts and peer reviewers to check and recheck the reliability of the data.
37
CHAPTER IV
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
As stated in the first chapter, the objectives of this research are to find out
the types of request used by the main characters, to examine the strategies used by
the main characters, and to explain the purposes of request used by the main
characters toward the requestee in The Intern movie. This chapter consists of two
parts, namely findings and discussion to answer the problems of this research. The
findings are presented in the table of data findings. Moreover, the discussion
shows the explanation of each datum.
A. Findings
This section describes the findings of request employed by the main
characters in the movie entitled The Intern. The data are classified based on the
three objectives. The first is types of request employed by the main characters in
The Intern. The types of request proposed by Trosborg occur in this movie, i.e.
unconventionally indirect request, conventionally indirect request based on the
hearer, conventionally indirect request based on the speaker, and direct request.
Meanwhile, the second objective is the strategies of request used by the main
characters in The Intern. They include hints, questioning hearer‘s
ability/willingness, suggestory formulae, statement of speaker‘s wishes/desires,
statement of speaker‘s needs/demands, statement of obligations/necessities, and
imperatives. The last is the purposes of request used by the main characters in The
Intern, i.e. request for goods, request for the initiation of action, request for the
38
cessation of action, and request for joint activity. The occurrence of the types,
strategies, and purposes is presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Types, Strategies, and Purposes of Request Expressed by the Main
Characters in Nancy Meyers’s The Intern
Types Strategies Purposes Frequency Total
Unconventionally Indirect request
Hints Request for goods 1
4 Request for initiation of action 3
Conventionally
Indirect request
(hearer)
Questioning hearer‘s
Ability/willingness
Request for goods 1
17
Request for initiation of action 5
Request for cessation of action 2
Request for joint activity 5
Suggestory formulae Request for initiation of action 2
Request for joint activity 2
Conventionally Indirect request
(speaker)
Statements of speaker's
wishes/desires
Request for initiation of action 1
5 Statements of speaker's
needs/demands Request for initiation of action 4
Direct Request
Statements of
obligations/necessities
Request for initiation of action 1
9
Request for cessation of action 1
Performatives - 0
Imperatives
Request for initiation of action 4
Request for cessation of action 2
Request for joint activity 1
Total 35
As shown in Table 2., request occurs 35 times in The Intern movie. The
most dominant type of request is conventionally indirect request based on the
hearer. This happens since the requestee is in the position of controlling the
conversation whether he/she complies the request or not. In addition, the main
characters mostly use modal verbs, i.e. can, could, will, and would for expressing
the request. Furthermore, questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness becomes the
most prominent strategy which is employed by the main characters. By asking
questions, the main characters express their request. It is more polite than other
strategies since the questions use the modal verbs. Meanwhile, there is one
strategy which occurs once and one strategy is not shown in the movie.
39
Statements of speaker‘s wishes/desires only occur once. When using this strategy,
the requester‘s wishes are important because the central power is on the requester.
Thus, statements of wishes/desires only occur once because the main characters
rarely use power to control their request. On the other hand, performatives is not
expressed by the main characters. This strategy is too authoritative since the
request forces the requestee to do what he/she wants. The request uses requestive
intention such as request, order, demand, and command. Following the
explanation about types and strategies, the conspicuous request‘s purpose is
request for initiation of action. The main characters often apply this type of
purposes in their request since the aim is to perform an action that a requester
wants.
Regarding the table of request above, it is clearly seen that the main
characters mostly use indirect request based on the hearer and apply questioning
ability/willingness to express their request toward the requestee. It is because the
relation of both type and strategy makes the request to be polite and sounds less
authoritative. In addition, the purpose of request is to make the requestee performs
an action, even though there is no burden to carry out the request.
B. Discussion
In this section, the researcher presents the explanation of the findings
exhaustively. There are 35 data found in The Intern movie. The main characters
and the context of the movie influence the language use of requests. It can be seen
through the types, strategies, and purposes which are employed by the main
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characters in The Intern movie. The detail explanation of request is presented
below.
1. Types of Requests Expressed by the Main Characters in The Intern Movie
The findings show that four types of request are applied by the main
characters, Jules and Ben, in The Intern. They are unconventionally indirect
requests, conventionally indirect requests based on the hearer, conventionally
indirect requests based on the speaker, and direct requests. Those are explained as
follows.
a. Unconventionally Indirect Requests
Unconventionally indirect request is never formulated explicitly. It means
there is a difference between what the requester said and what is actually implied
in the utterance. The requester often makes a statement or asks a question that
indicates a request. Sometimes the requestee does not notice the request uttered by
a requester. Therefore, a requestee should be careful when interpreting the request
which is addressed to him/her by translating it by him/herself. In addition, how
close the relation between a requester and the requestee are needed to be
considered.
The conversation happens between Jules and her mom. When Ben drives
the car, Jules‘s mother calls her. Actually, she does not like a phone call from her
mom because her mom always talks about her research of sleeping habits.
However, she should hang the telephone in order to respect her mom. The
conversation is presented below.
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Jules : Are you kidding me! You know I haven‘t slept in two
years.
Jules' Mom : I can‘t change the facts, dear.
Jules : (typing) Look, Mom, I‘m rushing into the city for a
meeting and I need to prepare. Can I call you when I get
home? Jules' Mom : You don‘t have to.
Jules : Okay. Love you.
Jules' Mom : Thank you.
(Datum 10)
Jules employs unconventionally indirect request to make another call to
her by saying Can I call you when I get home? Jules makes her request by
asking a question to her mom with the word Can. Before she asks the question,
she states the reason why she needs to call her later. She rushes into the city for a
meeting and she needs to prepare it. Actually, she wants to stop the conversation
between her and her mom. She avoids to have conversation with her mom in order
to ignore the suggestion which given by her mom. Thus, she uses
unconventionally indirect request to hang up the phone.
In the next example of unconventionally indirect request, Ben takes some
cups of coffee from the barista in the coffee shop. Meanwhile, Jules looks for and
comes to the coffee shop. She meets Ben and apologizes to him about the problem
that she did before and she wants to repair it. She will move his position beside
Becky‘s position in order to help Becky‘s work. Ben responds it happily to come
back to the office.
Jules : Can I give you a lift back to the office?
Ben : Sure, thanks.
(Datum 16)
From the expression in Datum 16, Jules as a boss and Ben as an intern
have a misunderstanding. Jules says Can I give you a lift back to the office?,
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because she feels that she makes a mistake to Ben. The intention of Jules‘s
utterance is requesting Ben to go back to the office with her. Jules‘s utterance
belongs to unconventionally indirect request because it depends on the intimate
relationship between requester and requestee which are related. In everyday‘s life,
Ben always becomes a driver of Jules. Therefore, in the situation of Datum 16,
Jules feels guilty to Ben. Jules requests Ben to go back to the office together
although she knows that Ben has a duty to escort her back to the office. Thus, by
saying the utterance, Jules ensures Ben really wants to go back to the office.
In fact, unconventionally indirect request is rarely used by the main
characters to avoid misleading between other characters. Thus, the main
characters only use 4 times to indirectly question in order to be polite to the
requestee. Thus, it can be concluded that a requester is not asserting the request to
the requestee.
b. Conventionally indirect request based on the hearer
When applying this type of request, the requestee has to control the
request kindly. Moreover, the requestee can choose whether he/she wants to
comply the request or not. This type is implicitly stating the request since the
intention is not formulated easily.
The conversation is between Ben and Kiko, a coworker, which takes place
in the office. It occurs in the morning when Ben enters the office. He sees Kiko
has problem in delivering the paper. The huge dolly stacks with reams of paper
down a row of cubicles. She tries to push the huge dolly in order to move it. This
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problem disturbs Ben when he enters the office in the morning. Thus, he comes to
help her by pushing the huge dolly. The conversation is expressed in Datum 7.
Ben : How about I’ll push, you deliver?
Kiko : Thank you.
(Datum 7)
Ben says How about I’ll push, you deliver? This type belongs to
conventionally indirect request based on the hearer. It is because Ben indirectly
questions Kiko and gives the opportunity to perform the request to Kiko whether
she wants to deliver the paper or not. This request can be categorized into direct
request by saying I help you instead of saying How about I’ll push, you
deliver? It has similar intention between both utterances. Ben intends to help
Kiko by pushing the huge dolly and requests her to deliver the paper. Therefore,
she responds it very nice and she also says thank you.
Another example of conventionally indirect request based on the hearer
occurs in the conversation between Jules and her coworker, Robby. After having a
meeting with all the coworkers, Jules sees the progress of each coworker. She
checks all the things about her business. Then, Jules comes to Robby and asks
about the improvement that he did. Robby shows her work to Jules. Furthermore,
she asks him to make the picture more interesting because it is too ordinary for
Jules. The dialogue is presented below.
Jules : Can we make it more graphic?
Robby : (editing the photo)
Jules : Yeah, that‘s cool. Maybe hero the girl in the red shirt.
