Maxims of politeness principle found in “The Prince and Me” movie

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on maxims of politeness principle found in “The Prince and Me” movie using Leech’s theory. Politeness principle is minimizing (other things being equal) the expression of impolite beliefs, and maximizing (other things being equal) the expression of polite beliefs. Maxims of politeness principle is a number of maxims dealing with polite behaviour. The politeness principle is used to produce the polite utterances of being closer communication. Those maxims that operate in politeness principle are tact maxim, generosity maxim, approbation maxim, modesty maxim, agreement maxim, and sympathy maxim.

This research aims to answer the following questions: (1) What are the maxims of politeness principle used by the characters of “The Prince and Me” movie; and (2) How the characters of “The Prince and Me” movie use the maxims of politeness principle.

This research is conducted using qualitative method. The data source of this research is “The Prince and Me” movie and it is validated through its transcript. The data are the utterances of the characters in “The Prince and Me” movie that contain the maxim of politeness principle. The data are collected using check list instrument. After collecting data, the data is analyzed into six maxims of politeness principle based of the theory. According to the research finding, the conclusion is drawn.

The results of the study show that there are six maxims of politeness principle used in “The Prince and Me” movie. Among those six maxims are: (1) tact maxim, (2) generosity maxim, (3) approbation maxim, (4) modesty maxim, (5) agreement maxim, and (6) sympathy maxim. The dominant maxim that is used is tact maxim. Furthermore, the result shows that the characters of “The Prince and Me” movie follow measurement of the pragmatic scales to express their politeness. Those pragmatic scales are the cost-benefit scale, the optionality scale, the indirectness scale, the power/ authority scale, and the social distance scale.