Solidarity and Politeness

Sociolinguistics
VF Class - Group 10
1. Ayu Dwi Pebriyani 20158100153
2. Syifa Fauziah 20158100270
Tu and Vous (T/V)

Tu (T) : the singular ‘you’

Vous (V) : the plural ‘you’

The T form is sometimes described as

the ‘familiar’ form
and
the V form as the ‘polite’ one.
In English, according to Brown and Gilman
(1960)

The upper class use V forms with each

other to show mutual respect and
politeness.

The upper class addressed the lower

classes with T but received V.

This asymmetrical T/V usage to symbolize a

power relationship.
Symmetrical V usage became ‘polite’ usage.
(Between husband and wife, parents and
children)

Symmetrical T usage to show intimacy, to show

2 people had strong common interest (feeling
of solidarity).

This mutual T for solidarity gradually come to

replace the mutual V of politeness, since
solidarity is often more important than
politeness in personal relationship.
According to France book Savoir-vivre en France
(Vigner, 1978):

Tu should be used between spouses,

brothers and sisters regardless of age,
parents and children, close relatives, young
people living or working closely together.

Vous should be used between strangers,

those who have no ties of any kind, and
between inferior and superior.
Address Terms

In addressing another, the choice of

name which you use for the other (by title/T,
by first name/FN, by last name/LN) depends
both on your knowledge of exactly who that
other is and on the circumstances of the
meeting.

T : Professor, Doctor, Colonel

FN : Mack, Buddy, Jack, Mate
LN : Smith, Mr. Smith, Fred
Politeness

In social interaction we present

a face to others and to others’ faces.
We are obliged to protect both our
own face and the faces of others to
the extent that each time we
interact with others. (Goffman: 1967)

Face : public self-image that every

member wants to claim for
himself. (Brown & Levinson:
1987)
Politeness

Positive face: the desire to gain the

approval of others, looks for solidarity.

Negative face: the desire to be

unimpeded by others, freedom of
action, the need to act w/o giving
offense.
Politeness

Positive politeness: leads to achieve

solidarity through offers of friendship,
the use of compliments, and never
threaten their face.

Negative politeness: leads to

deference, apologizing, indirectness,
and formality in language use, avoid
any threats to the face others.
Politeness
Some languages seem to have built into them
very complex systems of politeness, for example in
Javanese. (Geertz: 1960)
Are you going to eat now?
High style, menapa pandjenengan bade dahar samenika
high honorfc
High style, menapa sampejan bade neda samenika
no honorifics
Middle style, napa sampejan adjeng neda saniki
no honorifics
Low style, apa pandjenengan arep dahar saiki
high honorfc
Low style, apa sampejan arep neda saiki
low honorfc
Low style, no apa kowe arep mangan saiki
honorifics
Sources:
Ronald Wardhaugh, An Introduction to
Sociolinguistics. Fifth Edition
Thank You 