(Datum 3)
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By saying Can we make it more graphic?, Jules requests Robby to make
the photo more impressive. The utterance is formulated with a question that
implicitly asks Robby to perform the request. It is indicated as a conventionally
indirect request based on the hearer because Jules requests him to carry out the
request without asserting him to decide whether he wants to accept or refuse
Jules‘s desire. In fact, Robby has a power to choose whether he will perform or
refuse the request which is ordered by Jules. Yet, in the conversation, Robby
accepts the request and performs it for Jules. In order to make the request clearer,
Jules can say Make it more graphic, because she has an authority to make the
coworker obedient with her desires.
The next example happens when Ben meets Jules to talk about Becky‘s
help in the Jules‘s room. Ben tells his idea about helping Becky. Thus, Jules is
amazed by Ben‘s idea. It is because Ben knows about marketing and business
that makes Jules interested in him. Jules responds by requesting some better plans
on her business.
Ben : Well, I enlisted Becky‘s help. Seems the most expensive place
you‘re advertising is actually bringing you the customers who are
spending the least and the channels you‘re least investing in are
adding enormous value in segments that currently appear to have
low value but actually have the highest spending potential. That‘s
what I could tell. So far.
Jules : Whoa. Ben! Could you like deal with all that for me? Maybe
come up with a better plan? I mean, if you have the time.
Ben : Happy to.
(Datum 21)
From the conversation in Datum 21, Jules utters Whoa. Ben! Could you
like deal with all that for me? Maybe come up with a better plan? I mean, if
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you have the time. It means that Jules asks him to give some good plans which
can increase the business of her company. Jules‘s utterance is included as
conventionally indirect request based on the hearer. It is shown in Jules‘s
utterance that Jules bestows Ben to choose whether he would like to give some
ideas or not. By saying I mean, if you have the time, it shows that Jules does not
force Ben to think about what Jules‘s business needs quickly.
c. Conventionally indirect requests based on the speaker
Conventionally indirect requests based on the speaker shows that this
request represents the authority of the requester. The requester becomes a
powerful speaker who manages the request. Then, the request is direct in demand.
An example of conventionally indirect requests based on the speaker is
held in the conversation between Jules and Ben. It occurs when they are heading
to the road. In the way to the office, Jules remembers something that comes up
from her brain. She should go to the warehouse. In the car, they are debating the
road that should they choose in order to make it faster to arrive at the warehouse.
Ben responds it with changing the direction to the left lane. However, Jules does
not want to cross the road that is chosen by Ben. She replies that they should turn
right and cross the 9th
to Hamilton to the Expressway. Thus, Ben‘s decision is
right and it does not take longer time to arrive at the warehouse. The interaction is
shown in Datum 14.
Jules : Oh! Ben, I want to stop at the warehouse. 480 Greenpoint.
(Ben moves into the left lane)
Jules : No, no, make a right. 9th
to Hamilton to the Expressway.
Ben : I think we should take 4th
to Flatbush. Much faster.
Jules : It won‘t be.
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(Datum 14)
Jules says I want to stop at the warehouse. 480 Greenpoint to Ben. This
utterance is expressed in conventionally indirect request. It can be seen by the
phrase I want you. The use of I means that the requester can manage the request.
The intention of Jules‘s utterance is that Ben should change the route to the
warehouse because Jules needs to go there. This request cannot be refused by Ben
because it seems to be an order to Ben. This request can be reformulated by
saying stop at the warehouse than the utterance in the example.
Another example is in the conversation between Becky and Jules which
happens in the office. The story begins when Ben moves the desk beside Becky.
Jules sees the desk having new arrangement. She gives a mandate to Becky that
Ben should know everything about her business. The dialogue is expressed in
Datum 19.
Becky : Here you go.
Jules : Thanks. Also, I need to go over the data on the customer
purchase patterns. Let Ben take a look at that too. Actually let
Ben take a look at it first. (This throws Becky)
(Datum 19)
Jules says I need to go over the data on the customer purchase
patterns. Let Ben take a look at that too. Actually let Ben take a look at it
first. By saying that utterance, she wants Becky to give her the data of customer
purchase patterns. It is because Jules needs those data to know the improvement
of her business. Furthermore, she requests to Becky that Ben should read the data
of customer purchase patterns too. Jules uses I need to begin her utterance, it
belongs to conventionally indirect request based on the speaker. It is shown by the
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pronoun I and the word need that means speaker has power to control the request.
The word need forces the requestee to perform the request. Furthermore, Becky
performs Jules‘s desired.
d. Direct Requests
Direct request is a kind of requests that shows the intention of request
explicitly. It is a simple way to request someone in order to ask the requestee to
perform an action. Thus, the intention is easy to understand by the requestee.
The conversation below occurs between Jules and her assistant, Becky.
The conversation happens when Jules finishes her job to have a service phone call
to her customer service, Becky comes to inform her schedule. Furthermore, Jules
reaches her bike and Becky tells her schedule. She always rides her bike in the
office in order to make everything fast and she calls it as an exercise.
Jules : Oh, good!. I forgot about that. I want to figure out a way for
girlfriends to shop together on line...make it less of an alone
thing. E-mail me that idea, will ya?
Becky : Yeah, I like that. (writing quickly, takes out Phone) Is now a good
time to call your mother back?
(Datum 1)
Direct request is used by Jules when she hardly remembers all the things
by saying Make it less of an alone thing. E-mail me that idea, will ya? Jules
says this request to Becky in order to demand her to send an email about the idea.
She straightly says the request by stating what she wants. By adding will ya?
marker, the request is soft although the example belongs to direct request. Jules‘s
utterance is easy to be understood by Becky since it is a direct request.
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Another example of direct request is the dialogue between Jules and Ben.
It takes place in the airplane. They are heading to San Francisco. Jules has an
interview with a CEO in there. Thus, Ben accompanies her because her husband
cannot escort her to San Francisco. In the plane, both of them are busy with
themselves. Jules works with her laptop and Ben reads some papers. Suddenly,
Ben thinks that they have the day off. Hence, Ben requests Jules to do some fun
things in order to neglect the tasks. The dialogue is presented below.
Ben : Jules, what are we doin‘ here? We got the day off. We‘re travelin‘
in first class. (starts packing up his papers) Let’s at least have a
little fun.
Jules : Now, that, I can do.
(Datum 30)
Ben says the reason why they are there. He requests Jules by saying Let’s
at least have a little fun. The Let’s marker is indicating an invitation that leads to
a request. Ben wants Jules to stop thinking about their works since they are in
their way to San Francisco. He uses direct request to show the request toward
Jules. Direct request is simpler than other types of request to express Ben‘s desire
that he does not want to see Jules works overtime. Ben thinks that Jules needs a
relax time to meet the CEO.
2. Strategies of Request Employed by the Main Characters in The Intern
There are seven strategies used by the main characters, i.e. hints,
questioning ability/willingness, suggestory formulae, statements of
wishes/desires, statements of needs/demands, statements of obligation/necessities,
and imperatives. The strategies are explained below.
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a. Hints
Hint is used for expressing the request since it is implicitly stating the
request. The requester hides his/her request and does not mention the request
directly. The three conditions of availability, reasonableness, and obviousness
should be considered in applying this strategy.
An example of hint is in the dialogue that happens between Matt and Jules.
The setting takes place in the house. Jules is very tired because she went to San
Francisco with Ben. She arrives at home with a pale face because she knew about
the problem of her marriage. She should face the situation that Matt is cheating
behind her. Jules does not know why Matt cheats on her. Matt opens the door and
greets her by asking about the CEO. He tries to chit chat with his wife. Jules sits
on the stairs and Matt follows her.
Jules : Do we have any, like, real booze, like vodka or something?
Matt : Yeah… (taking a glass of liquor and giving it to Jules)
(Datum 34)
In the stairs, Jules asks her husband Do we have any, like, real booze,
like vodka or something? She asks the availability of a glass of liquor in her
house by saying Do we have any..? This expression is a hint for the request.
There are two intentions behind Jules‘s utterance. First, Jules only asks about
liquor in her house. Second, Jules wants liquor to calm her after a long trip from
San Francisco. Then, Jules‘s utterance is responded by Matt by taking liquor
because Matt knows the condition of his wife.
Another example of this strategy is the conversation between Jules and her
mom. Jules answers the call from her mom while typing a message. Her mom
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says typing and ringing and it disturbs Jules when she types a message. Jules does
not like someone disturbs her life. Thus, she says an utterance to stop her mom
talking lot. The dialogue is showed in Datum 23 below.
Jules‘ mom : Typing and ringing....
Jules : (looking at 2nd phone) Yeah, sorry. It‘s the warehouse.
Can I call you back Mom?
Jules‘ mom : No need.
Jules : Okay. Love you.
Jules‘ mom : Yep.
(Datum 23)
Jules‘ mom says typing and ringing, thus, Jules answers it by saying Can I
call you back mom? This utterance belongs to hint because Jules asks the
availability of her mom to receive her calls later. The availability condition is
shown by Jules‘s utterance in the phrase Can I call you..? Moreover, Jules‘s
utterance is a kind of avoidance toward her mom. She does not like talking to her
mom because her mom is an observant. The intention of Jules‘s utterance is that
she wants to shut the phone off immediately.
b. Questioning hearer’s ability/willingness
This strategy is often used by the main characters. There are 13 data
representing this strategy in The Intern. Questioning ability/willingness is a kind
of strategy used by questioning the ability/willingness to the requestee. This
strategy is used to ask the requestee about the ability to perform an action.
The conversation occurs after Jules has a meeting with her coworkers. She
asks Robby to fix the picture of women in the homepage by changing the color
into red. However, Robby has a limited time to fix that and he says to Jules that
she should sign off the picture then he will use the picture to be a homepage in
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―About the Fit‖ website. Therefore, Jules still wants to change the color. The
conversation is expressed by Robby and Jules below.
Robby : Jules,
Jules : That is a great red. It‘s gonna fly outta here
Robby : We really don‘t have the time, Jules. I needed you to sign off on
this two hours ago.
Jules : I know, but can you try?
Robby : Yep
(Datum 4)
Jules requests Robby by saying but can you try? This utterance is
questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness which is shown in the expression can you
try? Jules uses the modal can to ask Robby, whether he is eager to grant her
wants or not. Thus, Robby complies Jules‘s desire about changing the color of
picture into red. Moreover, Robby carries out Jules‘s desire in order to reach the
deadline and makes Jules to sign off the task quickly.
Another example of questioning ability/willingness is the conversation
between Jules and her daughter, Paige. The situation takes place in Jules‘s house.
In the morning, Jules has a breakfast with Paige. Then, she is ready to go to the
office. Meanwhile, Ben comes to pick up Jules. Paige does not want to eat
anything. Jules persuades her by placing food in the spoon to Paige.
Jules : Got to get something in your stomach. Honey honey honey, just
can you please take one bite before school? Please, just one bite.
Paige : (silent)
(Datum 26)
From the dialogue, Jules says Honey honey honey, just can you please
take one bite before school? Please, just one bite. The modal verb Can indicates
the use of questioning ability/willingness in the utterance. The utterance can you
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please take one bite before school? is used to ask the ability of Paige to eat her
breakfast. Jules intends to ask Paige to eat her breakfast. Jules calls Paige honey in
order to make Paige follows her desire. Then, by placing the marker please in the
utterance, she wants to soften the utterance and to persuade her to eat.
The next example is the conversation between Ben and Jules. A hotel‘s
alarm is ringing so loud which making the guests go out from the hotel. After that,
Ben and Jules enter the hotel and Jules invites him to see her room. They have a
conversation while drinking a tea. Jules requests Ben to tell about his wife. The
conversation is showed below.
Ben : What should we talk about?
Jules : Marriage? Will you tell me about your wife? She was great,
right?
Ben : She was. Molly was her name. She was a middle school principal.
Beloved.
(Datum 32)
From the conversation in Datum 32, Jules asks Will you tell me about
your wife? to Ben. This means Jules requests Ben to tell about his wife, Molly.
This utterance is called as questioning ability/willingness strategy. Jules puts Will
you marker to question Ben‘s willingness. By a question, Jules does not force Ben
to tell or keep his privacy about his wife.
The additional example is related to question ability/ willingness strategy,
it can be seen from the conversation between Jules and her intern, Ben. In the
morning, she is shocked by a woman who drives her, she is not Ben. She calls
Cameron who transfers him into a different position. Therefore, Jules looks for
Ben because she forgets that she asked Cameron to move him to another position.
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It is because she thinks that Ben is inferring her problems. Thus, Jules messages
Cameron to move him into another position. She apologizes for her mistake and
she wants him to go back to his position.
Jules : That‘s great. Can I give you a lift back to the office?
Ben : Sure (as they walk away together)
Jules : Do you mind driving? I don’t actually have a license.
(Datum 17)
In the conversation, questioning ability/willingness is clearly used by Jules
when she asks a question to Ben by saying Do you mind driving? I don’t
actually have a license. Jules asks him by questioning, Do you mind driving?
which implies that Jules asks Ben‘s ability to drive her. Then, it is completed by
adding the statement I don’t actually have a license. The additional reason is to
emphasize the utterance that Jules requests Ben to drive her to the office. It is
because she does not have any license to drive a car. Ben replies with a smile
since he knows that he should do that for his boss.
c. Suggestory formulae
Suggestory formulae is the strategy that contains a suggestion statement.
This strategy is not forcing the requestee at all. Moreover, a requester can decide
the request by accepting or refusing it. This strategy is shown by using the phrases
how about and why don’t you.
An example of suggestory formulae happens in the conversation between
the main characters, Jules and Ben. It happens in Jules‘s room. Ben meets Jules
for the very first time. Ben as an intern tries to perform a good act in front of his
boss. He suggests to close the door or to let it to be opened.
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Ben : True. Well, I think we did it in under two minutes. I‘ll wait to
hear from you. (crosses to the door). Would you like the door
open or closed?
Jules : Doesn‘t matter. (Ben exits, CLOSING the door behind him)
Jules : Open. Actually.
(Datum 6)
In Datum 6, Ben suggests Jules by saying Would you like the door open
or closed? This utterance is included as a suggestory formulae strategy because
Ben suggests to close the door or to let it to be opened. A Suggestory formula is
expressed at the first phrase of Ben‘s utterance Would you like..? Then, Jules
responds it by saying Open, thus, Ben decides to let the door to be opened.
Another example of suggestory formulae is in the conversation between
Ben, Jules, and her driver, Mike. From the office, Ben keeps an eye on Mike who
drives Jules to her destination. Ben sees that Mike drinks something. Ben is
suspicious about Mike. He goes down to place where Mike is standing. Ben asks
Mike about what happens to him. Ben also says that Mike is drinking something.
Ben : I know, look, I don‘t want to make you uncomfortable but I just
happened to have looked out the window and it appeared you
were drinking something from a bag, so..
Mike : (heading for the car) I don‘t know what you‘re talking about
Pops.
Ben : Why don’t you tell Jules you can’t drive her today or I’m
gonna have to.
(Jules arrives, sees Mike and Ben.)
Jules : We all good?
Mike : Yeah
Mike : Jules, Sorry to do this, but I‘m actually not feelin‘ so hot – not
sure I should be driving. Wouldn‘t want to give you anything.
Jules : Oh, sure, yeah. No, take the day off and feel better, okay?
(Datum 9)
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This example shows suggestory formulae strategy. By saying Why don’t
you tell Jules you can’t drive her today or I’m gonna have to. From the
utterance, Ben suggests Mike to say that he cannot drive for Jules today because
he is sick. The expression of Why don’t you indicates a suggestion rather than a
command. Then, Mike says to Jules that he cannot drive for her.
The next example is the conversation which involves Jules and Paige. The
setting takes place in the house. When Jules arrives at home, Paige greets her with
the story about her activities today. Paige tells about her daddy who helps her
decorating a playdoh with the icing.
Paige : Daddy helped me with the icing.
Jules : Good job, you guys. So, how about I give you your bath, okay?
(Datum 11)
In the conversation in Datum 11, Paige tells about the activity that she did
today. Jules responds it by saying good jobs and continues with So, how about I
give you your bath, okay? The use of how about indicates suggestion that leads
to request. Jules intends to give Paige a bath. Paige responds Jules‘s request by
going to her bathroom. By adding okay? in the last utterance, Jules emphasizes
her request toward Paige because Jules wants to make sure whether Paige agrees
or disagrees with her request.
d. Statements of speaker’s wishes/desires
The statement of speaker‘s wishes/desires is used only once by Jules. It
shows that this strategy is infrequently applied by the main characters. This
strategy contains wishes/desires of the requester. It could be such a demand that
should be done by the requestee.
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In the example below, there is a conversation between Jules and Ben
which takes place in the coffee shop. Jules feels guilty about what she did to Ben.
Ben is moved into a different position by Cameron. He becomes a server who
brings some cups of coffee to the office. Meanwhile, Jules looks for him to
explain what is going on in this situation. She feels that Ben is too observant when
he asked about her life. Therefore, she thinks that Ben should move to a different
position. Then, she apologizes about the mistake that she did. She wishes Ben to
start working for her again and going back to his previous position.
Jules : ….. I hope you’ll accept my apology and come back to work.
For me. If you would. And I‘m not just saying this because I
screwed up but I was thinking this morning, I‘d like to move you
up to my area, next to Becky. I know you can handle more work, if
you‘d like more. God, I really hate that I jumped the gun and made
you feel--
Ben : I‘m happy to come back.
Jules : Thank you.
(Datum 15)
Jules says I hope you’ll accept my apology and come back to work.
For me. If you would. It implies that she wishes Ben to come back to work with
her. She needs him to help her running the business. Jules feels that Ben has a lot
of advice for her. By saying I hope, Jules wants that her wish is complied by Ben,
thus, the phrase is asserting the strategy of statements of speaker‘s wishes/desires
which is used in Jules‘s utterance. The additional phrase, For me, means that
Jules emphasizes Ben to work with her for accompanying her. Moreover, the use
of If you would, indicates that Jules states this utterance in order to give the
decision to Ben whether he will comply the request or refuse it.
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e. Statements of speaker’s needs/demands
This strategy is used by the main characters to show the demand of a
requester. It is applied four times by the main characters. This strategy is about the
need/demand expressed by the requester to show his/her request. It is mostly
similar with imperative because this request can be an order to the requestee. The
request forces the requestee to perform it.
The example of statements of speaker‘s needs/demands is in the office
which involves Jules and Becky. The conversation is about the movement of
Ben‘s desk. In the morning, Jules moves Ben‘s desk to assist Becky doing her
tasks. Ben arranges the desk and organizes it. After Ben leaves, Becky organizes
some papers on her desk. Suddenly, Jules comes to Becky‘s desk. The
conversation is presented below.
Jules : Hi. This is good, right? I like this arrangement. Becky, I want
you to let Ben give you a hand, okay? And cc him on all my e-
mails.
(Becky nods)
Did we get yesterday‘s numbers?
Becky : Yes. We did. I saw them here.
(Datum 18)
In the conversation of Datum 19, Jules says Becky, I want you to let Ben
give you a hand, okay? And cc him on all my e-mails. This utterance is
included into the statement of speaker needs/demands which is shown by the
clause I want you. Jules has a power to manage the request to ask Becky doing
something. By adding the marker okay? at the end of Jules‘s utterance, Jules
ensures that Becky is really understand what she wants. It also forces Becky to
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perform Jules‘s desire. The intention behind Jules‘s utterance is that Becky should
help Ben and attach the email address of Ben into Jules‘ email.
Another example occurs when Jules has an accident which is sending a
wrong email. She calls her coworkers to listen to her problem in order to repair it.
In the meeting room, she talks to all of her coworkers. She demands all of them to
think about how to repair it. However, some of them say that it is too hard to
repair the problem. The dialogue is expressed below.
Jules : I know the Zoom‘s broken and I don‘t mean to take anyone off of
that but... I need a favor. I, accidentally sent an e-mail to the
wrong person and she‘s at work right now and I know she doesn‘t
check her personal e-mail until she gets home at 5:30, so I have
until then to figure out how to delete it because if this person sees
this email, it‘ll be...horrible and on top of that, she has a slight
heart condition and I think this could possibly be not good for
that, so, I‘m relying on your good graces and brilliance to figure
out how to save my ass.
(Datum 24)
From the conversation in datum 24, it can be seen that Jules says I need a
favor to demand her coworkers for doing something to repair her problem. In
order to get response from them, she uses the phrase I need to emphasize the
request. By saying I need, it indicates the strategy of the statements of
needs/demands is used by Jules to request her coworkers. The intention of Jules‘
utterance is that she extremely needs one of her coworkers to repair the email.
f. Statements of obligation/necessities
This strategy is included as powerful request because a requestee should
comply the request as an obligation. Sometimes people who have higher positions
can oblige someone in the lower position. In The Intern, the statement of
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obligation/necessity is only used by a boss who has power to control the request.
As a boss, Jules, has authority to demand her coworkers to obey the obligation.
The conversation below takes place in the office when Jules is in a
meeting with the coworkers. She opens the meeting by requesting the coworker.
Jules : Guys, you have to remember, the home page has to read in a
glance.(backs 4 feet away)
Also, none of you are over thirty so you need to get back like this
to see what this looks like if you‘re like over 35.
(Datum 2)
In Datum 2, Jules says Guys, you have to remember, the home page has
to read in a glance. The obligation of coworkers is to obey what the boss wants.
Jules says have to, to indicate the statement of obligation. It means that everyone
under her position should note her/himself to remember the home page. The home
page in the company‘s website should serve as interesting ads about fashion to
make the reader understands the meaning of the ads quickly.
The dialogue below occurs in the office. Jules sees Ben is sitting in the
chair and he looks so pale. Jules asks Ben whether he has good or bad condition.
Jules : Okay Ben, if I’m giving you too much to do or working you
too hard, please do not feel you have to go with me to San
Francisco-
Ben : Jules, people my age get tired sometimes. That‘s all this is.
(Datum 29)
The conversation of Datum 29 happens between Jules and Ben. Jules asks
Ben that he does not need to go to San Francisco. Jules feels that all the work
burdens him. By saying this utterance, if I’m giving you too much to do or
working you too hard, please do not feel you have to go with me to San
Francisco, Jules requests Ben not to go to San Francisco if he feels sick. The
60
statement of obligation/necessities is obviously seen that Jules obliges Ben by
saying do not feel you have to go. Jules adds please to soften the utterance. The
marker please makes the request does not force Ben to go to San Francisco.
g. Imperatives
Imperatives occur 7 times in this movie. This strategy of request is straight
to the point to the requestee. It contains understandable intention which is similar
with an order. Thus, this strategy is simpler than the other strategies.
An example of imperatives is found in the conversation below that begins
in San Francisco. In the morning, Jules has an interview with CEO‘s candidate.
She is not stunned by the candidate because they do not blink. She goes out from
the building and comes near to Ben who waits forher. She and Ben should go back
to the office. Then, they go to the airport.
Jules : Airport, please.
Driver : (driving to airport)
(Datum 33)
By saying Airport, please, that utterance contains imperative strategy
because Jules directly states her destination to the driver. Jules intends to ask the
driver to escort them to the airport. It is because the job of a driver is to take
people to their destination, then he/she should comply the customer‘s request. By
adding the marker please, the request becomes soft and polite.
Another example of imperative is a conversation that happens in the
office. After Jules arrived from San Francisco, she is greeted by her coworkers.
Moreover, Ben is greeted by his friends. Jules accepts a bouquet of flowers by
61
Ted Townsend from CEO in San Francisco. She asks Becky to give the phone
number of Ted Townsend. The dialogue is presented below.
Becky : Also, these just arrived from Ted Townsend. Here‘s the card.
Jules : (reading the card)
Get me Townsend’s number will you?
(Datum 35)
Jules directly asks Becky to give the number of Ted Townsend. She says
Get me Townsend’s number will you? It is an imperative strategy that is applied
in this utterance because the request is stated clearly and imposes the requestee to
carry out the request. The intention from this utterance is obviously seen that Jules
wants the number of Ted Townsend. She wants to call Ted Townsend to say thank
for the bouquet. By adding will you?, the request becomes polite and pleasant for
the requestee to accept the request.
3. The Purposes of Request Applied by the Main Characters in The Intern
The purposes of request are request for goods, request for initiation of
action, request for cessation of action, and request for joint activity. These
purposes are applied by the main characters in this movie.
a. Request for goods
There are 2 occurrences of request for goods in The Intern. The purpose of
request for good is to request someone to take some stuff or goods as a wish from
the requester. It is achieved when the requestee can comply the request.
An example of request for goods is held in Jules‘s house. The dialogue
involves Jules and her husband, Matt. Jules arrives at home. Matt welcomes
Jules‘s arrival. Then, Matt asks about the story in San Francisco which is about
62
her meeting with the CEO. Jules does not give enough answer because she is
tired. However, she still wants to talk to Matt.
Jules : Do we have any, like, real booze, like vodka or something?
Matt : Yeah…(taking a glass of liquor and giving it to Jules)
(Datum 34)
When the conversation happens, Jules asks Matt by saying Do we have
any, like, real booze, like vodka or something? Jules formulates her utterance to
ask Matt to take a drink for her before telling about the CEO. Matt responds the
request by giving her a glass of liquor. Then, they are talking about CEO and
diverting the topic to the marriage. This request belongs to request for goods since
it refers to a glass of liquor which is requested by Jules. A drink represents
something which is taken by Matt.
Another example happens in the conversation of Jules, Ben, and Jules‘s
close coworker, Cameron. The setting is in Jules‘s private room. When Jules and
Cameron are talking about hiring a CEO, Ben comes to her room. It disturbs the
conversation between Jules and Cameron. Actually, Ben is asked to take Jules‘s
jacket as an order by Becky.
Ben : Excuse me. (Cameron and Jules turn to see Ben standing in the
doorway. Jules quickly recovers.) I apologize but Becky said you
needed something taken care of on your jacket...
Jules : Oh, right—
(Datum 8)
By saying I apologize but Becky said you needed something taken care
of...on your jacket....Ben implicitly states the request that he wants to take Jules‘s
jacket. A jacket represents a something or good which is taken by Ben, thus, this
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purpose of request is called request for goods. Jules intends to give her jacket to
Ben in order to clean up the mess on the jacket.
b. Request for initiation of action
There are 20 times request for initiation of action emerged in The Intern.
The purpose is to request someone carries out an action by the requester. Thus, the
purpose is achieved when the requestee performs an action that leads to him/her.
An example of this purpose is in the dialogue that occurs in the morning
when Matt and Paige have a breakfast. Suddenly, Ben comes to pick Jules up. Ben
is welcomed by Matt. Then, Matt introduces her daughter, Paige, to Ben. Jules
goes down into the kitchen and greets Ben with smiley face. After that, Jules talks
with Matt and she is ready to go to the office.
Jules : Actually I have to go... C‘mon sweetie. Ben, we’re gonna drop
Paige at school, okay?
Ben : Let‘s do it.
(Datum 13)
The expression of Ben, we’re gonna drop Paige at school, okay?, Jules
requests Ben to take Paige to school. The purpose of this request is to ask Ben to
perform an action which is taking Paige to her school. Therefore, this utterance
applies request for initiation of action‘s purpose. The word okay? in the last
utterance shows that Jules wants Ben to follow what she wants. Then, Ben
responds it by saying Let’s do it which means Ben agrees to drop Paige at her
school.
The next example is the conversation between Jules, Cameron, and three
coworkers. They watch the sale of fashion stuff from some countries in the
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website. Furthermore, they are talking about why people do not buy the fashion
stuff.
Jules : Okay, look at Chicago, she put the same boots in her cart
as the woman from Houston.
Cameron : Okay, let‘s see what she does at check out. She‘s not
buying them either.
Jules : Okay, maybe check the delivery costs on those boots?
Cameron : Mmmm..
(Datum 20)
In Datum 20, a conversation happens between Jules and Cameron. Jules
says Okay, maybe check the delivery costs on those boots? This means that
Jules asks Cameron to check the delivery cost which is included as request for
initiation of action‘s purpose. Jules and Cameron think that there is a mistake why
few women do not buy anything in the website. Thus, Jules asks Cameron to
perform an action to check the note. The request is directly stating the point that
Jules needs clarity about the business.
c. Request for cessation of action
The purpose is to stop an ongoing action which is performed by the
requester. To achieve this purpose, the requestee should stop the action by saying
an utterance toward the requester. There are 5 times this purpose appears in The
Intern.
An example of request for cessation of action is on the conversation which
happens in Jules‘ mom house. It occurs when few coworkers try to rip open Jules‘
mom computer which contains a wrong email from Jules. Ben calls Becky to give
the cell phone to Jules. However, Becky does not want to give it to Jules because
Jules has a meeting that cannot be interrupted.
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Ben : Start looking for the computer. (they go off together). Separately!
(into Phone)--Becky! Don’t screw around. Put Jules on, it‘s an
emergency. Interrupt her! (wipes his brow) Jules! Your mother has
an alarm. Yes she does, I‘m in her kitchen and it‘s about to go off.
(Datum 25)
In the conversation, Ben directly says Becky! Don’t screw around. It is
because Becky does not interrupt her boss. Meanwhile, Ben and other cowokers
want to report the situation in Jules‘ mom house to Jules. Thus, Ben is forced to
say louder to Becky. Finally, she gives the cell phone to Jules. This utterance is
included as a request for cessation of action because Ben stops Becky‘s action in
disturbing him when he calls Jules.
Another example occurs in the conversation between Cameron and Jules.
They talk about hiring senior interns. They debate all the way when they are
talking about a serious problem. Cameron wants a senior program that is needed
by this office. However, Jules disagrees with the choice of Cameron because Jules
cannot deal with senior people even with her mom.
Cameron : I told you I felt we needed to do an outreach program.
You seemed to be liking the idea so I put it in motion. It‘s
gonna be great.
Jules : Hold please. You‘re hiring Senior Citizen interns? What
does that even mean?
Cameron : There‘s been a ton of research on this. The results are,
without fail, fantastic.
(Datum 5)
Jules cuts Cameron‘s words by saying Hold please. She is shocked by
Cameron‘s suggestion. It is because she does not agree to hire senior interns. The
purpose of request for cessation of action is applied in this data because Jules
stops on going speech which uttered by Cameron. The additional word at the end
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of the utterance, please, is used to soften the request in order to make the request
to be different from command.
d. Request for joint activity
Request for joint activity is the purpose of request which invites the
requestee to perform a similar action to the requester. Sometimes the request is
not responded by the requestee. Therefore, the purpose is not achieved by the
requester.
As in the conversation below, there is an example of request for joint
activity. The dialogue involves Jules and Matt in their house. However, Ben and
Paige are listening to what they talked about. Jules tells Matt that she should meet
a candidate of Townsend‘s CEO in San Francisco. She invites Matt to accompany
her to go to San Francisco. Matt refuses her request to go to San Francisco with
her because he has a lot of things to do, thus, he proposes Ben to accompany
Jules.
Jules : Yeah, maybe. Everyone‘s flipping out, but you know I‘m still on
the fence at best, but anyway, only thing is, I have to go to San
Francisco to meet him. He can‘t get here.
Matt : (handing her pancakes) When do you have to go?
Jules : The only day he could meet is next Thursday. Do you want to
come? Maybe we could stay for the weekend?
Matt : (looks at fridge calendar) Sounds good but... I can‘t. Paige is
snack leader on Thursday and I‘m supposed to be in the class with
her. It‘s kind of a big deal.
Jules : Right. No, I forgot.
Matt : Maybe Ben could go with you.
(Datum 22)
By saying Do you want to come? Maybe we could stay for the
weekend?, Jules really wants Matt to accompany her. However, Matt has
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schedule that cannot be left. In the utterance, Jules applies request for joint
activity‘s purpose. It is shown when Jules wants Matt to follow what she wants in
case of going to San Francisco. At the end of conversation, Matt does not want to
go there because of several reasons.
The next example is the dialogue between Ben and Paige which happens
in the garden. Ben accompanies Paige to come to her friend‘s birthday party. Ben
sits down and talks with the other moms. Meanwhile, Paige comes back to Ben
because she feels bad. Ben invites her to sit on his lap and she responds it kindly.
Ben : What‘s up kiddo?
Paige : I don‘t feel good.
Ben : You don‘t? Do you want to sit on my lap? (Paige nods. Ben lifts
her onto his lap, feels her forehead.)
(Datum 27)
In the conversation, Ben says Do you want to sit on my lap? It shows that
he invites Paige to sit together with him. In the first utterance, Ben says Do
you…? It indicates that Ben requests Paige to sit on his lap. Ben knows that Paige
feels sick, thus, he says that utterance. By applying the utterance, joint activity‘s
purpose is achieved. It is because Paige responds the request offered by Ben.
Paige sits on his lap and she feels better.
Request can be applied in everyday‘s life. People in different age, status,
and position can use the act of request such as requesting to boss, husband, wife,
or children. It is a polite way to convey what people want in order to fulfill the
desired act. When the request is performed, the purpose of request has been
received to the requestee. However, there are two possible responses of request;
the request is complied or refused by the requestee.
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Based on the discussion, the most dominant type of request is
conventionally indirect request based on the hearer which appears 17 times. This
type is often used by the main characters because they intend to request toward
the requestee softly. It means a requester does not assert the request to the
requestee. This type of conventionally indirect request based on the hearer
contains questioning ability/willingness strategy which becomes the prominent
strategy in The Intern movie. The main characters use this strategy to ask the
probability of the requestee in order to carry out the request. In addition, this type
and strategy of request aim to perform an action which is called as a request for
the initiation of action. It means that the main characters often use this purpose to
demand the requestee to carry out the request by performing an action.
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CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
In this chapter, some important points are outlined. There are two sections:
conclusions and suggestions. First, it contains a brief summary of findings that are
related to the objectives of the research. Second, it provides some suggestions for
the readers or the other researchers who will conduct the similar research. Each
section is presented below.
A. Conclusions
From the analysis and findings on request utterances made by the main
characters in The Intern movie, they are influenced by several factors such as
types, strategies, and purposes of request.
1. Based on the findings, there are four types of request found in the movie.
They are unconventionally indirect request, conventionally indirect request
(hearer-based), conventionally indirect request (speaker-based), and direct
request. The most prominent type of request is conventionally indirect request
(hearer-based) which occurs 17 times out of 35 total data. Direct request becomes
the second highest number in the data of the research that appears 9 times.
Conventionally indirect request (speaker-based) is the third position in the data
which occurs 5 times. The last position is unconventionally indirect request which
happens 4 times out of the total data.
Conventionally indirect request based on the hearer is often used by the
main characters because they want to express their request politely. Moreover,
70
they want to give the control of request to the requestee whether he/she wants to
comply or refuse the request. Meanwhile, unconventionally indirect request
becomes the least expressed type of request in the movie because the requestee
should interpret the intended meaning behind a request by themselves. Thus, the
main characters rarely use unconventionally indirect request to request someone.
2. There are seven strategies of request found in the research; hints,
questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness, suggestory formulae, statement of
speaker‘s wishes/desires, statement of speaker‘s needs/demands, statement of
obligations/necessities, and imperatives. From 35 data that are found in the movie,
questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness gets the highest frequency with 13 data.
Imperative becomes the second highest number of data which appears 7 times.
Suggestion formulae and statements of speaker‘s needs/demands have similar
frequency which occurs 4 times. Statements of speaker‘s obligation/necessities
happen twice out of 35 total data. Then, statements of speaker‘s wishes/desires
only appear once out of the total data. Meanwhile, performative does not occur in
this movie.
Questioning hearer‘s ability/willingness is expressed by the main
characters because they do not force the request to the requestee. Therefore, they
are not seen as authoritative persons. In addition, the main characters use this
strategy to ask the possibility of the requestee to perform the request. The main
characters ask the ability by using the modal verb such as can or ask the
willingness by using do you want. Meanwhile, perfomative is never used by the
main characters because the strategy is similar to command. This strategy forces
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the requestee to perform an action. Thus, performative is never used by the main
characters.
3. There are four purposes of request found in this research. They are request
for goods, request for initiation of action, request for cessation of action, and
request for joint activity. Among the 35 purposes, request for initiation of action
occurs 20 times. It means that request for initiation of action becomes the highest
frequency in the research. Then, request joint activity becomes the second
position in this data which happens 8 times. Request for cessation of action
appears 5 times out of total data. Meanwhile, request for goods only occurs twice
out of 35 total data.
In the office, the main characters apply request for initiation of action to
convey what they need in order to make the requestee performs an action. The
main characters mostly use request for initiation of action to ask the requestee
performs an action what he/she wants. The main characters often use this type
because most of the needs in the office are to demand someone to do something.
Meanwhile, request for good becomes the least chosen purpose of request in the
movie because the main characters usually take something by themselves rather
than ask someone to take something for them.
B. Suggestions
The researcher suggests that this research gives knowledge and
information about the types, strategies, and purposes of request which are
expressed by the main characters in the movie. It is expected that the readers can
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learn more about the aspect of request. When the readers know how the request
worked, they can apply the request in the right way.
The researcher also suggests to the other researchers who have interested
in researching request to enlarge their knowledge about the source of data such as
movie, novel, or play. They would better to find another data source which
represents request topic. In addition, there are many aspects which can be
analyzed besides the types, strategies, and purposes of request. There are
responses, request modifications, or women/men‘s language, or social factors
which can influence the request.
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REFERENCES
A. Printed Sources
Achiba, M. 2003. Learning to Request in a Second Language: A Study of Child
Interlanguage Pragmatics. London: Cromwell Press Ltd.
Cruse, A. 2006. A Glossary of Semantics and Pragmatics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press.
Cutting, J. 2002. Pragmatics and Discourse. London: Routledge.
Davis, W. 1998. Implicature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Denscombe, M. 2007. The Good Research Guide. London: Open University Press
Given, L. 2008. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. New
York: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Jalilifar, A. 2009. ―Request Strategies: Cross-Sectional Study of Iranian EFL
Learners and Australian Native Speakers”. Journal of English Language
Teaching, pp. 46-61.
Mey, J. 2001. Pragmatics: An Introduction (Second Ed.). London: Blackwell
Publishing.
Nunan, D. 1993. Introducing Discourse Analysis. London: Penguin English
Group.
Rifki, M. 2015. A Pragmatic Analysis of Requests Expressed by the Characters
in Office Space. Undergraduate‘s Thesis. Yogyakarta State University.
Shams, R. 2011. “Effects of Culture and Gender in Comprehension of Speech
Acts of Indirect Request‖. Journal of English Language Teaching, vol. 4, pp. 279-287: Canadian Center of Science and Education.
Sofwan, A., Rusmi. 2011. ―The Realization of Request Strategies by Non-Native
Speakers of English‖. Ragam Jurnal Pengembangan Humaniora, vol. 11,
pp.69-81.
Trosborg, A. 1995. Interlanguage Pragmatics. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter & Co.
Vanderstoep, S.W., and D. Johnston. 2009. Research Method of Everyday Life.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
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Wahaab, K. 2013. ―The Modal Verbs: A Speech Act of Request in the Speech of
the President of the United States Barak Obama‖. An International
Journal of English Department, pp. 1-13.
Wang, V. 2007. Making Requests by Chinesse EFL Language. Amsterdam: John
Benjamins Publishing Company.
Yule, G. 1996. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
B. Electronic Sources
IMDb. 2015. ―The Intern‖, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2361509/. Retrieved on
April 17, 2016
Ivanachubbuck. 2012. ―The Intern‖, http://www.ivanachubbuck.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/02/The-Intern-Ben-Patty-Entire-Screenplay.pdf
Retrieved on April 25, 2016
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Appendix A. Data Sheet of Types, Strategies, and Purposes of Requests in Nancy Meyers’s The Intern Movie
List of Abbreviations:
Types of Requests
Ur : Unconventionally indirect request
Hb : Indirect request hearer based
Sb : Indirect request speaker based
Dr : Direct request
Strategies of Requests
Hi : Hints
Ab : Questioning Hearer‘s Ability/Willingness
Sf : Suggestory formulae
Wi : Statements of Speaker‘s Wishes/Demands
Ne : Statements of Speaker‘s Needs/Demands
Ob : Statements of Obligations/Necessities
Pr : Performatives
Ip : Imperatives
Purposes of Requests
Go : Request for Goods
Ia : Request for Initiation of action
Ca : Request for Cessation of action
Ja : Request for a Joint activity
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
1. Jules:
Oh, good!. I forgot about that. I
want to figure out a way for
girlfriends to shop together
online...make it less of an alone
thing. E-mail me that idea, will
ya? Becky:
Yeah, I like that.
(writing quickly, takes out Phone)
Is now a good time to call your
Mother back?
√ √
Jules rides her bike in the office while Becky is
talking very fast about the information and also
the schedule to her boss. This data shows direct
request in which Jules straightly says E-mail me
that idea by using imperative strategy. The
additional phrase will ya? is to make the request
soft. The purpose of request is to ask Becky to
email Jules later, it is called by initiation of action.
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No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
2. Jules:
Guys, you have to remember, the
home page has to read in a
glance.
(backs 4 feet away) Also, none of
you are over thirty so you need to
get back like this
to see what this looks like if
you‘re like over 35.
√ √
In the office, there are some coworkers
surrounding the computer. Everyone should pay
attention to their boss because Jules is talking in
front of them straightly. In the situation, she is a
boss. She asks the coworkers by mentioning have
to to show obligation in her utterance also by
using indirect request based on speaker. This
purpose of Jules‘ utterance is to ask her coworkers
to make a great home page in the ―About The Fit‖
website.
3.
Jules:
Can we make it more graphic?
Robby:
(editing)
Jules:
Yeah, that‘s cool. Maybe hero the
girl in the red shirt.
√ √
In the group of coworkers, one of Jules‘s
coworkers, Robby, wants to show his task. Jules
asks him to give an opinion about the picture of
the t-shirt. By using indirectly based on the hearer,
Jules successes to perform her request.
Questioning ability‘ strategy applies in her
utterance because Jules uses Can to ask the ability.
This data is to ask Robby to edit the picture which
is included as request for initiation of action.
4.
Robby:
Jules…
Jules:
That is a great red. It‘s gonna fly
outta here
Robby:
We really don‘t have the time,
Jules. I needed you to sign off on
this two hours ago.
Jules:
I know, but can you try?
Robby:
Yep
√ √
Jules is stubborn with her wish. She wants Robby
to edit the picture as she wanted. However, the
time is limited ansd he needs Jules to sign off his
task. She indirectly asks Robby to do what she
wants. Moreover, by using ability strategy, Jules
asks Robby by using the modal verb Can. The
purpose of request is that Robby edits the picture
of women in the website.
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No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
5.
Cameron:
I told you I felt we needed to do an
outreach program. You seemed to
be liking the idea so I put it in
motion. It‘s gonna be great.
Jules:
Hold please. You‘re hiring Senior
Citizen interns? What does that
even mean?
Cameron:
There‘s been a ton of research on
this. The results are, without fail,
fantastic…….
√ √
Jules talks to Cameron about hiring senior interns.
She is shocked about it. She thinks that Cameron
never talks about hiring senior intern before. She
directly cuts Cameron‘s utterance by saying Hold
please. It indicates that Jules uses imperative
strategy. By adding please, the request becomes
polite rather than command. This purpose is to cut
short an ongoing utterance and it is called
cessation of action.
6. Ben:
True. Well, I think we did it in
under two minutes. I‘ll wait to hear
from you
(crosses to the door)
Would you like the door open or
closed?
Jules:
Doesn‘t matter.
Ben exits, CLOSING the door
behind him.
Jules:
Open. Actually.
√ √
In the office, Ben goes to Jules‘s room to meet her
for the very first time. Jules talks very fast because
she will have a meeting. Ben goes out from Jules‘s
room. He uses a question to give the control of
request to Jules. It indicates that Ben uses indirect
request on hearer. He also applies suggestory
formulae strategy to ask her with suggestion about
to close the door or let it be opened. It is shown by
using Would you question to reveal the
suggestion. The data have purpose to follow
Jules‘s wish since the request is to let the door
opened. It indicates as joint the similar activity.
7. Ben:
How about I’ll push, you deliver?
Kiko:
Thank you
√ √
Kiko, a young female intern, stacked with reams
of printer paper down a row of cubicles. She
delivers the paper to each desk. Ben arrives to
help, he pushes the dolly for her. This data is
classified into hearer based condition by
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No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
suggesting Kiko to deliver the paper. This data is
shown by the phrase How about? She manages
the request and says thank for helping her. The
purpose of this data is to classify joint activity. It
is because Kiko agrees with Ben's request.
8. Ben:
Excuse me.
(Cameron and Jules turn to see Ben
standing in the doorway. Jules
quickly recovers.)
I apologize but Becky said you
needed something taken care of
on your jacket...
Jules:
Oh, right—
√ √
In Jules's private room, Jules and Cameron are
talking about CEO problems. Meanwhile, Ben
comes to take Jules's jacket which has a stain. He
requests to give her jacket and clean up the mess.
Questioning ability strategy is applied which is to
take the jacket by saying you needed something
taken care of on your jacket. Jules responds it by
giving her jacket to him. This data is classified as
request for goods by giving Jules‘s jacket to Ben.
9. Ben:
I know, look, I don‘t want to make
you uncomfortable but I just
happened to have looked out the
window and it appeared you were
drinking something from a bag, so..
Mike:
(heading for the car) I don‘t know
what you‘re talking about Pops.
Ben:
Why don’t you tell Jules you
can’t drive her today or I’m
gonna have to. (Mike says to Jules that he cannot
drive her today)
√ √
From the office, Ben sees that Mike, Jules‘s driver,
is drinking something from a bag. Ben knows that
Mike will drive Jules. Ben asks Mike to say that
he cannot give her a ride because he is sick. After
that, Mike agrees with Ben‘ suggestion, thus, he
tells Jules that he cannot drive her today. Ben uses
the type of hearer based and suggestory formulae
strategy to convey his desire to give suggestion
about Mike‘s condition. The indication of
suggestory formulae is shown by the phrase Why
don’t you? Therefore, Mike performs an action by
telling about his condition to Jules, thus, the
purpose of initiation of action is achieved.
79
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
10. Jules:
Are you kidding me! You know I
haven‘t slept in two years.
Jules‘ mom:
I can‘t change the facts, dear.
Jules: (typing)
Look, Mom, I‘m rushing into the
city for a meeting and I need to
prepare. Can I call you when I get
home?
Jules‘ mom:
You don‘t have to.
√ √
In the car, Jules‘s mother calls Jules. She talks
about the danger of sleepless. In order to ignore
her mom, she says to call later when she gets home
by using unconventionally indirect request.
However, her mother does not want it. Jules uses
hints strategy to perform her request since the
availability condition is applied in this data by
saying Can I call you? It is because she asks
about possibility to call her mom later. Thus,
Jules‘s purpose of request is to stop her mom from
calling her.
11. Paige:
Daddy helped me with the icing.
Jules:
Good job, you guys. So, how about
I give you your bath, okay?
√ √
Jules, Paige and Matt are in the kitchen. Paige tells
her mom about playing play-doh cake challenge.
Jules indirectly asks Paige to take a bath with her.
She applies suggestory formulae to invite Paige to
take a bath by saying how about. This purpose is
to perform an action which is taking a bath.
12. Jules:
I'm sorry I fell asleep in there. I just
passed out. I know we had a plan to
have a grown-Up conversation. Do
you want to Netflix something? Matt:
Hm? I'm sorry. I just fell out for a
second.
Jules:
It's okay.
√ √
Late at night, Jules falls asleep in Paige's room.
After that, she goes to her room and turns off the
TV. Furthermore, she types a task for finishing her
work. Suddenly, Matt wakes up. Jules requests
him to have Netflix or something else in order to
make Matt stays awake then they talk about a
grown-up of Paige. However, Matt backs to sleep
again. She asks Matt whether he wants to Netflix
or not by saying Do you want? The purpose is to
carry out to watch Netflix, but Matt does not reply
the request.
80
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
13. Jules:
Actually I have to go...
C‘mon sweetie. Ben, we’re gonna
drop Paige at school, okay? Ben:
Let‘s do it.
√ √
In the morning at Jules‘s house, Ben will escort
Jules to the office. However, Jules asks Ben to
drop, her daughter, Paige to school before they go
to the office by applying conventionally indirect
based on hearer. She states the ability that he will
escort them by saying we’re gonna drop. Then,
Jules adds okay at the end of the utterance to
emphasize the request toward Ben. The purpose of
this data is to perform an action to deliver Paige to
school.
14. Jules:
Oh! Ben, I want to stop at the
warehouse. 480 Greenpoint.
(Ben moves into the left lane.)
Jules (cont‘d):
No, no, make a right. 9th to
Hamilton to the Expressway.
Ben:
I think we should take 4th to
Flatbush. Much faster.
Jules:
It won‘t be.
√ √
When Ben and Jules are driving to the office, Jules
sees CTF box next to her. She remembers that she
should go to the warehouse. She says to Ben
indirectly to stop this car in the warehouse. She
uses speaker based condition since she states with
I want to. It indicates that she obviously uses the
power to manage her request by applying
statement‘s speaker of needs/demands. The
purpose is to change the route to the warehouse.
81
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
15. Jules:
….. I hope you’ll accept my
apology and come back to work.
For me. If you would....
(Ben almost hesitates)
And I‘m not just saying this
because I screwed up but I was
thinking this morning, I‘d like to
move you up to my area, next to
Becky. I know you can handle more
work, if you‘d like more. God, I
really hate that I jumped the gun
and made you feel--
Ben:
I‘m happy to come back.
√ √
The situation is in the coffee shop. There is a
misunderstanding between Jules and Ben. She
apologizes about the problem that are caused by
her. She asks Ben to come back to work. By using
indirect request based on the speaker, Jules wishes
him to accept the apology also back to the office
like before. The strategy applies the statement of
wishes that can be seen in the phrase I hope. It
shows a wish that Jules needs Ben to accompany
her again. The purpose is to make Ben coming
back to the office again.
16. Jules:
Can I give you a lift back to the
office? Ben:
Sure, thanks.
√ √
In the coffee shop, Jules questions Ben to invite
him back to the office by using conventionally
indirect request. The strategy is applied by hints. It
is because the request is asking about the
availability of Ben, whether he wants or not. It is
shown by the phrase Can I? The purpose is Ben
wants to escort by Jules to the office.
17. Jules:
(as they walk away together)
Do you mind driving? I don’t
technically have a license.
Ben:
Sure
√ √
After Ben agrees to come back to work for Jules,
she indirectly asks him to drive her. It is because
she does not have a license. The data belongs to
question ability/willingness since she asks about
ability to drive her by saying Do you mind? She
gives a reason at the end of her utterance to
emphasize that she needs him to drive her going
back to the office. This purpose is Ben drives Jules
to the office.
82
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
18. Jules:
Hi. This is good, right? I like this
arrangement. Becky, I want you to
let Ben give you a hand, okay?
And cc him on all my e-mails.
(Becky nods)
Did we get yesterday‘s numbers?
Becky:
Yes. We did. I saw them here.
√ √
In the office, Jason and Kiko are putting a new
desk right next to Becky. Ben arrives holding his
briefcase, keyboard, a few files and things. Jules
asks Becky to let Ben help her also engage him in
Jules‘s email. The data uses speaker based
condition with I want you. It shows the power of
the speaker. Therefore, Jules applies
needs/demands strategy to request Becky. The
purpose of this request is to help Becky to cover
her job.
19. Becky :
Here you go.
Jules:
Thanks. Also, I need to go over
the data on the customer
purchase patterns. Let Ben take a
look at that too. Actually let Ben
take a look at it first.
(This throws Becky)
√ √
Jules asks Becky that she needs customer purchase
data and let Ben take a look first. This request is
speaker based condition since boss is having a
demand. She uses needs/demands strategy to
express her request to Becky by emphasizing with
the phrase I need. The purpose is giving the data
purchase to Jules and tells Ben that he needs to
read the data purchase too.
20. Jules:
Okay, look at Chicago, she put the
same boots in her cart as the
woman from Houston.
Cameron:
Okay, let‘s see what she does at
check out. She‘s not buying them
either.
Jules:
Okay, maybe check the delivery
costs on those boots?
Cameron:
Mmmm..
√ √
Jules and a small group are watching a live CTF
MAP of U.S. that shows purchases as it is
happened. Jules shows them about customer‘s
check out. Suddenly, she is shocked about the
selling in the website. She directly says that she
wants to see the delivery costs of the boots by
saying maybe check the delivery costs on those
boots. This goal of request is to check the delivery
cost on About The Fit‘s web.
83
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
21. Ben:
Well, I enlisted Becky‘s help.
Seems the most expensive place
you‘re advertising is actually
bringing you the customers who are
spending the least and the channels
you‘re least investing in are adding
enormous value in segments that
currently appear to have low value
but actually have the highest
spending potential... That‘s what I
could tell. So far.
Jules:
Whoa. Ben! Could you like deal
with all that for me? Maybe come
up with a better plan? I mean, if
you have the time.
Ben:
Happy to.
√ √
Ben gently knocks on Jules‘s room door. Ben tells
about data purchase pattern. Jules is amazed by
Ben‘s ideas. Thus, she asks him to deal with all the
data purchase. She asks him indirectly to show a
better plan to improve her business. Jules uses
hearer based condition to ask whether Ben wants
or not to deal with another plan. Yet, it applies
ability strategy by saying Could you like? The
purpose is to show other better plans which
produced by Ben.
22. Jules:
Yeah, maybe. Everyone‘s flipping
out, but you know I‘m still on the
fence at best, but anyway, only
thing is, I have to go to San
Francisco to meet him. He can‘t get
here.
Matt: (handing her pancakes)
When do you have to go?
Jules:
The only day he could meet is next
Thursday. Do you want to come?
Maybe we could stay for the
weekend?
Matt: (looks at fridge calendar)
√ √
Ben comes to Jules‘s house while Matt packing a
Paige‘s lunch. Ben comes near to Paige and sits
side by side at the dining room, Paige eats
pancakes. Jules and Matt talk about San Francisco.
She asks him to join, but he does not want to go
because there is a duty on Paige‘s class. In this
situation, the type is conventionally indirect
because it is expressed by asking an ability to go
to San Francisco. It can be seen by saying Do you
want to come? Then, it adds by saying maybe we
could stay..? It means that Jules has a big wish to
go to San Francisco with him. The purpose is to
join the similar activity with Jules to go to San
Francisco.
84
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
Sounds good but... I can‘t. Paige is
snack leader on Thursday and I‘m
supposed to be in the class with her.
It‘s kind of a big deal.
Jules:
Right. No, I forgot.
Matt:
Maybe Ben could go with you.
23. Jules‘ mom:
Typing and ringing....
Jules:
(looking at 2nd phone) Yeah, sorry.
It‘s the warehouse.
Can I call you back Mom?
Jules‘ mom:
No need.
Jules:
Okay. Love you.
Jules‘ mom:
Yep.
√ √
Jules makes an incredulous face at the phone
because she has a call from her mom. Then, she
starts typing an e-mail to Matt because she does
not like her mom. She says to her mom to call her
back, but her mom does not want it. Jules applies
unconventionally indirect request because the
actual meaning of her utterance is to distract her
mom not to call her every times. She uses hints to
apply his request in order to ask availability of her
mom to recall her. It is shown by expressing Can I
call you? However, the purpose is to stop her
mom calls her anytime.
24. Jules:
I know the Zoom‘s broken and I
don‘t mean to take anyone off of
that but... I need a favor. I,
accidentally sent an e-mail to the
wrong person and she‘s at work
right now and I know she doesn‘t
check her personal e-mail until she
gets home at 5:30, so I have until
then to figure out how to delete it
because if this person sees this
email, it‘ll be...horrible and on top
√ √
Jules sends an email to the wrong person,
unconsciously to her mom. The content of the
email is impolite. Therefore, she needs help by the
coworkers to delete the email. She uses the
speaker based condition to request her coworkers.
She applies needs/demands statement by saying I
need a favor that she really needs help. The
purpose of the needs is to perform an action which
is deleting the wrong email in Jules‘ mom laptop.
85
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
of that, she has a slight heart
condition and I think this could
possibly be not good for that, so,
I‘m relying on your good graces
and brilliance to figure out how to
save my ass.
25. Ben:
Start looking for the computer.
(they go off together)
Separately! (into Phone)
-- Becky! Don’t screw around. Put
Jules on, it‘s an emergency.
Interrupt her! (wipes his brow)
Jules! Your mother has an alarm.
Yes she does, I‘m in her kitchen
and it‘s about to go off.
√ √
In Jules‘s mother room, they are looking for the
laptop. Ben calls Becky and asks Becky not to
disturb Ben to talk with Jules. Then, he wants to
give the phone to Jules because it is an emergency
situation. He uses imperative strategy since the
goal of request is easy to understand by Becky. It
indicates by saying Don’t screw around.
Meanwhile, the purpose of request is to stop
Becky‘s action which does not want to give the
phone to Jules.
26. Jules:
Got to get something in your
stomach. Honey honey honey,
just can you please take one bite
before school? Please, just one
bite.
(Paige doesn‘t want to eat
anything)
√ √
In the morning, Jules, Paige and Matt are having
breakfast in the dining room. Paige does not want
to eat anything because she is mope. Paige wants
to go to Maddie‘s party, but her parents cannot
escort her to the party. Jules is busy and Matt, her
dad, is sick. Then, Jules asks her to eat one bite by
indirectly type. Jules applies this type in order to
demand Paige eat her breakfast. Jules asks Paige
by uttering Can you to ask the ability of Paige to
eat her breakfast. To make request perfectly, the
purpose of this request is making Paige eat her
breakfast.
86
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
27. Ben :
What‘s up kiddo?
Paige:
I don‘t feel good.
Ben:
You don‘t? Do you want to sit on
my lap?
(Paige nods. Ben lifts her onto his
lap, feels her forehead.
√ √
Ben and Paige go to Maddie‘s party. Paige comes
near to her friends. Meanwhile, Ben sits with other
parents in the chair. Suddenly, Paige comes close
to Ben. She says that she feels not good.. Ben
indirectly requests Paige because he cannot
measure the desire of her by questioning Do you
want to sit on my lap? Ability strategy applies in
the data in order to ask whether she wants to sit on
his lap or not. The purpose is requesting Paige to
sit on Ben‘s lap.
28. Ben :
You want to hit the road?
Paige:
Does the mean ―leave‖?
Ben:
‗Fraid so
√ √
Paige sits on Ben‘s lap. A few parents disturb Ben
and Paige. Because of that, they decide to go home
earlier by indirectly saying you want to hit the
road? The strategy is asking the willingness of
Paige whether she wants to go home or stay at
Maddie‘s party. Ben invites her by saying You
want to. Then, the purpose is achieved by Ben and
Paige who join the similar action which is going
back to the office.
29. Jules:
Okay Ben, if I’m giving you too
much to do or working you too
hard, please do not feel you have
to go with me to San Fransisco- Ben:
Jules, people my age get tired
sometimes. That‘s all this is.
√ √
Jules leans on Ben‘s desk, eats a piece of cake and
handles Ben a piece. Ben looks so pale. Jules asks
him if he does not want to go, do not push himself
to go to San Francisco. She sees that Ben is sick,
and then she does not want to make it bad. She
says directly in order to apply statement of
obligation to him by expressing the utterance with
please do not feel you have to go. The purpose is
to stop Ben pushing himself to accompany Jules to
go to San Francisco.
87
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
30. Ben:
Jules, what are we doin‘ here? We
got the day off. We‘re travelin‘ in
first class. (starts packing up his
papers)
Let’s at least have a little fun.
Jules:
Now, that, I can do.
√ √
Ben and Jules are heading to San Francisco. They
are in the first class of the flight, both of them
have their work on the tray tables. Jules is on her
iPad. Ben is reading newspaper. Ben starts to talk
with Jules. He asks her what they are doing there.
Then, Ben invites her to have fun and neglect the
work for a moment. He says directly to Jules for
doing fun. Imperative strategy applies in this data
by saying Let’s. Meanwhile, joint activity is the
purpose of this data. It is to let them doing the
similar thing which having fun together.
31. Jules:
Well, thanks for escorting me back.
You want to see my room? I
mean, do you actually want to come
in? I have a tea kettle, we could
have tea... (then) I‘m ridiculously
nervous about tomorrow.
Ben:
Oh nice.
√ √
The setting is in the hotel in San Francisco. The
alarm is beeping and all the guests are coming out.
After all is fixed, the guests go to their room, Jules
and Ben too. In the way back to their room, Jules
invites Ben to come to her room. Then, she says
about having a tea together. Thus, she indirectly
tells you want to. She applies questioning
willingness to Ben whether he wants or not to
come. Ben agrees with Jules. The purpose is to
make Ben come to Jules‘s room.
32. Ben:
What should we talk about?
Jules:
Marriage?
(Ben gets nervous, looks over at
her)
Will you tell me about your wife? She was great, right?
Ben:
She was. Molly was her name. She
was a middle school principal.
Beloved.
√ √
Jules invites Ben to come to her room in the hotel.
Jules pours hot water into two mugs. They lie
down on the bed and start to talk about marriage.
Jules asks Ben to tell her about his wife. She uses
hearer based condition to Ben. It is because it
depends on the requestee whether he wants to tell
or not. Yet, questioning ability is applied in this
request by asking Will you? This purpose is Ben
tells about his wife.
88
No. Data
Types and Strategies Purposes
Explanation Ur Hb Sb Dr
Hi Ab Sf Wi Ne Ob Pr Ip Go Ia Ca Ja
33. Jules:
Airport, please. Taxi Driver:
(driving to airport)
√ √ After Jules met a CEO in San Francisco, they want
to go to the airport. She directly asks the driver to
escort them to the airport. Then, she applies
imperative strategy to demand the request. It is
shown by the word Airport. The please marker is
to show the polite way in requesting driver. The
requestee is agreeably to drive them going to the
airport.
34. Jules:
Do we have any, like, real booze,
like vodka or something? Matt:
Yeah…
√ √ Jules arrives in home, she is greeted by Matt. They
talk about hiring a CEO but Jules distracts the
conversation into her marriage. She is tired and
confused about the problems. She asks him about
vodka that actually to calm herself. She uses the
unconventionally indirect request and applies hints
to state her wanted implicitly. She asks there is
vodka or not. Jules asks the availability of vodka
by saying Do we have?The purpose is to give
vodka to Jules.
35. Becky:
Also, these just arrived from Ted
Townsend. Here‘s the card.
Jules: (reading the card)
Get me Townsend’s number will
you?
√ √ Jules and Ben arrive in the office. There‘s a huge
arrangement of Peonies on Jules's desk. She hopes
that it is from Matt. Becky says that the bouquet is
from Townsend. Jules replies asking the number
of Townsend to Becky. The utterance is used
imperative strategy which is shown by saying Get
me. Then, will you marker shows the polite act to
request Becky. Regarding to this request, the
purpose is to make Becky gives Townsend‘s
phone number to Jules.
Total 4 13 4 1 4 2 0 7 2 20 5 8
89
90